Students from Greenfield Community College recently enjoyed a trip to France which not only enriched their linguistic and historical experience, but also gave them the opportunity to enjoy the local culture in the Somme and Paris regions. The students from both the Aycliffe Site and Sunnydale Campus were privileged to be in the battlefields during the week of the 100 years’ commemorations of the Somme, and were able to visit the Canadian site at Beaumont Hamel, the Historial de la Grande Guerre museum and to see lots of artefacts from the First World War, as well as the Mill Road cemetery where students engaged in the poignant process of looking for possible relatives. A particular highlight was a visit to Thiepval Woods where they had a guided tour of the trenches which have been uncovered by archaeologists, together with an enthralling commentary from a volunteer which was a very moving experience for all. The trip then ventured onwards to Paris, where students were able to savour the views of Paris by night and the Champs Elysées as well as to climb the steps to visit and enjoy the views from the Basilica of Sacré Coeur and Montmartre, where some students asked for portraits to be done. They continued to enjoy a river cruise along the Seine, complete with a commentary of the surrounding historical buildings. The final mission of the very busy trip was to visit the Eiffel Tower, which everyone enjoyed despite a heavy rain shower!