From Sydney Heersink, our Outbound Youth Exchange student to France

Posted by Susan Colville-Hall

on Sep 17, 2013

Bonjour Mrs. Hall and the Akron Rotary!!

I will be honest with you all, I don't know where to start, other than THANK YOU so very much for being such a major contributor to me being in France. I absolutely adore it here!

My arrival in France was fine, I slept for a large portion of the trip, but I have no complaints with Air France or my reception in Lyon! I was met at the airport by many Rotarians from my club and district, as well as a plethora of other exchange students! Lyon and Valence seem to be full of Rotary students! In my school alone, there are six Rotary Exchange students. So I am always assured of having someone around that understands my daily "happy moments" and "difficult moments" This also comes with a caution as it is easy for some of the exchange students to want to spend time only with other exchange students. I try to avoid this as much as possible, for the sole reason that it would be impossible for me to improve my French with others who don't speak French!

I began school on the 4th of September, and it was to say the least very, very difficult!! I didn't understand a single word the professors said, and a little cultural difference for you, French students are not excited about exchange students in the same way the American students are! For the first week I was the recipient of strange looks, giggles, and never any conversation. Now, however, many people in my class will speak with me, try to help me understand what's going on, etc.

I have made some great friends elsewhere however! The friends of my host sister (on exchange in Boston) have been incredibly kind and most anxious to help me! One of them has been in the US many times and speaks very decent English. Of course, this is not for me to speak in English with, but for explaining things I find difficult, and helping me learn more vocabulary! I make a conscious effort to speak as little English as possible, and I think my French is really improving! (If only my accent would) ha!ha!

I find school to be very different. It is set up more like an American college than a high school. I will write out my schedule so you can see the classes I am taking as well as the differences in time. I am in Première ES. Which basically means, I'm taking 2nd year of high school classes (there are 3 years of high school here, not 4) and ES is the type of classes. It stands for economic and social, meaning, all of my classes have a focus in that area. The other options are L, for literary, or S, for scientific.

Monday:

8h: Education civique

9h: Histoire et géographie

10h-12h: Sport

13h: Française - littérature

14h-17h: French as a second langue

Tuesday:

10h-12h Économie et sociale

14h-16h Histoire et géographie

16-17h Maths

Wednesday:

A special case:

Week A, no classes. Because the classes on this day are only preparation for the BAC, and they did not want the exchange students taking them.

Week B:

8h-10h Maths

Thursday:

9h-11h Française littérature

14-15h English

Friday:

8h Maths

9h English

10 Historie et geographie

12:30 Physique et chemie

14h Économie

16h English

My host family is very nice, helpful and understanding!! They do all they can to make sure I am ok and learning as much as I can! My host dad tells me every day, by the time I leave their house to change to a different family, I will be the best at speaking French. Ha!ha! That is in January, so obviously never the best, but I hope to be much more improved! There are cultural differences that have been difficult for me to understand, as well as them, but now there are no problems! My host mother also speaks very good English so I can tell her if I don't understand, or she can tell me If I'm doing something "not French" as she likes to say. Ha!ha! :) for more about my host family I will refer you to my blog.

Sydneysfrenchadventure.blogspot.com.

Maybe Mrs. Hall can bring it along with my email. I try to update often, and I would love it if you as the Rotary Club read it occasionally as well.

I have not attended any Rotary Club meetings yet, my host mother tells me my club is not incredibly active, but I hope I will be invited to go at some point. This weekend is my first Rotary weekend, and I will be going to Annecy (in the alps!) to meet the other Inbounds of District 1780, receive information about the bus trips, etc. I will be sure to write a blog post for anyone who is interested.

Next time I write, I will try to include more of the cultural things I am learning, and the different things I've experienced, but I say this email is long enough now.

In short, I couldn't be happier, living my dream here in France. Thank you all so much for sponsoring me!

À beintôt,

Sydney