One of the greatest gifts of travel is the opportunity to experience the everyday lives of extraordinary people.
Just outside Geneva, in the small French village of Jonzier-Épagny, our Arete Creative Scholars were welcomed into the home and dairy farm of our dear friends, Isabelle and Maurice, whose family has worked this land for generations.
Maurice and his son Cyril introduced us to the farm—including five newborn calves, one of whom had arrived that very morning—and to Nala, the affectionate collie who keeps a watchful eye over everything. We shared a traditional Savoyard meal of homemade tartiflette, a comforting local dish made with potatoes, Reblochon cheese, bacon, and onions, along with delicious apple and prune tarts.
But what nourished us most was the warmth, generosity, and hospitality of our hosts. For our students, it was a lasting lesson in another way of living—one rooted in family, community, hard work, and a deep harmony with the land.
