I can’t believe that my month in Europe with iSEED is over. My last week in Paris went by especially quickly. Still, it was packed with lots of fun and great learning experiences.
One of my favorite days in Paris was the day when I visited both the Louvre and the Paris Catacombs. After grabbing a quick crepe for breakfast, I went to the Louvre and spent the morning looking at amazing pieces of art. Then, in the afternoon, I took the metro to meet up with some others to go into the Catacombs. I arrived early, so I found a café, bought a pastry and coffee, and sat in a park nearby. The park was beautiful and shady, and it was nice to be able to sit by myself to relax and enjoy my surroundings in between outings. It was really interesting to learn about the history of the Catacombs and how people’s remains were moved into the tunnels because Paris cemeteries were overcrowded. It was unbelievable how many bones I saw on the tour, especially since we only walked through a small portion of the tunnels. After eating a sandwich made with a delicious baguette, I ended the day with a movie night with some other iSEED students at our hostel. We watched As Above, So Below, a horror movie that takes place in the catacombs. It was cool and a bit creepy to watch all these scenes take place in a location that we had just visited.
I also loved all the food that I got to eat in Paris. There were so many different bakeries along almost every street that I walked on. One of my favorite things to do whenever I started to feel a bit hungry was to stop inside a bakery, order a pastry, and sit and do a bit of work. It was a fun way to get some work done while also enjoying the city. I also really enjoyed trying a bunch of new meats and cheeses with the group. On our final day of class, we used the devices that we had designed and built to prepare a charcuterie board. Not only was the board filled with delicious food, but it was really exciting to see everyone’s devices in action. Making and sharing the board together, made this one of my favorite food memories in Paris. I loved the food in Paris so much that, on my last morning, I picked up a box of macarons and a couple of other snacks to take home with me.
I would definitely recommend the iSEED Europe program to anyone who is considering it. It is an awesome way to take Rice courses in a unique setting, while getting to use each city as a learning tool. During the program, you will have the opportunity to engage with locals, gain new perspectives, and get to know the cities beyond the typical tourist experiences. You also get to build relationships with other Rice students that you can take back with you to campus.
I greatly enjoyed my time in both Amsterdam and Paris and am so grateful for this amazing experience, new friends, and awesome memories.
The Winged Victory of Samothrace at the Louvre
Delicious Treats
The Perfect Charcuterie Board
Team Cheese Prototype