Student A: Before going to France, I was nervous. I was only in tenth grade and although I was looking forward to Paris, I was dreading staying with a strange family for fear of embarrassment and confusion. But my stay with the host family was absolutely life-changing. I was exposed to new foods, traditions, and even laws. I learned, laughed, thought, and cried more in that two weeks than I did in two years. I specifically remember getting lost in the French high school and wandering around looking for someone to ask directions for thirty minutes and when I did, I listened to that French so intently for the whole three minutes she gave directions. Upon seeing the confusion on my face the teacher said, "Why don't I just speak English?" I laugh to this day about that incident and countless others that happened in France. I returned to the United States a completely different...no...a better person.
Student B: Going to France and being a part of this exchange was one of the best experiences of my life. It was so amazing to experience the culture and life of real French people. Paris was really neat; being able to see some of the most famous landmarks in the world. However, my favorite part was living with my French family. Experiencing the French culture like this was a once in a lifetime experience that I wouldn't trade for anything! The exchange has helped me become more outgoing and, I think, helped prepare me for my future by pushing me out of my comfort zone (in a good way). I would recommend this trip to any French loving student. It really is amazing!
Student C: It was an awesome and unforgettable experience that I would recommend to anyone who isn't afraid of new experiences. I loved everything about my trip. I made friends, both French and American, tried food I would never try, and saw things I could never see. You could never do this on your own because living with an authentic French family is one of the best parts. You get to see how the French really live firsthand. It is a wonderful opportunity to improve your French, experience new things, and grow as a person and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Student D: My favorite part of the trip would be the whole trip in general. The trip just took my breath away and opened my eyes to a whole new world. You may have seen pictures of France and the Eiffel Tower, but it is nothing compared to seeing it in person. The most difficult part for me was when we got off the bus in Castres to meet our host family. I had never been away from home for more than a weekend, let alone out of the country, so I was freaking out. But I ended up freaking out for nothing. My correspondent ended up becoming my best friend. We even have made plans to visit each other this summer. The worst part was having to leave and return home. I can't thank the teachers enough for this experience. This trip has helped me to become a better person. It helped me gain confidence in myself as well as appreciate life because of the opportunity I was given.
Student E: Having previously visited France, I had high expectations for this exchange. It by far exceeded all of them. The opportunity to live with a French family, visit several parts of France, and also travel to Spain were only a few of the highlights and memories I will take away from this exchange. I have gained life long skills and experiences that will help prepare me for college. But most of all, I became close friends with teenagers my age and was able to develop strong relationships with them despite the language barrier. To this day, I am very fortunate to have my exchange student as one of my closest friends, and to have memories that will last a lifetime.