French Club sets the mood for October

by Laila E.

Intending to get in the Halloween spirit, AHS French teacher Mrs. Reddick hosted a pumpkin spice themed French Club meeting. The meeting was held on September 28.

The purpose of the meeting was to give students currently taking French and those who have taken the course in the past the opportunity of experiencing how pumpkins are eaten in France. These students were able to learn about a culture different from their own.

In France, pumpkin soup is the traditional way in which pumpkins are eaten. Students who attended the meeting had the privilege of watching Mrs. Reddick make the aforementioned dish, and even got to try some.

Pumpkin pie, the traditional American way of eating pumpkin, was also offered at the meeting. Having tried both ways, students compared how the dishes are different and which one they liked the most.

While the meeting was a fun experience for the students, it was a learning experience as well. “I hope that they gained an understanding of people from the French speaking world and that even though certain foods are consumed in different ways, those ways are also cool,” said French teacher Mrs. Reddick.

With Christmas around the corner and Mardi Gras, a festive day celebrated in France, in February, there are already plans for meetings centered around said holidays. Mrs. Reddick shares, “We will be discussing different winter holiday traditions in France and Mardi Gras as well.”

One student shared why she attended the meeting. “It is very interesting to learn more about French culture. I like to engage myself in creating French dishes to expand my knowledge on what food is like in France”, stated Jayden T., a current French IV student.

Overall, students really enjoyed themselves and are eager for what is in store from them at the next meeting.

For those interested in recreating the authentic French pumpkin seed soup, continue reading. As stated by RecipeTin Eats, pumpkin soup is a classic dish that is very easy and quick to make. All you need is, of course, pumpkin, onions, garlic cloves, vegetable or chicken broth, water, and salt and pepper. To spice up the soup with more flavor, Thai red curry, ginger, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, or turmeric can be added.