In the summer of 1965 my best friend and her mother invited me to go with them on a month long tour of Europe – I was thrilled! My parents were not so thrilled. I didn’t get to go. However, in 1967 Central Missouri State College offered a summer abroad to attend school at the Universite de Dijon in France. I guess my parents thought that it would be great if I went to Europe, supervised, and attended school. I was thrilled! I already had two semesters of college French so I wasn’t afraid of speaking the language or the coursework.
I got a passport and off we went! Several of us from CMSC and a few others from different colleges and universities in Missouri. We left in early June, on a blue Braniff airplane, and arrived in Paris. We took a very rickety and unairconditioned bus to Dijon. After nearly twenty seven long and sleepless hours, we arrived in Dijon. I don’t have much of a memory of that trip and lost an entire day upon arrival due to sleeping!
A little history – The Universite de Dijon was founded in 1722 at the request of French King Louis XV as a school of law. The sciences, arts and medicine were added in 1809 by Emperor Napoleon I. The name was changed to the Universite de Bourgogne in 1984. Located in the center of Dijon, you can imagine the grandeur and elegance of that old campus!
Our dormitory was about a mile from the actual campus, we only slept and studied there. We had our meals and classes on the actual campus. I remember arriving at my first class being excited and apprehensive at the same time. It was supposed to be a mid-level French language class. I guess the Universite de Dijon leveled their language classes differently than America. I already knew everything that was to be taught! I do remember the instructor entering the room and saying, “les Oiseaux sont dans les arbres”. and looking gleefully out the window! Monsieur whatever his name was, was going to teach us phrases and essential get-along French! He also said that there would be only one exam at the end of the class the last of August.
I never went back to class except to take that final exam!
The world was about to open up to a 20 year old girl from Missouri! I spent the next month exploring the city of Dijon – a vibrant architecturally fascinating place, museums, galleries, an artist district, cathedrals, lovely squares for gathering, fountains and yes the mustard company! I went everywhere – talked to anyone I could, drank French coffee, ate pastries, baguettes and bread on hills overlooking the city with a bottle of wine! Sometimes I had company and sometimes I was by myself – I loved it! I learned that Europeans drink most everything at room temperature – they were sure that ice would completely upset your stomach for life – but soon the places I frequented kept a few ice cubes on hand just for me!
Our group also had some preplanned excursions that I did participate in. Going to the wine country of Burgundy was one of my favorite day trips. Stellar architecture, beautiful vineyards, and I learned about wine. Though I now favor an Albarino wine from Spain, it was an excellent way to learn about how those grapes make it into a bottle and make beautiful wine. We also went to Geneva, Switzerland for a few days. Our small hotel had once been the home of Voltaire and had beautiful exquisite grounds. We were able to tour the United Nations site at the Palais des Nations. Its art deco style is fantastic – it was built to house the League of Nations in the 1930’s. There was a summit/meeting going on there but we were allowed entrance and saw most of it in action. I bought a Swiss watch in Geneva. I still have it!
A separate note – Charles de Gaulle was the President of France at this time and his relations with the United States were strained to say the least. The French people didn’t like Americans because they saw us as obstructionists to France’s rise to a first world country. Most of the time I was in France, I said I was Australian.
We also spent time in London on one of these excursions – I was entranced! We saw the Queen’s jewels, a dozen cathedrals, the private changing of the guard behind Buckingham Palace, and King Henry the II’s suit of armor. We met up with two professors from CMSC who were in London for the summer and had a wonderful all night party enjoying the pubs of the city. We stayed at the Hotel Gore (still there) and I lost my virginity in Room 40!
We spent some time in Wiesbaden, Germany too. Not my favorite country, but the trip on the Rhine was lovely.
…and then there was Paris! Not my favorite city but facinating!
It was certainly an experience! Probably not the one my parents would have expected me to have (well, maybe they did…) but it was wonderful. I did take the final exam – six hours of A! Another blue Braniff airplane ride home with memories I cherish now! Salute!