A Message from our Exchange Student in France

As you know, we have sponsored an outbound exchange student who is studying in France. While there Sydney has been maintaining a blog and writes to the Club members to keep us apprised of her experiences in France.

Her blog is located at: Sydneysfrenchadventure.blogspot.com

Dear Akron Rotary,

A very happy belated New Year to you all! I wish you all the very best for the upcoming year!

Just last week I celebrated the half way point of my exchange!! It is absolutely incredible to think about, as it seems like just yesterday I was getting on the plane.

I changed my host family about 3 weeks ago. What a strange experience! I had known my second host family since I arrived, but it took about 3 days to adjust to the fact that I was suddenly living somewhere else! My first host mom and I both cried when I left, but second host family is very nice. I have a host brother, who is in the same grade as me, which is perfect for homework help!

More than everything else, I am amazed by the connections I am forming with the people here. If someone was to ask me the biggest thing I've learned, I would have to say that the idea of nationality is completely objective. On the inside we're all just people! I can't tell you that all French people are rude, all Germans drink beer, etc and I hope I'm showing people that not all Americans are messy!

In terms of traveling, I went traveling through all the southern coast during Christmas break! I was absolutely thrilled. With my first host family we visited the eastern side, (the French Rivera!!!!) And after, another rotary family took me and their Brazilian exchange student to visit the western side (the camargue!!!)

Now I'm back in school, and happy to report that I just received my highest grade of the year 14/20!

Ok, I will leave it there for now,

Thank you all again,

À beintôt!

Sydney

Susan Colville-Hall, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
Curricular & Instructional Studies
College of Education
University of Akron
Akron, OH 44325-4205
PH 330 972-6258
FAX 330 972 5209
http://www.uakron.edu/education/community-engagement/fatiti/