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RE French students immerse themselves in culture during exchange trip to Nîmes, France

Seventeen Ransom Everglades students studying French embarked on a transformative experiential learning exchange this past June in Nîmes, France. During their stay, students lived with host families from the Lycée Alphonse Daudet, gaining firsthand insight into French daily life, language, and customs. Their arrival coincided with the vibrant Feria de Nîmes, an annual festival centered around Spanish-style bullfighting. The 10-day trip allowed them to join their host families in experiencing the colorful celebrations and local traditions while participating in enriching cultural excursions across the region.
The first group outing took students to the Carrières des Lumières, a stunning multimedia art show set within a former marble quarry in Les Baux-de-Provence. The 2025 exhibit featured the works of Claude Monet and Henri Rousseau, brought to life through music and dynamic projections. Afterward, the group explored the historic hilltop town of Les Baux, including its impressive medieval castle and picturesque stone village.

In a joint excursion with their French peers and biology teacher Dimitri Ferracci, students visited the Perrier natural springs and bottling plant in Vergèze, learning about the unique sourcing of naturally carbonated mineral water. The day continued with a tour of Aigues-Mortes, a fortified medieval town, and a climb atop a striking white salt mountain in the Camargue salt marshes, famous for their pink hue.

Later in the week, students traveled to the Pont du Gard, a remarkably preserved Roman aqueduct and UNESCO World Heritage site. They explored the accompanying museum and spent a relaxing afternoon along the Gard riverbanks.

The final excursion took the group to Marseille, where they toured the Grotte Cosquer, a replica of a prehistoric cave adorned with paintings dating back over 30,000 years. The day concluded with a stroll through Le Panier, Marseille’s historic old town filled with narrow streets, local art and charming shops.

RE's student travelers: Carmela Brana '28, Samuel Bussel-Alonso '27, Garoe del Coso Pena '27, Santiago Gil Rivero '26, Isha Mavinkurve '28, Lila Mosse '27, Lucas Rua '26, Girish Raju '27, Sofia Rhone-Fernandez '26, Gabriella Rothberg '27, Alexandra Russoniello '26, Julieta Salvat '27, Diego Stebelski de Alba '26, Ellie Stokes '26, Albert Uster Valdivieso '28, Zoe Weber '27 and Sabine Wolfensberger '27. The trip was led by RE faculty members Jeannine Lehr, Maria Eugenia Abrante, and Maria Elena Soto, who were joined by recently retired French teacher Dominique McKenna.

The experience offered students a profound connection to French language and culture, and created lasting memories and friendships on both sides of the Atlantic.
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Founded in 1903, Ransom Everglades School is a coeducational, college preparatory day school for grades 6 - 12 located on two campuses in Coconut Grove, Florida. Ransom Everglades School produces graduates who "believe that they are in the world not so much for what they can get out of it as for what they can put into it." The school provides rigorous college preparation that promotes the student's sense of identity, community, personal integrity and values for a productive and satisfying life, and prepares the student to lead and to contribute to society.


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