Farewell Dinner, pack, to the airport and a final thought.

The grannies had established themselves as regulars at a restaurant near our hotel, so they decided their farewell dinner should be there. This left the rest of us to bid adieu together over a meal of what else but salad, beef bourgenoign, scalloped potatoes and delicious French pastries. As the group leader, it was my pleasure to stand and give a toast to our group and say a few kind words to our tour director, Guylaine. So the toast went something like this...

"For those that know me well, you know that I love to quote from the poem "The road to Ithika." Ithika is a mythological place that is said to exist in Greece and is where the riches at the end of the rainbow can be found. The poem however, describes that it's the long journey to the pot of gold that makes us rich, not the Gold itself. Our experience in Paris together is indeed a part of our "road to Ithika" and we leave here much richer than when we came. When we started all of this, we did it for you (the students) but I'd like to thank you for all that you have given to us (the teachers) this week because of your thoughtfulness, excitement, graciousness and giving spirit. Here's a toast to all of you.

Of course our week could not have been possible without having such an amazing tour director as Guylaine who has orchestrated the best possible experience for us by working hard and keeping our happiness and exposure to Paris as her first priority. We have certainly made a new friend in Paris."

You should know that we all shed a few tears together and then presented Guylaine with her tips from all of us along with a bound journal that she had admired earlier in the week while in the St. Chapelle. Mrs. Satterwhite's group (majority of the students) had pitched in money to also give her a beautiful bouqet of fresh flowers. It was easy to see she was really touched. Guylaine devulged to the adults at her table that she was moved by our group as we were exceptionally easy to work for by being punctual, polite, affectionate and just plain kind to everyone. She said she needed so badly to have this kind of week with people like us because after she leaves us at the airport she heads home to Normandy in hopes to catch her father before he dies. She said she called him last night and said "please keep your eyes open until I come papa." It is hard to imagine that she has been dealing with the loss of her father while showing us a good time and has been full of laughter and goodness to us all week. Of course we are saddened by her news and feel even more connected to her at the end of our journey. We will all be thinking of her this week for certain, knowing what she will be faced with.

When we got back to the hotel everyone had to pack up and be ready to report back down in the lobby by 3:45 am, after a few hours nap, and be on the chartered bus to the airport by 4:15. On par with the rest of the trip to this point, all participants were there and on time and still smiling. We are still amazed at how wonderful everyone has been. It's almost scary how few issues we have had to tackle but very sweet. We bid Paris a final adieu from the bus, with tired bodies and busy minds for all that we have done and seen this week. It has been an experience that will change us all and bind us together in a way that is unique to any other teacher and student. Thank you for sharing your beautiful children with us for one magical week in Paris. It is our pleasure to be a part of their lives. Mme Savage, Mme Satterwhite, Mme Sadleir and Mme Flynn.