Great Day at Lycée Saint Marc and Lyon by Declan Webb (Thursday, 30 May)

    This morning I woke myself up at around 7:00, after getting ready Clarisse and I went to the train station in order to get to school, on the way we talked about the day before. I went into today a bit lost as I had neglected to check what was on the docket the night before as I was so tired from the day we had ziplining. Though this day was less tiring than ziplining it was no less entertaining.

    I had a great time in the morning at Lycée Saint Marc, enjoying their English language class wherein I got to exercise my voice talent redubbing a zombie movie in english. Soon after I had to say goodbye to Clarisse and go with the rest of the BC High boys to Bernachon’s Chocolate Store. On the way there me and the boys got to arguing the woes of various economic systems and how we had enjoyed Lyon so far. Upon arriving we were greeted by two long tables set with light brioche buns and after a short while we were granted a taste of some of the finest hot chocolate and chocolates I have ever had the pleasure of consuming. We then toured the back of the store, finding a factory as interesting as Willy Wonka’s inside, with a variety of beautiful sights and smells, and curious inventions–the purposes of which being the conjuration, creating, and clarification of chocolat-y confections: 

Pictured: (Top Left) Conor Fory upon being discovered inspecting the machinations of the grand factory, (Top Right) A sack of cocoa beans that have made a long journey from the far reaches of the globe in order to have their true destinies manifested,  (Bottom Left) Thomas Lewis-Bowen after being asked who has two thumbs and loves chocolate, (Bottom Right) Andrew Shine shortly following a shakedown at the hands of the chocolate cops who, when asked for a reason were said to have stated,”[Andrew] clearly adores his chocolate, we just want to make sure he acquires it all strictly according to the rules”.

    Then we took a short walk to the train station in order to get back to the school and upon finding more time on our hands than we needed our fearless leaders decided we would be allowed some time with our buddies to go shopping at the stores surrounding the high school. Though only a ~40 minute adventure, I remember it fondly as we explored a manga store that had many interesting figurines and even a manga that I had meant to get around to reading that I was able to buy. 

    Then at lunch I had the pleasure of eating quiche at a local bakery with some friends of Clarisse’s. We discussed many stories of America and France alike and found more to bond over than there was to separate us. 

    After making it back to my teachers right on time at around 1:30, we left for a boat tour of the Rhône river that cuts through Lyon. After much time walking and talking, learning new words from Mme McGrath that could be played on the metaphorical card game that is conversation in a new language we arrived at our tour boat’s launch position. And after only a short solo review of the hip hop album Operation: Doomsday, the boat was set and ready to go. We saw Lyon through the ages, and whether it be the Roman-style architecture or the statue of the man who earned the title of “The Good German” in France, it became clear that Lyonnaise culture spanned multitudes.  There was much to see from the modern day as well, such as the Museum of Confluence, whose design calls to mind the spaceships that lie within the worlds of Frank Herbert and Douglas Adams alike, or the headquarters of Euro-News in France that–due to two large holes and a bright green hue has been lovingly redubbed the “Pencil Sharpener” by the Lyonnaise. Though sad to get off the boat, I was happy to get out of the sun for the sake of my arms, which had–due to my forgetting of my sunscreen–turned a bright red. We followed the metro as far as we could, marching ever onwards in the direction of the Confluence Mall.

    At said mall I enjoyed a waffle and a mango shake, the waffle being one of the best I have had in my entire life. Conor, Andrew, and I then continued upwards so that Andrew The Ever Train Watching could get the perfect shot of a train that would pass through the mall. Whilst Andrew prepared said shot I took some time to read the manga that I had purchased earlier in the day, creating a calming and simple end to what had been a lovely, adventurous day with BCHigh.

    After a short walk to the metro then to the school I was picked up by my host sister

Clarisse and we took a walk back home. I was treated to a trip to an ice cream store and a thorough immersion in French clothes shopping. We went home, and I began to write something I would later finish, with the words,”This morning I woke myself…”. As I now sit, having completed yet another day abroad I consider how truly wonderful it is to be where I am, and am subsequently filled with sadness that I will leave in just over a week. I appreciate though that there is inherent beauty to be found in the things we scarcely experience, the life I live in France is new, and awe filled. I know that on some level the same was true for Clarisse when she spent her time in Boston. Our lives are ordinary to ourselves but to share in another’s world and culture can awaken our souls, and I only hope for a blessed experience like mine to be had by all.

    This is cadet Declan Webb of the discovery vessel “BCH Lyon 2024”, at 0.0000000000625828 light years out from home base, signing off.