As I write, students are settling into courses for the spring semester in Angers.
Ours may be a strained moment for Franco-American relations in the media, but
here on the ground we are well integrated and the students are enjoying a variety
of contacts--through school, volunteer work, and internships--with the local Angevin
community.
It has been a busy, eventful year.
- Fulbright visit: In December, a delegation of students went to Paris to
meet with a representative of the Fulbright Foundation, where we received many
useful tips on applying for post-graduate grants. The compiled notes and
advice were then shared with the group during a debriefing lunch; our notes will
be placed on the locally-operated SUNDEF website for all to consult:
http://www.nd.edu/~jdouthwa/SUNDEF.html/Angershomepage.html
- Pfaff visit: In January we travelled to Paris to meet William Pfaff (ND
'49; honorary PhD, '91), author on international politics and columnist for the
International Herald Tribune, who told us about his inspiring days at ND
as an "O'Malley man," and his experiences as a writer for various newspapers.
He also shared his views on the present situation in Iraq, and American interventionism
overall. For more on Pfaff, see http://www.tmsfeatures.com/tmsfeatures/byline.jsp?custid=67&bylineid=160
- Events for the spring semester include:
- Two special courses
sponsored by Notre Dame include Prof. Xavier Jardin (Institut d'Etudes Politiques,
Paris) on "La formation des systèmes politiques européens" and Prof.
Douthwaite (ND, Prof of French), "La Révolution française et la contre-révolution:
L'histoire et la littérature."
- March:
A spiritual retreat at the Sanctuaire Notre-Dame de Béhuard, on Ile de Béhuard,
led by Rev. Patrick Gaffney, C.S.C., with the help of Michael Downs (Campus Ministries).
Highlights of this tranquil setting include the 15th-century chapel, perched on
a rock, and walking paths around the island. (We pray for dry weather, so
the Loire can recede sufficiently to allow us to get there!)
- March:
During his visit, Prof. Gaffney will also share with students some insights into
his exciting life as an Anthropologist doing field work around the world--and
the importance of languages in accessing information on other cultures.
- March:
Visit to the Musée Carnavalet, Paris, for participants in the course on "La
Révolution française et la contre-révolution." After a guided tour
of the museum's revolutionary collection, students prepare a dossier on l'art
révolutionnaire. For more on this museum, see http://www.paris.fr/musees/Musee_Carnavalet/musee/accueil_musee.htm
- April:
Visit-conference to counter-revolutionary "sites of memory" with Prof.
Gérard Gengembre, Université de Caen (author of La Contre-révolution ou l'histoire
désespérante). Our visit will take us to St Florent-le-vieil, le cimetière
des martyres, and other local sites of counter-revolutionary activity during the
tragic years of 1793-95.
- May: Visit to Brussels, to the European Parliament and other sites.
Building on the course on "La formation des systèmes politiques européens,"
this visit introduces students to the institutions of the European Union, and
gives them an insight into US state department interaction with the EU in Brussels.
News on student initiatives: we are very proud to announce that this spring,
students are taking courses at five institutions in town: the Centre
International d'Etudes françaises, the Université Catholique de l'Ouest (regular
cours universitaires, with French students), the Conservatoire National
de Musique, the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, and the Ecole Supérieure des Sciences
Commerciales d'Angers. One student has arranged for an internship with
an e-business company, and others are seeking similar independent projects.
Many students are keeping the Notre Dame spirit alive through their tireless
efforts as volunteer English teachers and story-readers at local schools and
libraries. More on these activities in Bulletin no. 3, later this spring!
Amicalement,
Julia Douthwaite (aka "Mme Julia)