This week had a more intense workload than the last. While our miter box prototype was effective, the characteristics of the box made it rather inconvenient. The box was too wide, too short, and the cutting lines were inconveniently placed for the purpose of cutting bread. As such, we decided to make our own box. We decided on new box dimensions and changed the placement of the cutting lines in order to make our prototype more suitable for a baguette. We made two prototypes based on our new design, one out of cardboard for testing, and then a final made out of wood. After our final presentations we got to actually use it to slice a couple of baguettes to contribute to a massive charcuterie board.
Outside of the classroom, I also got to visit some of Paris’ most famous landmarks and locations. On Saturday, I walked to the Arc de Triomphe and took some photos. Unfortunately, I went very late, so it was already closed and I was unable to go inside. On Sunday I went to the Louvre, where I got to see some of the most famous art pieces in the world, like the Venus de Milo, Liberty Leading the People, The Coronation of Napoleon, and of course, the Mona Lisa. If I had to pick a moment as the most memorable, it was definitely this museum visit. More than anywhere else, it was here where I felt most in touch with the history and culture of France and Europe. I mean, it’s an art museum. Lastly, I visited the Eiffel Tower. This was also rather late so I didn’t get to go to the top either, but I still got to see it light up, and the spinning beacons were cool as well.
The food experience has been just as if not more wonderful. I got to try a bunch of different crepes, from simple honey lemon to blue cheese, and I enjoyed every single one of them. I went to a bunch of local sweets shops, and bought macarons and cream puffs, both of which were very delicious. Although, to be honest, I couldn’t tell much of a difference between the macarons in France and back here in the US. Where I did notice a difference was in the bread. In France, baguettes are definitely a lot airier, and have a flavor closer to sourdough than the ones here, which I like.
My main tip for future students would be to buy tickets for all the locations you want to visit ahead of time. The days I could go to the Louvre were limited, and I didn’t get to go to the Catacombs at all because I didn’t buy my tickets ahead of time. I probably would have been able to go up the Eiffel Tower buying a ticket in-person, but I waited for the last day, got worried about the riots and didn’t end up going. If I had known, I would have checked the class schedule and bought tickets on the first day. I definitely plan to come back one day and visit everything I missed out on.
Overall, the past two weeks have been a defining experience in my life. I’ve enjoyed being able to partake in the different aspects of French culture, from the arts and landmarks to the food and language. More so than Amsterdam, I could feel the history ingrained into the city around me. Although, I imagine this was primarily facilitated by the fact that we were staying in the middle of Paris’ historical district. I was sad to say goodbye to France, but of course I remembered to take home a couple of snacks for my family.