Nicole Fulgoni
My Experience in Paris France
When I first decided to come on the School Of Education’s Service
Trip to Paris France, I did not know what to expect. It was not
only going to be my first service trip to another country, but it
was also my first time traveling to Europe. When I stepped off the
plane and began to journey through the streets of Paris my worries
disappeared and my optimism grew. I was not only surrounded by a
beautiful country with so many wonderful sights to be seen, but I
also had the most amazing time with a great group of people that I
will never forget.
The service venture I took part on was beneficial to me in so
many ways. As a future educator attending Saint John’s University,
I was pleased to live out the Vincentian mission that my university
has set forth for me. I volunteered at La Mie de Pan, which is a
soup kitchen located within Paris and several schools including
College Francois Truffaut, which is a junior high school, as well
as Notre Dame which is geared towards all grade levels.
My experience at the schools was a positive learning experience.
I was exposed to a new way of teaching and a new educational
system. I was able to compare and contrast the differences between
the French educational system, as well as the American educational
system. It was very interesting to see the different teaching
styles that teachers from different countries set forth in their
classroom. For example, whenever a figure of importance walks in
the room the children stand. The virtue of respect was evident in
each classroom environment I was exposed in. The French students
were also very advanced in learning the English Language and many
of the children I interacted with spoke it very well. The children
were tremendously eager to ask questions and learn more about the
United States. I was happy to share stories with them, as well as
listen to their experiences in school and living in France.
Dean Willis and Joe Sciortino provided me with an experience
that I will never forget. We not only represented the mission
of our school, but we got a better understanding of another culture
and how they operate in the classrooms. We also were reminded
of the importance of giving back to others by working in the soup
kitchen. All the things I have learned on this trip I will keep
with me forever!
Jenny O’Keefe, Service Learning Reflection
When I was preparing for this trip I didn’t know what to expect,
but as I approach the end I have realized that this is one of the
best experiences of my life. I tried to prep as much as I could by
buying books, pocket translators and maps before leaving but none
of those things can prepare you for the feelings you have when you
are standing under the Eiffel tower or sitting in Mass at Notre
Dame Cathedral. The knowledge and experiences this trip has
given me is more than I ever expected.
I have participated in community service with St. Johns in
Queens but to do it here in France is such a rewarding and
different experience. One of my favorite memories from this trip
was my time at La Mie de Pan, which is a soup kitchen in
Paris. It allowed me to get a better insight to their culture
and way of life. A local French volunteer told me how it is more
acceptable for many ranges of people to come there for dinner as
opposed to New York where it is mostly people who are living on the
streets and is their only meal of the day. He said that a lot of
people go to save money or it is convenient and on their way home
from work. I found this difference very interesting as I observed
all of the people we served throughout the night. Although there
was the language barrier I feel that I connected with many of them
and learned that a simple smile can go a long way. It was truly a
heartfelt experience to serve the people in need a hot meal and
temporary shelter from the cold.
The service and adventures we embarked on were all amazing, but
the most beneficial part of the trip for me was the time I spent in
the local Elementary School. Being that I am studying to be a
teacher and am beginning my student teaching when we return in the
Spring, this was such a helpful experience on both ends. I spent
the weekdays at a pre-school class of 25 children. The teacher
greatly appreciated our help as I appreciated all of the insight
her and the students gave me. The language barrier is difficult,
but it also showed me how much you can communicate non-verbal. It
was difficult in the beginning but the teacher had us as an active
part in the lesson and helping to guide the students in their work.
Through doing this I learned how to communicate with them through
gestures and form of non verbal communication and how much it
really does work. The teacher also asked us to speak in English to
them in hopes of them learning new English words. I did not realize
it day by day but in the end the students new some English as well
as we walked away knowing more French. I loved comparing and
contrasting the Education system here and at home although they are
very similar. I think this trip provided a once in a lifetime
experience in Education and I feel honored to be able to have
participated in such a trip.
In my opinion, Winter Intersession trips are incredible
opportunities that allow for such fantastic experiences without
having to leave home for too long. This is my second Winter Session
abroad and I would strongly recommend it to everyone! Through these
trips St. Johns has given me some of the best experiences of my
life and they are filled with friends, memories and knowledge I
will be forever grateful for and carry with me for the rest of my
life.
