Last week, Hoover welcomed 17 French students and two teachers from Paris as part of the Hoover French Exchange Program.

The students arrived Thursday at 3:30 p.m. and will stay through Saturday.

During their visit, they are shadowing their Hoover pen pals, exploring Los Angeles, and experiencing American high school life firsthand.

Their itinerary also includes field trips to Santa Barbara and Universal Studios, as well as visits to Deukmejian Park, UCLA, and the Griffith Observatory alongside their Hoover hosts.

For many students, the exchange is about more than simply hosting. It is an opportunity to step outside their comfort zones.

“I wanted to participate in the exchange program to meet people from a different cultural background, learn from them, and share my own culture in return,” said Hoover’s Jackson Sushinski.

Zoe Guillot-Denoyelle had a different reason for joining the program.

“I wasn’t planning to participate in the exchange program, but when I found out that one of the French students didn’t have a host, I decided to host him,” she said.

As they spend time together, students are noticing differences between French and American school life. According to the hosts, French school days are typically longer—running from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.—and students face more academic pressure.

“It has been fun. We have been exploring a lot in Los Angeles. It has been a while since I have explored Los Angeles,” said Jasmine Diaz. “I think it is a great experience. We get to learn more about French culture. We get to learn more about ourselves.”