Bon Voyage!
Last week, Hoover High School’s French program welcomed a group of exchange students from France to experience a week of American life.
The process of the exchange began months ago more than 6,000 miles away in a suburb outside of Paris, where students eager to come on the trip to America created videos explaining why they deserved to go to America. Since only about 20 students could come on the trip, their teachers decided which students would get to participate in the exchange.
Then, here in Glendale, Hoover’s French students watched those videos, and students willing to host were assigned an exchange student. After weeks of eager anticipation, the exchange students finally arrived at LAX airport on Thursday, February 8.
On their first full day in Glendale, the students enjoyed a day at Hoover High. In the morning, the French and American students had a party with donuts, and Hoover Principal Dr. Jeremy Spurley formally welcomed the students to Hoover with a speech, Hoover merch, and free passes to the night’s basketball game.
The rest of the day, the exchange students were given the opportunity to shadow their hosts, and go class to class with them. The French students were quick to notice the differences in American schools.
“I really liked seeing the things that surprised the French students, because the things that are normal to [American students] were crazy to them,” says Anahit Kazaryan, a French 3-4 student who hosted exchange students.
Over the weekend, the hosts were free to show their exchange students around the city. Some students explored the glamor of LA by shopping at flea markets, visiting museums, and walking around Venice Beach. Others also enjoyed everyday things like coffee at a local Starbucks or dinner at In N’ Out.
During the week, the students went on class field trips to the Santa Monica Pier, the Getty Museum, Universal City Walk, and Malibu.
Gaia Guilli-Demarre said her “favorite place in L.A. was Amoeba,” which is a record store in Hollywood.
The exchange students were able to explore Los Angeles, practice their English skills, and learn about American culture.
Hoover students in the French program got to converse with people their age from a different culture, practice French, and learn more about the world.
Clara Dubois, a French student that participated in the exchange, shared her passion for the exchange.
“I think my favorite part of this exchange was [making] new friends and [discovering] the American lifestyle…I made new encounters that I’ll never forget…It was so interesting to speak with [Hoover students] about the American lifestyle,” she shared. “They made me want to go back to California because it was such a dream to be with these amazing people. I want to thank HHS for its great welcome… [thanks] to the director, teacher, students, Mr. Manin and the students… [and my host] Anahit, the sweetest person ever.”
Sophie Mathews, who hosted an exchange student, shared that she “really loves that we got the opportunity to do this exchange. The best part in my opinion, is that we got the experience of being around a whole other culture and group of people. [My exchange student] Gaia and I [went] to different places in Hollywood and Downtown LA… and some iconic places, including Rodeo Drive… and Venice Beach.”
Jerome Manin, the French teacher at Hoover, found the experience to be extremely valuable for both the French and American students.
“The Americans were able to speak the French language and the French students were able to speak [English], and behind that I think it was very valuable for [the French students] to see our High School and [America] from a cultural aspect,” he said.
This exchange created friendships, memories, and an experience none of the participants will forget.
Manin shared that it was a joy “Seeing… kids from two different continents, speaking two different languages… and finding so many things that they have in common.”