Paris Reflection - Daniels
My experience during this service trip may be a little different
than everybody else’s, except for maybe one other person. I am
staying to spend my last semester before graduation, studying
abroad so my emotions are different and plentiful. I arrived
earlier than everybody else so that I could compose myself, my
thoughts and my emotions as I embarked on this amazing journey and
got myself situated in order to help my peers upon their arrival.
This was my 5th and most exciting trip to Paris. To me Paris is
more than just a city; it is a simplicity of life, food, culture
and history. The etiquette and respect in which people treat each
other is unparalleled, everyone says Bon Jour, Merci, Au Revoir and
many other common courtesy phrases that are rarely heard back at
home. Paris to me is a majestic place where one can walk the
streets and encounter culture, stunning architecture, and history
on every corner. At first glance, with the beautiful architecture
and incredible 18th century street planning by Georges-Eugène
Haussmann there seems to be little or no poverty in Paris, but that
was just a facade as I would later find out. We went out as a group
on the Sunday after everyone arrived and spent all day at the
Louvre, The Seine River, and finished with a Boat ride that dropped
us all off at La Tour De Eiffel. An incredible sight at night, but
what amazed me most that night was the look of awe and appreciation
on the faces of those who had never been there before. To know that
we were all thankful for the opportunity to be there made me feel
great!
My service week was spent with two very intelligent and lovely
young ladies that made me feel comfortable, as I was the only guy
in the group with 15 other Belle Filles! We went to a wonderful
Middle School in Paris that catered to grades 6-8 and had students
ranging in ages from 11- 15. We were treated with respect and
hospitality and shared in class discussions about the American
culture and language. The students were very excited for us to be
there and I was even given the opportunity by the Principal to play
Basketball with an 8th grader who told me he always wanted to play
with an American and asked me if I played at Rucker Park and if I
was friends with Hot Sauce! I was even invited by one of the
teachers to teach a class on NYC my second favorite city! It was an
incredible experience as I was able to use visual aides and my
knowledge of both my home of NYC, and my adopted home of Paris to
explain to the kids the similarities and differences between both
great cities, which also happen to be two of my biggest
passions!
Our team leader Assistant Dean for the School of Education Charisse
Willis and her assistant Joseph Sciortino were incredible in
organizing the Service Trip and made sure that everyone had the
opportunity to learn, explore, discover and take home a sense of
accomplishment and solidarity amongst our small group. This was a
trip organized on behalf of The School of Education and being a
Psychology Major along with a few other students, The School of
Education students and staff made us all feel comfortable and gave
us a sense of belonging that I enjoyed very much.
One of the events organized was a daily volunteer schedule at a
soup kitchen called La Mie De Pain. This was the most emotional
experience for me as it finally hit me where I was and how
incredible this journey was going to be. I grew up as an under
privileged youth with a single mother who spoke little English, and
for me to be able to receive a College Education and much less be
able to Study Abroad is something that at the age of 5 I would have
never thought possible, which at the age of 21 was still something
I thought impossible. It wasn’t until that night in the soup
kitchen surrounded by good people helping other good people to find
a warm place to eat and enjoy a conversation in another language
that I realized that the impossible had now become a reality which
I was living. Here I am a College kid from NYC standing in a soup
kitchen in Paris serving French and other Europeans what could
possibly be their only hot meal of the day. This was very emotional
for me and I began crying tears of joy, pain, understanding,
appreciation and love for myself, my family and those around
me.
I feel that this has been the greatest experience of my life, which
says a lot since I have lead an incredible life filled with unique
experiences. I have spent the night at Ellis Island when the museum
was closed, exploring its many historical aspects, I have met and
been invited into the homes of many celebrities and important
cultural icons of our time, I have been to the Statue of Liberty
after closing, I have been to the Grammy awards shows and after
parties, I have been backstage at concerts, hung out with bands and
all those experiences mean nothing in comparison to the experiences
that I’ve shared with the people that I have met and gotten close
to on this Service Learning Trip, in what I believe to be the most
Beautiful City in the World: Paris. And as my peers leave and I
head over to Rome to begin my semester as part of the Discover the
World program, I pray to God that the people that I meet are as
incredible as Amanda I., Jenny, Niquelle, Alex S., Charaun,
Vanessa, Jaclyn, Lori, Katie Alysha, Amanda P., Alex F., Lauren,
Dea-Marie, Nicole, Dean Willis and Mr. Sciortino. Thank you all for
giving and sharing with me the Best Time of my Life!