I was invited to do two lectures in this beautiful country by Laurent, a physics and chemistry teacher for Lycée Jean-Baptiste Poquelin in St. Germain-en-Laye, more specifically. Meanwhile, I’m back in the train again and I wouldn’t mind if this trip would take longer than the two and a half hours it does. But only yesterday I was travelling to this atmospheric city, west of Paris.
Laurent had heard of my story through the Astronomy Picture Of the Day site and since he and his school would like their students to meet ‘role models in science’, he e-mailed me a couple of months ago. I met the charming gentleman Thursday evening and while we had a drink I knew it was going to be a great day. He had arranged everything in detail, from route plans to microphones. And can I just mark how great public transport here is? Besides that it works perfectly, it’s also affordable.
When I entered the school, the lady at the desk already knew who I was and I quickly got a tour through the lovely building. I like how the hallways are open and I could certainly get used to having assistants and a lab like this! Some of the staff actually live here by the way. I was told about a hundred students would participate (and get ‘Zoonified’) today, but in two groups. Laurent introduced me to the teenagers and while I presented my discovery in English, he translated it live for them in French. It was great to see they were so interested in the subject – I never had this many questions at the end. One of the girls even tried asking something in English! And after the second group, a few boys came to say they’re planning on joining the Zoo too.
I love my life. Laurent had the afternoon off as well and so we went for ice cream and a marvellous view. Then the wind took us to Versailles, where we literally laid back under the Sun God; French style. We had some funny discussions in a few different languages and he asked me if I draw. I was a little surprised by the question, but he guessed because I kept remarking how pretty some details were. We said ‘au revoir’ and to keep in touch and now it cooled off a bit, I had a walk along the Seine, from Notre-Dame to Pont Neuf. I loved how locals enjoy their city too, by picnicking or just hanging out with friends next to the stunning river.
When I woke up today, I couldn’t imagine I’d be home again before this Saturday’s over, but here I still am in the Thalys. Time is a strange thing. I wanted to see one more thing before I went back and so I climbed the same stairs I did 12 years ago this morning, to the Sacré-Coeur. While I was spring-cleaning my house before I went, I found back a leaflet with information for the trip to Paris with my class of 1999 (I haven’t decided yet whether I think that’s awesome or very weird). It said French people are often considered arrogant, but my mentor thought they have a reason to be. And after experiencing the place again, my conclusion is they indeed can be proud.
I just realised you can go to France through Germany and Belgium and back to the Netherlands without a passport though – isn’t that awesome?! I’m almost back in ‘my own little country’, where the Sun shines too and the only thing left to say is ‘merci’. Merci to Laurent and his colleagues and students for having me over and for the lovely memories. I feel honoured. It was très bien!
Lycée Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, the great view from St. Germain-en-Laye - with the Eiffel Tower on my left, Basilique de Sacré-Coeur and one last view from Paris before I left.
3 Comments
Nice blog! Your day is 48 ours, so why not learn French
hai hanny
ik doe t maar langs deze weg omdat ik weet dat je niet zoveel op hyves bent
dus hier komt tie !!!!!!!!!
van hartuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh met je verjaardag maak er n super dag van
knuff gerry van om de hoek
Heh, goed gedacht – thanks! Ik weet ook niet hoe ik daar moet reageren op krabbels of zo. Anyway, dankjewel.