Bonjour France, au revoir US “I got to experience two different cultures: French and American.” Valentine Errante French Exchange Student
Courtesy of Valentine Errante
Valentine Errante came to the U.S. and Carlmont for two weeks for the French exchange program.
Courtesy of Shiina Sugioka
Shiina Sugioka will be visiting France as an exchange student this summer.
Nihal Karim It’s your first day at your new school. There’s not a person you know in sight, but you are determined to make new friends and adjust to the school’s environment. Now picture that first day of school being in a different country. You can’t even speak the language. Valentine Errante is just one of a few French students who visited Carlmont through the French Exchange program. Errante, like other students visiting the U.S., stayed with a host family for two weeks. “I have decided to participate in the program because I love traveling abroad and I wanted to discover a new culture,” Errante said. Upon arriving to the U.S., Errante noticed many differences, especially when it came to school. “Carlmont is very different from all the schools in France. [It] is very big and has a lot of different students.” Errante has also noted that in addition to the size of the school, there are some differences in the school life itself, such as class structure and sudent life. “In France, we can’t use our phones during class, get up without permission, or eat during class. We also don’t get a choice in lunch food and can’t decide which classes we want to take because of the curriculum,” Errante said. “Students here have more freedom and independence.” In addition to what Errante noticed at Carlmont in terms of academic and social life, she has also witnessed cultural differences between France and the U.S. “I think that American people are very nice and welcoming. They are always smiling,” Errante said.“It’s really different and it’s really cool to see a person always smiling at you, and as a French student, it’s really nice.” After leaving the U.S., Errante said that she has gained valuable skills and insights through her experiences as an exchange student. “I think I was very lucky to do this. I got to experience two different cultures:
French and American. Both are very different and I didn’t know what to expect American culture to be like. My English is also better now,” Errante said. The French Exchange program works in two directions. In addition to hosting French students, some Carlmont students taking French III will have the opportunity to visit France as exchange students during the summer. Shiina Sugioka is one of the Carlmont students who will be visiting Reims, France, for two weeks. “I am so excited to go to France over the summer,” Sugioka said. “Other people from my French class and I are going to be staying with our host families for 10 days, after which we will be going to Paris with our teacher.” Since this will be Sugioka’s first time in France, she does not know what exactly to expect during her stay. “Personally, I am very excited to go to Reims and to Paris. I can’t wait to experience the French culture and explore the cities,” Sugioka said. Though exciting, the trip to France can also be intimidating. “I think that because of the language barrier, it might be a little hard at first,” Sugioka said. “We can only speak French once we’re there, so communicating in the beginning might be a little challenging.” Although foreign language might seem like an issue, it is overshadowed by the opportunity to visit a new country and experience a new culture. “Not only do I get to learn about the culture, I also get to improve my French, so I can’t wait to visit France,” Sugioka said. Both the French students and the Carlmont students visiting France feel like they will come out of this experience with extended knowledge about the culture, life, and improved language of the place they visited. “I didn’t know how different [American] culture would be. After returning back home, my language has improved and is better now,” Errante said. “I brought [American] culture back with me.” MAY 2019 HIGHLANDER 5