The intrepid group of PCD students that boarded the bus on Friday morning were all well prepared for the elements, with ski masks, multiple layers, fur-lined aviator hats and mittens. They had received ample warnings about the cold weather in Canada during January. But they had yet to discover the full schedule and range of adventures that awaited them in Québec City.

As the bus wound its way north through the Green mountains, the students began learning about French Canadian culture. Tour leader and PCD Language Teacher Sarah Garcia-Mata gave them an overview of the regional history and the various influences from the French, English, Iroquois and Huron communities; some of the local Winter Carnival traditions; and a few essential phrases in French. When the bus arrived at the hotel, the group met the local guide, and were introduced to the busy lineup of events to come. After dinner, a hike up the hill offered a view of the city center, the walled fortifications, the historic Château Frontenac, and a nighttime look from the observation tower on the city’s tallest building.

Day two started with a traditional breakfast of smoked buffalo, eggs, and bread at a traditional Huron settlement outside the city. A guided tour of the settlement gave insights into Huron history and customs, as well as a lesson on surviving the harsh winters of the Great Lakes region and Québec by making snowshoes and canoes, hunting, and preserving food. One area of the settlement contained several sacred masks, carved from live trees that were used to perform healing rituals.

The afternoon included a guided historical tour, a drive along the frozen Saint Lawrence River, and a tour of the magnificent 20th-century Basilica of Sainte-Anne de Beaupré. From manmade beauty to natural wonder, the bus continued back towards Québec City, past the Île d’Orléans, to experience the spectacular Montmorency Falls. The evening brought the group to the Sugar Shack, where they sampled the maple taffy and maple butter produced on site, enjoyed a hearty dinner, some line dancing. The uncontested highlight of the evening, however, was the dog sledding, which made PCD student drivers and passengers oblivious to the cold.

Sunday’s full agenda started with a visit to a local sports complex where students chose to ice skate, cross-country ski or go snowshoeing. After lunch in the town center, they enjoyed a tour of the famous ice hotel. Each room was decorated with different themes and illuminated ice sculptures. The most popular attraction by far was the ice slide in the main lobby. The group bundled up once again to end the day with an exciting evening of snow tubing.

On the final morning students had a chance to learn more French vocabulary with a scavenger hunt at a local supermarket before boarding the bus for the long drive back to Rhode Island. With so much activity packed into four days, students came home tired but sated by a sense of adventure and accomplishment. As Sarah Garcia-Mata pointed out, “this is a wonderful trip because it offers an real immersion experience, without going too far.”