Yellowknife (Apr 11/03) - Sir John Franklin students learned a few life lessons during a 10-day excursion through France.

Thirty-one Sir John Franklin students and five chaperons spent March break touring Paris, Avignon, Aix en provence, Nimes, Beaux and Nice to learn about French culture.

"We can tell them about French culture but until they live it nothing really sinks in," explained teacher and chaperon Rachell Simmons of the value of travel.

"Travel alone is education. It's a way of expanding a person's view of the world," said chaperon and teacher Steve Lacey.

Erin Olouson-Cleveland and Ryan McGreish enjoyed the excursion, especially seeing famous works of art like the Mona Lisa and touring the castle at Versaille.

"I thought there would be more French. It has become more anglicized than I expected," said Olouson-Cleveland, Grade 12, adding a lot of product labels included English words.

She discovered the importance of good pronunciation. Olouson-Cleveland tried using her French skills when calling the front desk of a hotel and the clerk answered her in Italian.

"Even pronunciation can change the whole definition of a word," said Simmons.

The students also learned a lesson in international politics.

The tour group, which included a group of Americans, was in Nice when war erupted in Iraq.

"Some people were concerned but I wasn't particularly," said Olouson-Cleveland.

The Yellowknife students were told to stay inside so they wouldn't be mistaken for Americans during a peace protest, said Lacey.

"I had someone spit at us and call us stupid Americans," said McGreish, Grade 11, after a shopping expedition.

This was the third trip to France the school has hosted.