La Petite Traveler – Kids Trading Places Across the World

by Katharine Bohlmann and Cassia Halabi

While I was in the South of France this summer, I met a girl named Cassia who lives in Paris and was vacationing with her family in Beaumes De Venise. We became really good friends and talked about Los Angeles and Paris and wondered what it would be like to trade places. We exchanged our ideas and offered each other our suggestions as to what to do and see in each place.

Katharine's Thoughts:

As a 10-year-old living in LA, I have always dreamed of living in Paris, and I have always thought it would be cool to wake up every morning and see the Eiffel Tower out my window. It has a unique pattern and the view at the top is amazing. One of my other favorite things in Paris is the vanilla ice cream, which is rich and creamy and you can find it on every street corner.

Cassia's Thoughts:

As a 10-year-old living in Paris, I've always wanted to live in LA. I think that living in LA must be really awesome because of the beaches and the many celebrities. Although Rodeo Drive can get crowded at times, it is still one of my favorite places in California. I love going for a walk and looking in every shop! I also like the palm trees that reach toward the sky. We do not have palm trees and coconuts in Paris.

Katharine's Los Angeles

If Cassia were to have a week in LA, I would recommend that she visit the Kodak Theatre, see The Hollywood Sign, and tour Grauman's Chinese Theatre where she can stand in John Wayne's foot prints. If she really wanted to experience LA, she should check out the traffic on the 405 on her way to Long Beach where she could catch a ferry to beautiful Catalina Island. A visit to the Santa Monica Pier, a swim in the Pacific Ocean and a lemonade at Gladstone's while watching the sunset would also be a treat. There is so much to see in LA, my list could go on forever. She'll need more than a week!

Cassia's Paris

If Katharine were to have a week in Paris, I would suggest that she climb up to the top of the Eiffel Tower, shop on the Champs Elysees, visit the Louvre Museum and play at the Luxembourg Park. Also, she should picnic in the Invalides Gardens, take a boat ride down the Seine River, try a macaron at Lauderee, taste the French fries at the Esplanade restaurant, sample an éclair at Fauchon, shop at the Galeries Lafayette, and drive around the Arc de Triomphe. So much to see and do!

Katharine's Sweet Tooth The thing about Paris is that they have many bakeries. In the bakeries are viennoiseries. My favorite thing to get at a bakery is brioche. Brioche is a type of bread that has sugar on top.

Cassia's Sweet Tooth

One of my favorite things in LA is that they have many varieties of chocolate. For example, See's Candies, Hershey's, and M&M's. Every chocolate is a treat. My favorites are See's chocolate bars.

The Compromise

My Mom did some research and found an apartment rental company called Paris Pied a Terre (www.parispiedaterre.com), where, during next year's winter break, we will rent an apartment in the City of Lights and really get the chance to live like a true Parisian as Cassia gets to show me her Paris, one of my favorite places in the world. I can't wait!

As for Cassia, I've invited her to come and stay with me in Los Angeles next summer so I can take her to my beach camp and show her the best of California.

Maybe someday, we can actually trade places for a week. It would be up to our parents … but wouldn't that be great to trade bagels for brioche and Hollywood for the grand avenues of Paris?

Oh well, as the French say, "c'est la vie" … or "that is life." At least we have each other as friends forever.

Katharine Bohlmann is currently in the 5th grade. She has a home in Pacific Palisades with her Dad and a home in Santa Monica with her Mom and two adorable dogs. In her free time, she likes to watch Gilmore Girls and Friends, shop, travel, write, and play sports.

Cassia Halabi is currently in the 5th grade. She lives in Paris with her parents and her brother. In her free time, she likes to have friends over, shop, watch Friends, read, write, and go on the computer.

Katharine's Mini French Primer Arc de Triomphe [ark de tree-ohmf]_Laduree [la doo ray] Beaumes de Venise [bohm de veh-NEES] Champs Elysees [shahn-zay-lee-ZAY] Seine [sehn]

EDITOR'S NOTE Considering the culture clashes in today's world, I felt it was important to point out that these two 10-year-olds came up with this concept of trading places to experience each other's world all on their own. It's amazing the kind of innovation children from all walks of life are capable of if we just let them put their heads together. In the face of current world issues and concerns about the environment, it gives me hope for a brighter tomorrow.