The University of Texas embarked on its first-ever study tour to France with an immersive 21-day journey through Paris, Lyon, and Toulouse. Led by Melinda Jones and Matthias Daniel, our group of 11 students and 3 professors explored the iconic landmarks of Paris, from the Eiffel Tower, Île de la Cité (where we finally got to visit the beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral, now open after nearly a five year closure), to the Louvre and other various museums, while engaging with Deaf culture through guided tours led by local Deaf professionals. We visited the world’s first Deaf school, Institut National de Jeunes Sourds de Paris (INJS), as well as the International Visual Theatre (IVT). In Lyon, we were thrilled to visit the birthplace of Laurent Clerc, the father of Deaf education in America, in La Balme-les-Grottes, and the Musée Histoire Et Culture Des Sourds (Deaf History and Culture Museum) in Louhans where we learned about different notable and important figures in French Deaf history. Students were also treated to a free day visiting Annecy, often known as the “Venice of the Alps” with gorgeous canals and bridges.
A major highlight of the trip was studying French Sign Language (LSF) with VISUEL LSF in Toulouse, where students embraced the challenges and joys of learning a new visual language. Traveling by TGV high-speed train between cities added a fun and efficient way to experience the diversity of French regions. We noted the differences of landscape and architecture in all three cities, and enjoyed visiting Carssosonne, a medieval fortified town from the 11th century, before France even existed as a country as well as Albi, another medieval town dating back to the 12th century, where we were fortunate to spend time with a local Deaf guide that was well known in Deaf French theater.
We wrapped up the trip with a beautiful trip on a sightseeing riverboat on the Seine River! This tour offered a rich blend of cultural exploration, language immersion, and personal growth—a memorable first step in what we hope will become a long-standing partnership!
