The students' first glimpse of Brest is the study center where their host families meet them for the first time. This is also where the classes and activities take place. The Centre de Kéraudren hosts groups throughout the year, but they always look forward to June when we arrive. There is a soccer field, rose garden, and trail that winds through a wooded area. The program uses four classrooms where the classes in conversation, grammar, literature, and culture take place. Lunch is served in the cafeteria. The afternoon activities take place in a variety of places, from the classrooms to the park. One day of the week is spent at a municipal sports facility where students can play soccer, tennis, basketball, or volleyball.
There are many reasons to love the city of Brest, for it ia a bustling modern city with an authentic Breton atmosphere. Rue de Siam, named after the King of Siam who once took a famous walk up the street, is lined up with all kinds of interesting shops. Downtown Brest has much more to offer than a similar sized American city. Students have no problem handling a few pains au chocolat before going home to their host family's dinner. Usually students can be found wandering about stores such as La Sonothèque, La Brioche Dorée, Dialogue, Maxi Livres, and Monoprix.
Other reasons why Brest is great are the public botanical garden of Stangalard, l'Hôtel de Ville (townhall or Ti Ker in Breton), les Jeudis du Port (Thursday at the Port), le Centre Leclerc, la Tour Tanguy (Tanguy Tower), Oceanapolis, and le presquîle de Plougastel (Plougastel peninsula). The garden of Stangalard is located on the east side of town and is a great place to spend an afternoon walking on the many paths that weave their way around small ponds practically all the way to the harbor. L'Hôtel de Ville is only fun if you are sitting on the steps under the building (which is conveniently hidden from view) in front of the dancing fountain, with views all the way to the harbor. Over the years this has also been the site of many interesting events : a million people celebrating France's World Cup 1999 victory, Bastille day celebrations, a theater troupe for children, the Festival of Music's main stage, and the embarrassment of half the students (and one staff member) playing in the fountain like 4 year olds. Les Jeudi du Port is a summer tradition in Brest that takes place, you guessed it, every Thursday in July and August. Joan Baez once performed, but normally the musicians are more traditional and from the region. It is family oriented and is a great place for students to practice their Breton dancing. The Centre Leclerc is not specific Brest, but students will insist how much fun this French equivalent to Meijer is. How strange it is to be in such familiar territory (i.e.: shopping) yet not to feel totally at ease. It also makes students wonder if Meijer would be a lot better with a huge selection of French cheeses, French bread and pastries, French yogurt, French wine, French music, French magazines, and French people. Oceanapolis is a giant clam-shaped aquarium offering a glimpse of fish and marine life found in the Brest harbor. The highlights include a tank of seals and a petting zoo, where students can play with crabs and other bug-like things. From Oceanapolis the view of the Plougastel peninsula dominates the landscape across the bay. Connected to Brest by the first concrete bridge in Europe (now a pedestrian bridge) and by a contemporary bridge, Plougastel is not only the home of several Brest host-families, it is also the launch pad of adventures into the peninsula. Previous programs have gone on bike trips, sampled strawberries at the strawberry festival, and witnessed the traditional "pardon", a religious procession that takes place in the summer in villages across Brittany.
Weekends are spent with the host family, usually doing things that typical French families do: hiking, bike riding, sailing, or heading off to the beach, anything but sitting around watching TV. While there are some surprising cultural experiences to be had at the beach, once adjusted, this can be one of the most enjoyable things to do on a hot July afternoon. French families are usually quite active and enjoy walking around in the beautiful hills surrounding Brest, sailing across the bay, if they have a boat, or visiting lovely quaint villages. Even families that do relatively little in the way of physical exertion find other things to do, like Sunday afternoon just after church. This is a great time to have a stroll through the outdoor market that takes up three city blocks and offers everything from candy to seafood. Afterwards there is no good reason not to stop at one of the many cafés for an espresso or cappuccino. People-watching is one of the most popular sports in France, and with the purchase of a single item at any café a patron can stay all day.
