Skip to main content

My Trip to France


Before my trip I had taken three years of French. My knowledge of the language was well but definitely not perfect, so I was very nervous to meet my host family. However when we did finally meet, I had nothing to worry about. When mistakes were made we would simply laugh about it and move on. I remember one time when I was shopping with my host mom and I accidentally said I knew her mother. She was obviously very confused and a little concerned. But we laughed about it then and later on at the dinner table. I’m the youngest in my very small family and my host family had three children; Camille, Clement and Celestin. This was so exciting for me, because I always wanted to have little siblings. I adjusted quickly and every night all four of us would go in the backyard and play soccer. I have to say it was one of the highlights of my trip. 



My host family was also family friends with one of my fellow student’s family. So on the weekends we often got to see each other. On the first Saturday of my stay both families got together and had a barbeque. All the kids were outside playing basketball, while the adults were talking while sipping their wine. When it came time to eat, I never would have guessed what I would be eating. We ate escargot, blood sausage, and elephant intestine. Now I know everyone says this but the intestine truly tasted like chicken. After we ate, we walked down to this huge bonfire the town was having. It was the largest fire I had ever seen and definitely would have been illegal in the United States. 


Something I miss is simply walking down the old stone streets, with the morning sun warming my face, speaking a beautiful language with my friends, and watching the workers opening their little shops for the day. There are no words to explain the feeling of peace and pure happiness this gave me. 


After my friends and I got our morning cup of coffee, we would walk up the old wooden staircase, laughing until we got to our classroom. Some of us were split into different rooms but most of us stayed together. And our class was certainly the best. Our teacher taught us things we would need to know in real life, like slang, sayings and some history and politics. The other classes focused on grammar and worksheets. Our teacher encouraged us, inspired us and laughed with us. It was one of the best parts of the trip. 


My trip to France was incredible. I’ll miss the lifestyle the most. The only thing I wish I could change was the length of the trip. I wish I had never left. Being able to go on this trip changed my life and my view on the world. A person doesn’t need much to be happy, but you have to be able to see the beauty in the little things around you. Thank you for giving me this scholarship and helping me have this amazing experience.

Jennie Rollins

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Write a Letter to Your Host Family

The letter to your host family is one of the most important pieces of your program abroad application; it’s the host family’s first impression of you. Exchange programs take many factors into account when matching you with a host family, but ultimately it’s up to the host family to decide whether to host you or not. Here are a few helpful tips to writing a great letter to your future host family: Use a positive tone. “The main reason a student’s dossier is passed over by families is unintentional negativity,” explains Rebecca Gundle, Program Coordinator for ANDEO International Homestays. A student might be trying to explain her preferences, but when she devotes equal attention to describing her dislikes, she comes across as negative or picky. A family wants to know that the student they host will be adaptable and willing to try new things. Keep your tone upbeat and positive. Go deeper than the application form. Try to avoid simply reiterating what is on the form. This is a c
2 comments
Read more

Tips for Teens Traveling Independently

Many of our programs allow you to choose your own program dates, flights, and length. Some advantages to this are that families have control over booking flights and are able to use frequent flyer miles. One challenge, however, is that students must travel independently to their program destinations. Some teens are understandably nervous about flying alone.  Here are some tips to help teens and parents feel more at ease about traveling internationally without a chaperone or flight leader. Before booking your ticket Check with us before booking your ticket to see if anyone else from your area will be attending your program at the same time. We can put you in contact with one another. Booking your ticket Whenever possible, choose a direct flight. Fewer fights mean fewer opportunities for flights to be delayed or for other problems to arise. If a direct fight is not possible, choose a flight that stops or makes connections in the United States. Whenever possible, stick with t
12 comments
Read more

Tackling the Dust Bunnies (and other surprising benefits of hosting an exchange student)

By Elizabeth Markleson, host mom You could say I'm a relaxed housekeeper. Our kitchen table is covered with piles of papers "to be dealt with later", our sink is often full of dishes, and you can be sure there is a whole family of dust bunnies living under the furniture. When my kids were little and they would see me go into my cleaning mode, they would always ask, "Who is coming to visit?" Not much changes over the years! When it comes to housework, a guest is a great motivator. The days were ticking down before our Spanish student arrived and my to-do list was getting longer and longer. “Don’t stress too much about it,” my sister said. “Isn’t your student just supposed to blend into your family as it is? This is an exchange student, not a visiting dignitary, after all.” True, but I am a strong believer in the power of first impressions. When my daughter went to Spain a few years ago, her host family added some really nice touches to make her feel welcome..
2 comments
Read more