7th Annual Day of Remembrance of the Slave Trade, Slavery, and Their Abolition

Bonjour a Paris!


Today our class and I visited the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens for France's 7th annual Day of Remembrance of the Slave Trade, Slavery, and Their Abolition.

As has been tradition since the first commemoration in 2006, an official ceremony was held. The garden was closed to all but those who had been invited and security was tight at the one entrance that was open for the morning ceremony. In order to get into this ceremony, one needed a personal invitation by the President of France, and photo identification, such as a passport. 

There were many famous and important people at this event.We got introduced to the President of the French Senate, French historians, famous artist, famous French athletes, and famous music artists. We even saw the newly elected President of France at this event, President François Hollande! There were a lot of VIPs; we were in the presence of France greatness at this commencement. I felt honored to say the least.

President-elect François Hollande

Senate President Jean-Pierre Bel

This ceremony takes place in order to acknowledge that slavery and the slave trade was a crime against humanity.  During this ceremony, speakers stated how many countries were involved with the slave trade, and how France is the only country that recognizes slavery as a crime against humanity. They speakers discussed how remembering is a form of strength and forgetting is a form of weakness. Hence why they have this celebration. France must remember must never forget the past so they will always have a brighter future. This commencement ceremony symbolizes and represents France's values: Freedom, Equality, and Fraternity

At the end of the ceremony, attendees were invited to stroll around the garden to enjoy its beauty and to see the sculpture and commemorative plaque. Although the entire ceremony took place in French, I knew I was apart of history at this very moment!

Musee du Quai Branly (May 8)

Today was another packed and eventful day in the City of Lights. Filled with numerous places to explore, today we went to the Musee du Quai Branly (African Art Museum).
Prior to our departure to the museum, we met our Professor outside the Musée de l'Homme (the Museum of Man). The museum of Man has the largest french collection on the definition, history, and life of man. It is filled with galleries of Anthropology, Ethnology, and Prehistory of man. This is the museum that held the remains of one of the most famous Hottentot Venus - Sarah "Saartjie" Baartman. Sarah Baartman was an African woman who was studied by Europeans in order to find differences between races and genders. More information can be found on her through google. :-)

Another reason we met at this location was because the museum hosted an amazing view of the Eiffel Tower on its outside. Here we took advantage and captured countless pictures. It is such a beautiful sight. It was breathtaking. Outside the museum there was also street shows taking place. We took the time to observe one. Four french gentlemen were putting on a hip hop show in front of the museum. THey had music, props, costumes, the whole nine. They danced a choreographed piece for about five minutes. They were so good. It was awesome and entertaining. It made us want to get up and dance with them (but we didn't haha).

After the show, we finally made our way to the museum intended. This museum was beautiful. Not only was it an African Art museum, but it hosted art history from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas (Non Western Civilizations). The museum brings together collections from the Museum of Man and the National Museum of the Arts of Africa and Oceania. Of approximately 300,000 pieces to choose from, the Musée du Quai Branly presents 3,500 objects. There is a lot of history stored here, and I enjoyed all the pieces I saw.

When our museum trip was over, we all grabbed lunch at the Latin Quarters. I was in heaven. Here there were streets and alley ways filled with a variety of food places to choose from. There were Italian Restaurants, Gyro restaurants, American Restaurants (hamburgers and fries), french restaurants, gelato stores; this place had everything! I did not know where to go or where to begin. I settled on a Gyro joint and it was amazing. I had never had a gyro before, but believe I will be having one again. It was great for a lack of a better word at the time.

Once again, Paris has left me satisfied for the day. Fill you in on my adventures tomorrow! Au revoir!

First Day of Class/ The Louvre

Today was our first official day of class! Our classroom is located at Reid Hall. This building is own and ran by Columbia University in New York. Numerous colleges and Universities occupy the rooms in this hall for other class. It is not to crowded, but pleasant to see other faces from the United States.

Our class was short. Today was mostly spent on the introductions, and our first impressions of Paris and the people who inhabit it. My first impression of the people in Paris was that they are not very friendly. Southern Hospitality truly only exist in the South. Paris residents almost remind me of people in New York; they walk fast, DO NOT SMILE, do not speak, and have no shame about staring at you. The attitude in Paris is completely different, and I have to get use to this. In Paris, if you smile at a stranger, they think you are either crazy or up to something.

After class we took our first field trip. We went to the Musée du Louvre. The Louvre is one of the largest museums in Paris. This museum use to be the former royal palace, Palais du Louvre. Housed in this museum is the painting of Mona Lisa, as well as The Famous Roman Statue. This was fun. I enjoyed all the paintings and sculptures the museum had to offer. Once again, I was left wanting to experience more of Paris and cannot wait until tomorrow.

Bonjour De Paris!

Bonjour de Paris! (Hello From Paris!)

Sorry for taking long to write, but I am finally settled down in Paris. The past two days have been crazy, eventful, and full of fun and excitement. Let me catch you up.

DAY 1/2

Day one was full of excitement in Paris. I did not know what to expect, but as I got off the plane, chills overcame my body. I did not know what to do first! After spending 12hrs on an airplane, my group and I was ready to explore this new city and country. However, we hopped into a shuttle and drove across the city to our hotel.

When we arrived at our hotel, we settled in and decided to explore our surroundings. By our hotel there was an open market taking place. Here they selled fresh fruit, fresh raw meat, and fresh fish. There were tons of people at this market. I learned that every Sunday, farmers bring their fruits and meat from their farms and sell them at this location. This was something I have never seen before. As we continued to walk, cafe's took over the street. Almost every other store is a Cafe. However, I decided to stick to my American ways for the day and eat at McDonalds. Even though McDonald's is an American store, ordering in French is hard. Even though the items were still in English, the cashiers only spoke French. At this moment is where I came to truly realize that I was in Paris, and I needed to learn French and learn it quick, or I will be finding myself hiding.

It was very hard to find dinner on the first night. A couple of us decided to go exploring and found a Pizza place (I know! Italian food in France). We simply could not shed our American ways the first day. The pizza is definitely not the same as American pizza but was still very good.

As we traveled back to the our hotel, we noticed a big celebration going on by our hotel. Police had blocked off the main street, and people were outside cheering and screaming words in French. On the streets that were not blocked off, people were driving and honking their horns. Music started playing, and people were dancing and cheering. WE had come to find out that the French Presidential Election was today and the winner was announced. Francois Hollende is the new President of France. The citizens of France was ecstatic. I learned it was a close election but a lot of people wanted him to win. If he did not win, instead of celebrations, there probably would have been riots.

As the celebration continued, a concert started to happen, and THE NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT actually drove down our street! At the end of our street, he gathered and made a speech to the public that was televised. I wondered why he was here, in this town, out of all of France. I learned that the location of our hotel was in the heart of Paris, The Bastille. Now that is awesome. A lot of events and historical things happen here. This made me really excited about my trip and the things I am going to experience in Paris. There is a lot to discovered, unfold, and I cannot wait to share it all. Until next time!

From The City of Lights