That was the first familiar French phrase I heard upon landing at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris last week. French is a beautiful, but mumbly language whose words I understand only from previous random knowledge. Luckily, our group had a few French-speakers to assist in some translating throughout our Global Economics Long Study Tour last week. Our study tour started the Sunday before Easter Sunday in Paris and ended by Friday in Brussels, Belgium. I really enjoyed the contrast between the two cities aesthetically, historically, and economically. Here is the SparkNotes version of my trip:
Sunday, March 24
Arrive in Paris. Eat liver pate, duck, and chocolate cake for dinner. Drink wine.
Monday, March 25
Visit the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) and Banque de France. See the eiffel tower for the first time on our canal tour at night. Fall in love with said tower!
Tuesday, March 26
Visit Societe Generale Bank and the World Bank (Societe Generale is a very large European bank located in Paris’ financial district; World Bank provides funding to projects in underdeveloped countries). Eat French onion soup and creme brulee. Meet up with the other GE section to walk around the city for my last night in Paris.
Wednesday, March 27
Depart on a train to Brussels, exhausted. Bike tour around the city led by our awesome guide Caesar. Eat mussels in Brussels (had to)!
Thursday, March 28
View some surrealist art at Magritte Museum. Visit Bruegal Think Tank and EU Parliament- my favorite academic visits of the trip.
Friday, March 29*
Eat street waffles with Nutella (these are everywhere in Brussels). Attend a CHOCOLATE WORKSHOP at Chocolaterie Duval factory. Head back to CPH by the evening!
*Happy Birthday Dad!!!