Kiley K - Family Stay
Living with a French family was a completely new experience for me. I was shocked to realize how similar their families were to ours, though there were also very distinct differences.
For example, when one person sees a friend or meets a new person, they are given two kisses, one on each cheek. I’ve always been more of a shaking hands and hugging person, but I thought it was a good way to introduce oneself. I found it exceedingly difficult at first to get past the language barrier, but as the week went on, it became increasingly easier until I was almost unaware of a language barrier. It was also hard to know if my manners were correct and if my actions were acceptable in a French home. I think everyone found that they were really well matched, and that their correspondent was a good fit for them. Needless to say, there were quite a few tears when it came time to say goodbye to the host families. It is difficult to choose what was the most fun, because everything we did was new and exciting. From our first metro ride to meeting people we couldn’t communicate with nearly as easily as we were used to. Parents, I’m sure your children will be thanking you for this trip for years to come.
-Kiley K.