Several excursions mark the program's progression. One such event is the sailing afternoon that the city of Brest offers us each year. The group is divided into four groups and each is assigned to a boat and an instructor. The boats head out in the harbor, where students learn that sailboats really cannot tip over no matter how bad student sailors are at steering. Another special day is the 4th of July, which comprises two events: a dinner with students, staff, and host families complete with little American flags on all tables, plus a ceremony with the mayor and representatives of the French Navy at the foot of the American monument. For the past few years, students have been invited to participate in Breton dancing lessons, arguably one of the most entertaining events of the program. Students, host family members, and staff join hands, elbows, and pinky fingers in a night that always ends with tired but happy participants.
The two excursions into the surrounding countryside take students to great examples of Breton architecture. The firs t takes students to Locronan, and Quimper, located in the south Finistère. The day begins in Quimper, where students will tour the amazing St. Corentin cathedral. Students will then have lunch on the coast. The day ends at Locronan, a well-preserved village that was the set of several movies because of its decidedly un-modern appearance. These cities are quite authentic and offer a glimpse into the way Brest once looked. The second excursion is a two-day event that takes students through Dinan, St. Malo, and the Mont-St. Michel on day one, then to the American WWII museum in Caen, and the beaches and American cemetery in Normandy on day two. Dinan is a quiet town
that has many architectural gems hidden in winding streets set amongst the hills of Brittany. After Dinan, students venture to St. Malo, a walled city that was nearly destroyed during WWII, but was painstakingly restored to its pre-war beauty. The highlight of the day is the Mont-St. Michel, ancient monastery and modern day tourist trap. The goal is to hurry past the hoards of tourists and shops up to the foot of the mount where the abbey awaits. Students pass the night on the coast near Caen, in a youth hostel, ready for the next day's events which include the American WWII museum nearby, the American cemetery, Omaha Beach, and the Pointe du Hoc. The sequence gives students a brief history lesson of France in the context of WWII. Students return to Brest with a deeper appreciation of what happened during the famous dawn of D-Day, and with insight into how to make the world an even better place.
To reward the students for a summer of hard work, the last several days of the program are spent in the most beautiful city in the world: Paris. The first day is spent traveling from Brest to Paris, while taking a few key stops along the way. The first is to Chartres, one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world. From there, it's a short drive to Versailles, premier chateau of France. Students will tour the interior before heading outside into the wonderful gardens that Marie Antoinette and Louis XIV enjoyed. Days two and three are spent wandering the streets, museums, cafes, and shops of Paris. There are several activities offered by staff members, but for the most part students are free to see what they wish. Students will not want to miss the Louvre, the Centre Pompidou, Notre Dame, the Sacré-Coeur, the Latin Quarter, and the FNAC, th famous bookstore. On the morning of the fourth day, students return to America.
Brest is special for many reasons, one of which is the fact that American tourists are somewhat rare, making it an ideal location to avoid speaking English. The French language is only one exciting aspect of this city; it retains a distinctively Breton culture while offering a cosmopolitan view of France. Students will have only good things to say after experiencing the IU Honors Program in Brest.
There are many reasons to love the city of Brest, for it ia a bustling modern city with an authentic Breton atmosphere. Rue de Siam, named after the King of Siam who once took a famous walk up the street, is lined up with all kinds of interesting shops. Downtown Brest has much more to offer than a similar sized American city. Students have no problem handling a few pains au chocolat before going home to their host family's dinner. Usually students can be found wandering about stores such as La Sonothèque, La Brioche Dorée, Dialogue, Maxi Livres, and Monoprix.
