Alumni Reflection: Kathy Pike J’85, Talloires ’84

As I think back on the most formative experiences of my time at Tufts, I always land on my summer with Tufts in Talloires at the top of the list. I studied every French conversation course offered in my first 3 years at Tufts, so I was ready to immerse myself in the language by the summer before my senior year. Before Talloires, I had pined for a semester or year abroad, but my schedule didn’t allow it at the time. I later discovered that my 6 weeks in Talloires not only felt like a robust semester (at least!) but that my love for Talloires and my French family would continue (and continue) to come back into my life.

 Who knew that when I was placed with the V family in 1984, they would truly become my life-long family. The V’s were Monsieur et Madame V, their 3 sons, and 1 daughter, all within a couple years of my age. I later learned that each of the 4 kids spoke English fairly well but didn’t let on for my entire visit. Instead, we all sat at their kitchen table, breakfast & dinner (lunch was always at the Talloires campus or on a field trip) speaking ONLY French for my benefit -- The patience that family had for me as I navigated proper verb tense and hopefully correct vocabulary! They were so gracious, always listened intently, and only offered occasional, respectful corrections with an encouraging smile.

Each morning, the family and I would go off on our separate paths, Monsieur to his engineering job up in the alps, managing water flow to the city of Annecy, the four kids to their studies/jobs, and Madame to her library volunteer work and maintaining their beautiful home. But before leaving, Madame would prepare me a bagged lunch which always included a baguette filled with something so French and delicious, and some fruit, which often came from a tree in their back yard.

From the bus stop a five-minute walk from the house, I would meet up with my fellow Jumbos and we would take the incredibly scenic route around Lake Annecy (touted as the freshest lake water in all of Europe!) from Annecy-le-vieux to Talloires. Our transportation was a cushy tour bus with soft seats and huge windows overlooking the lake on one side, and the tip of nearby alps on the other – an amazing view to have first thing in the morning and one that never got old.

Each week our Tufts in Talloires group would go on field trips to Geneva, just an hour away, related to our Talloires coursework. For me that meant visiting the Jean Piaget lab for my Child Study course. Other students visited the UN for their International Relations coursework. All of us, participated in a physical education course, run by Rocky Carzo, beloved and legendary Director of Athletics at Tufts. Mr. Carzo managed to get us all to happily run up one of the nearby alps to a local chapel after lots and lots of practice on flat land and through his unending encouragement.

Now 40 years later, I continue to be in touch with my French family. Over the years, I have hosted one of my French sibling’s kids, one of the siblings attended my wedding, and we’ve had countless letters and video chats over the holidays. I also visit them as often as I can. My son has visited them on his own and very much considers them family. As my French parents are now in their late 80’s and early 90’s I had the pleasure of visiting them this past spring, and, of course, I made sure to round the lake and check in on breathtaking Talloires. It continues to hold my heart.

Kathy Pike, J'85; Talloires '84