Meet Your Leader

Bonne Fête de la Bastille!  Je m'appelle Suzie et j'enseigne les classes des débutants pour l'Alliance Française depuis deux ans. I'm a retired high school French teacher and have led innumerable trips to la belle France. Victor and I have had 3 milestones in the past 4 months: we moved to a condo, our first grandchild was born and the third of our 4 children got married 2 days ago.  Besides, teaching French, I love to read, cook, see movies, blog, take photos, travel, hike, bike and get better on my computer. I have been on two mission trips to Haiti and went to Tanzania, Africa to meet our sister church. I never get tired of traveling to France and look forward to guiding you around this beautiful country and eating all the delicacies with you!

Meet Travelers, Vivian and Irene

Je m' appelle  Vivian. 

I am a retired English teacher and had the great pleasure of teaching across the hall from Marge at Henry Ford II High School.  I taught Advanced Placement English and she Advanced Placement French so we shared many of the same students.  Currently I am teaching at MCC each fall semester in addition to working with student interns who are majoring in English at Oakland University.  

I am an avid reader (historical nonfiction and fiction are my favorite); I am a novice knitter; and, I love biking and walking.

I have three children and two grandchildren (13 year old, identical twin boys).  My grandchildren live close by and have spent every Friday night at my house since they were two weeks old so they are very much a part of my life.  This April, my husband of almost 49 years passed away.  He had not been in the best of health, but his passing was unexpected.  My husband and I had planned to shop for a condo this summer and my son was to buy our house. I recently found the perfect condo near by and will be moving into it when we return to France.

In college I took two years of French and loved it.  At that time I was fluent enough to read a novel in French.  But alas, I didn't use it and I lost my ability to think and speak it.  There is still much French I can understand, and many French phrases still run through my brain sounding wonderfully French; however, when I try to speak one of those phrases---well, let's just say it no longer sounds French.

I have traveled to Poland and to Italy.  In 2006, I went to France with Marge and a group of Ford II students.  It was a marvelous and memorable trip.  So this will be my second (and hopefully not my last!) trip to France. 

Je m'appelle Irene. Germany is my native country. As a child we lived near Strasbourg, France.

I moved to USA in 1965 and married my husband who has since passed away. We raised two daughters who are now both living in Atlanta, GA. They have given us two wonderful grandsons, 9 and 12 years old.

My passion is traveling and I still love it. I have been in France many times, mainly in the south and twice in Paris. 

Learning to speak French is my lifelong dream. I am still working at it and look forward to our trip to Paris.

Meet Heather and Jane

Bonjour...Je m’appelle Heather et je suis à la retraite après 33 ans as an elementary teacher and reading specialist in Missouri and Michigan.  I am a passionate gardener and believe there is always room for one more plant!  I am an avid reader, enjoy cooking/baking, traveling, antiquing and resale shopping.  I found my father’s high school French book when I was in third grade and waited patiently, with help from my parents who supported my interest, until ninth grade when I could finally take my first class.  Later, I studied in Paris for a semester while majoring in French, then was fortunate to go back eight years later to work in the business office at the American College in Paris, now the American University of Paris. I have not had an opportunity to return to France since and am very excited to be going on this trip.  

Salut! Je suis Jane. I was an elementary classroom teacher in East Detroit. I taught grades 1-6.  The last years of my career I taught fifth grade.  Since retiring, I've been able to travel.  I am looking forward to our trip to France. I'm especially interested in visiting Mont St. Michael and Normandy. 

Meet Travelers, Rita and Sherrill #2

Je m'appelle Rita.  I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky.  I studied at Indiana U. and U of IL. I became a Home Economics teacher majoring in housing. I taught sewing in Wash., D.C. and then moved to Michigan where we raised 2 daughters, now aged 38 and 40 who have blessed me with 3 grandsons.  I then retrained as a legal assistant and worked for a large law firm for 10 years before returning to teaching where I found my calling as a cooking teacher.  I've traveled to France 5 times and to other countries in Europe. I am currently a widow, retired for 2 years and quite in the mood for travel and adventure.

Bonjour, mes amies.  Je m'appelle Sherrill W.  I am originally from Texas and recently retired from Dykema Gossett, where I was a partner practicing corporate tax litigation.  I studied French for 5 years at university (too many years ago to mention) and this is my third trip to France, the last being 20 years ago. I am especially interested in European history. I have two grown children, Lynn and Donald, and am hoping for grandchildren someday.  My passions are reading and horseback riding.  I am looking forward to sharing this trip with my many new friends and my long-time friends, Rita and Linda.

Meet Jan

Bonjour, mes amis. I am Jan, Suzie's sister, who lives in California. It has been years since I studied high school French but, I love the language and I look forward to going to France with each of you. The timing of this trip is marvelous because it is just before school begins in the fall. I teach part time at a local university as well as having my own counseling practice. I have three sons and 4 ½ grandchildren! Reading, travel, knitting socks, sewing and cooking are great activities for me. 

Meet Sherrill #1

Salut! On m'appelle Sherrill C.  I worked at Young & Rubicam, an ad agency, and have taught writing classes at WSU, OCC, MCC and Baker College. I write poetry and fiction and have self-published Visits to Limbo, a journal about my dad. I dabble at gardening, but I get a high from hiking. Besides French, I study Polish, edit my photos, work-out, walk, bake and read. Two days a week I’m privileged to watch  my grandchildren, Ashton (11) and Payton (7). Being godmother to Gosia, in Poland, is a  highlight of my life.  I’m crazy about traveling. This is my 8^th trip to France. My friend, Arlette, whom I will visit after this tour, and I have been friends for 53 years. Bon voyage!

Here's Linda

Bonjour! Je suis Linda. I taught elementary school music for several years before "retiring" to raise my three children, one boy and two girls.  They are all grown, married and have given me seven grandchildren — four boys and three girls ages 3-14.  Last summer I officially retired as a church musician/organist which I started doing when I was in middle school.  I love to read, travel, knit, shop, ring handbells, play the harp and grow orchids.  This is my second trip to France, the last being five years ago.  I'm looking forward to an awesome trip with our fabulous leaders and great co-travelers.