We met at GCS at 4:50 am and, after a send-off from Ms. Lyons, headed to Dublin Airport. The bus ride was filled with excitement and music from the DJs in the back. 

We landed in Paris Beauvais at around 1:10 pm and were greeted by a blast of summer heat. Our first stop was Montmartre, where we climbed approximately 300 steps to visit the Sacré Coeur Cathedral and enjoyed the incredible city view. Afterward, we had dinner at a local creperie, celebrating Leo’s birthday with a rendition of "Joyeux Anniversaire." We then took a boat trip along the River Seine, marvelling at sights like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Grand Palais, and watched the Eiffel Tower sparkle at 11 pm.

The next day, we ventured to Euro Disney, and were full of excitement and adventure as we hopped from one rollercoaster to another. On Monday, we started our day early with a visit to the Louvre. After a scenic walk through some central Parisian streets, we explored the mesmerizing museum, admiring pieces like "The Wedding at Cana," "The Winged Victory of Samothrace," and "The Mona Lisa." A Segway tour of the city followed, adding fun and fascination, especially when we learned that the cast of "Emily in Paris" had used the same Segways. Later, we took a TGV train to Lorient where we reunited with Ms. Lyons, Eoin, and Michael. The group was finally complete!

The following day, we attended school in Gourin, where the staff and students warmly welcomed us. We divided into groups, and some of us attended a German class, which was a first-time experience and very interesting. During the break, we played soccer and performed renditions of “Wild Rover” and “Butterfly.”  That afternoon, we walked 10 km to Guiscriff, where the Glenamaddy–Guiscriff town twinning committee welcomed us with waffles, a town tour, and a cultural evening where we played the tin whistle and sang. Later that week, we had the opportunity to visit the Island of Groix. We got to cycle around the island and went swimming at the beach. On Thursday, we split our time between attending classes and going on a cultural visit to the “Valley of the Saints” with the Gourin students. We learned about various saints like St. Patrick and St. Brigid during the mostly uphill walk. On our last day at school, Leo and I were interviewed by students for their radio channel, where we taught them some Gaeilge and shared our trip highlights. After saying our goodbyes, we presented gifts to Solange (the English teacher) and Sebastian (the principal) as a thank you for their hospitality. That evening, we travelled to Nantes by train. 

The next morning, we had a two-hour cycling tour of the town and time for shopping before heading to the airport. Despite a delayed flight, we arrived back in Glenamaddy at 2:30 am.

Reflecting on the week, I can wholeheartedly say it was the best trip I’ve ever experienced. We were 28 lucky students, and as Ms. Griffin said, we “are a special bunch.” Everyone got involved and participated enthusiastically, and it was heartwarming to see how bonded and united we all became.

We want to extend a massive thank you to Ms. Griffin, Mr. Frain, Ms. Joyce, Mr. Gannon and Ms. Lyons. Overseeing such a jam-packed trip is no easy task, but they did it with ease. We had countless laughs, and they looked out for each of us so well. Also, a well-deserved thank you to Ms. McDermott and Ms. Hynes. Thank you to Solange, Sebastian, and everyone at Collège Châteaubriand for welcoming us with open arms. The people of Guiscriff greeted us with such enthusiasm and smiles, making the experience truly wholesome. We are grateful to Mr. Duignan and Ms. Gildea for allowing us to go on this trip. Lastly, we are incredibly thankful to Leargas for granting us Erasmus funding for this wonderful tour for the second year in a row.

To anyone given the chance to go on an Erasmus trip, we urge you to seize the opportunity. In just eight days, we made lifelong friends, experienced the beautiful culture of France, and created unforgettable memories!

 Here is a link to some photos.