and le presquîle de Plougastel (Plougastel peninsula). The garden of Stangalard is located on the east side of town and is a great place to spend an afternoon walking on the many paths that weave their way around small ponds practically all the way to the harbor. L'Hôtel de Ville is only fun if you are sitting on the steps under the building (which is conveniently hidden from view) in front of the dancing fountain, with views all the way to the harbor. Over the years this has also been the site of many interesting events : 
a million people celebrating France's World Cup 1999 victory, Bastille day celebrations, a theater troupe for children, the Festival of Music's main stage, and the embarrassment of half the students (and one staff member) playing in the fountain like 4 year olds. Les Jeudi du Port is a summer tradition in Brest that takes place, you guessed it, every Thursday in July and August. Joan Baez once performed, but normally the musicians are more traditional and from the region. It is family oriented and is a great place for students to practice their Breton dancing. The Centre Leclerc is not specific Brest, but students will insist how much fun this French equivalent to Meijer is. How strange it is to be in such familiar territory (i.e.:
shopping) yet not to feel totally at ease. It also makes students wonder if Meijer would be a lot better with a huge selection of French cheeses, French bread and pastries, French yogurt, French wine, French music, French magazines, and French people. Oceanapolis is a giant clam-shaped aquarium offering a glimpse of fish and marine life found in the Brest harbor. The highlights include a tank of seals and a petting zoo, where students can play with crabs and other bug-like things. From Oceanapolis the view of the Plougastel peninsula dominates the landscape across the bay. Connected to Brest by the first concrete bridge in Europe (now a pedestrian bridge) and by a contemporary bridge, Plougastel is not only the home of several Brest host-families, it is also the launch pad of adventures into the peninsula. Previous programs have gone on bike trips, sampled strawberries at the strawberry festival, and witnessed the traditional "pardon", a religious procession that takes place in the summer in villages across Brittany.
Weekends are spent with the host family, usually doing things that typical French families do: hiking, bike riding, sailing, or heading off to the beach, anything but sitting around watching TV. While there are some surprising cultural experiences to be had at the beach, once adjusted, this can be one of the most enjoyable things to do on a hot July afternoon. French families are usually quite active and enjoy walking around in the beautiful hills surrounding Brest, sailing across the bay, if they have a boat, or visiting lovely quaint villages. Even families that do relatively little in the way of physical exertion find other things to do, like Sunday afternoon just after church. This is a great time to have a stroll through the outdoor market that takes up three city blocks and offers everything from candy to seafood. Afterwards there is no good reason not to stop at one of the many cafés for an espresso or cappuccino. People-watching is one of the most popular sports in France, and with the purchase of a single item at any café a patron can stay all day.
t takes students to Locronan, and Quimper, located in the south Finistère. The day begins in Quimper, where students will tour the amazing St. Corentin cathedral. Students will then have lunch on the coast. The day ends at Locronan, a well-preserved village that was the set of several movies because of its decidedly un-modern appearance. These cities are quite authentic and offer a glimpse into the way Brest once looked. The second excursion is a two-day event that takes students through Dinan, St. Malo, and the Mont-St. Michel on day one, then to the American WWII museum in Caen, and the beaches and American cemetery in Normandy on day two. Dinan is a quiet town 
To reward the students for a summer of hard work, the last several days of the program are spent in the most beautiful city in the world: Paris. The first day is spent traveling from Brest to Paris, while taking a few key stops along the way. The first is to Chartres, one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world. From there, it's a short drive to Versailles, premier chateau of France. Students will tour the interior before heading outside into the wonderful gardens that Marie Antoinette and Louis XIV enjoyed. Days two and three are spent wandering the streets, museums, cafes, and shops of Paris. There are several activities offered by staff members, but for the most part students are free to see what they wish. Students will not want to miss the Louvre, the Centre Pompidou, Notre Dame, the Sacré-Coeur, the Latin Quarter, and the FNAC, th famous bookstore. On the morning of the fourth day, students return to America.
Brest is special for many reasons, one of which is the fact that American tourists are somewhat rare, making it an ideal location to avoid speaking English. The French language is only one exciting aspect of this city; it retains a distinctively Breton culture while offering a cosmopolitan view of France. Students will have only good things to say after experiencing the IU Honors Program in Brest.