Paris Celebration: Wheels & Spokes

Reading Professor John Wallace’s report on the creation and execution of the 1948 European Field Trip—Arcadia University’s first study abroad venture—made me want to share the planning of our Paris Celebration.

In the spring of 2007, staff from University Relations and Arcadia’s Center for Education Abroad held a brainstorming session to generate ideas for a year-long celebration of Arcadia's 60th anniversary of study abroad. We had no trouble coming up with ideas for campus-wide events but we were also looking for something big, something international. I light-heartedly suggested that we invite alumni from the original trip back to Europe and possibly get one or 2 on a bicycle (note that these alumni would be nearing the age of 80!) When my boss met with President Greiner to talk about the upcoming anniversary, the first words he said were, “We should recreate the trip!” She came back to the office and asked me, “How would you like to go bicycling in Europe next summer?” Little did I realize that my positive answer would involve me in months of research, planning and coordinating trip details.

Poor Professor Wallace didn’t have the luxury of typing the search terms “bicycling” “Europe” and “summer” into Google and instantly receiving results. He also wasn’t able to peruse European travel guide books in search of hotels within his budget at the local bookstore. He made arrangements via airmail, waiting 2 weeks between most responses. I grew impatience if I had to wait a day to receive an e-mail about a request.

A lucky coincidence of timing and location made us select Paris as the site of our celebration. The 1948 group visited England, Belgium, France and Switzerland—spending the longest stretch of time in Paris. In researching bicycle tours in hopes of retracing some of the original route, I could not find an organized tour that fit our timing and budget. Also, I was unsure of the number of riders and what their ability levels would be. Searching the internet late one December evening, I came across Fat Tire Bicycle Tours in Paris, an outfit that offers short, guided tours in and around Paris. This type of bicycle touring seemed perfect for our group.

Also, several Arcadia-related trips in Europe were already scheduled in late June/early July. Arcadia’s week-long Alumni Travel Danube River/Prague trip ends on July 1. Members of our Enrollment Management staff are touring with a group of high school counselors in Greece, beginning July 6. Our Associate Dean of Internationalization, returning home from a visit to the Nyerere Peace Center in Tanzania, changes planes in Paris. With a little extra arranging, faculty and staff participating in these trips will join our group in Paris.

Most timely of all, Arcadia’s Center for Education and the American Graduate School for International Relations and Diplomacy in Paris (Arcadia's affiliated campus) are offering a new summer program in French language and politics. Students for this program arrive on July 5 and begin their studies on Monday, July 7. Our trip timing offers us the opportunity to celebrate the program’s launch with new students and AGSIRD staff.

The 1948 European Field Trip was a groundbreaking and significant venture—one truly worth celebrating. A thank you to my planning partners: Arcadians Jan Finn, Bonnie Hayes, David Larsen, Bill Meiers, Carlos Ortiz, Georgene Pilling, Sue Richardson, Arlene Snyder and Lori Bauer; AGSIRD's Corentine Chaillet; Fat Tire Bicycle Tours and World Venture Tours and Travel. And for Professor Wallace, we will ride a lap around the Eiffel Tower for you!

— Sue Gettlin