Hamilton in France students have now returned to their respective homes in the USA; the program ended on May 20. Although the students’ last days in France were punctuated by end-of-year exams, they were also filled with happiness and love. Students enjoyed going out together in the city; they went to the last places they had planned to visit in their to-do lists.

During their last weeks in Paris, the group enjoyed a series of festive gatherings with the local staff and faculty to celebrate the end of their stay in France. They had couscous and tagines for lunch at a Moroccan restaurant near Reid Hall and then had a final repas gastronomique near the Latin Quarter. Finally, they celebrated the end of the year with a buffet at Hamilton’s offices in Columbia Global Centers.

Last dinner at a gastronomic restaurant in the 6th arrondissement of Paris
Honouring Pr. Roberta (Bonnie) Krueger who directed her last HiF program this year

Ram Franqui (’19) describes his last days with the program: “The experience during the final days with the Hamilton in France group were both extremely satisfying and sad. We shared many typical Parisian nights, making the most out of every last moment, laughter, crepes and kebabs. We were happy to finish classes, but our excitement was tinged with a slightly somber shade as we knew this would be our last au revoir. We all felt the urge to make the most out of all the details that had become normal to us over the course of the last semester or year.

When returning to the US, we will reflect on our time in Paris as one of the most nostalgic.”

End-of-the-year video by Grace Myers: