Return from Paris

AFTER ONE WEEK in Paris it's hard to summarize the trip in a one post (a post that wouldn't bore you to tears, anyway). But I should at least report on some of the high and low points:

• As tuned in as I am to the internet on a daily basis, it's refreshing to be completely without it for a while. Kind of reminded me of the good ol' 1990s.
• Grading 30 bac exams in two days (each being about 10-12 pages) is tough on the brain. If I have to read 300 pages of average writing I'd rather it be a David Baldacci novel. (To be fair, the exams were, on the whole, quite good).
• It's tough to beat a cup of coffee at a cafe where all the chairs face toward the street.
• While there I also spent three days administering oral exams for students at some of our schools in Paris. That part was tiring, but quite fun since I was at least interacted with students. Orals exams were 20 minutes each at I administered about 12-15 per day.
• Ate great food! Having a daily food allowance helped; it's just easier to order the €35 'menu' when you know you'll get the money back.
• Had dinner at Cecile's house where I finally got to meet her father and her brother. Emmanuelle was also there and they prepared a wonderful dinner. Merci Cecile!
• Also got to have dinner with Bobak -- a former student of mine from DC. He was visiting Paris with his family.
• Stayed in three hotels during the week (partly because three of the days required work in the suburbs): one was in the Les Halles area (metro: Chatelet); one was in the suburb of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (birthplace of Louis XIV); and one in St. Germain-Paris (metro: Odeon). Two of the three were nice. One, not so much.
• Flew to Paris, but took the TGV on the return. The ride through Burgundy and Provence is incredibly beautiful.
• Brought treats back for the kids -- clothing mostly. Note: if you live in France and you have sone named Henry like we do, getting a gift is really quite simple: a Thierry Henry jersey.
• Next round of meetings in Paris is October.

CJS