Notre Dame

A Post from Ericka, a student in Tudor England abroad:

Today, we experienced the sites and smells of the Paris Metro Transit, Notre Dame, The Latin Quarter where all the students live, St. Julian's Church, St. Severin's Church, The Sorbonne, and The Flying Market. Some places smelled better than others, while memories were also evoked by sights, sounds, and even rituals.

Coming on this trip took a lot of planning for everyone involved. Dr. Halvorson has been planning everything in painstaking detail for a very long time, and it is definitely evident as we follow his itinerary. At the Notre Dame, we were able to experience the wonder of an early Gothic cathedral while learning its history. Scattered throughout the church are smaller side chapels added and paid for by individuals or families for private worship. Also interspersed about Notre Dame are various saints and areas to light candles. Today I took the opportunity to light candles and pray for those I know who are battling, and have battled, cancer.

I was raised in the Eastern Orthodox faith where my grandmother from Slovakia taught me about lighting candles, and that the flames and smoke are like prayers rising to God. I have not followed through with this ritual of childhood for many years until today. It felt good, peaceful, and right.

The day became progressively better after our visit to the Notre Dame, and the Flying Market offered winter vegetables and fruits, along with other items for sale. Many of us took the opportunity to purchase inexpensive hats, creme fraiche, a tablecloth (yes, that was my big moment), and had lunch at a lovely cafe. The Flying Market is termed such due to the different location on a daily basis. It literally "flies from spot to spot" only landing for the few hours it is open.

Dr. Halvorson has us going to the Louvre in the morning with our tour guide Gabrielle. We are truly blessed to be a part of this group with such a phenomenal professor to learn from.