French Exchange Student Profile: Vincent

By Jonathan Draper

What's the big deal about foreign student home-stays? Most importantly, for everybody involved, I'd say they're eye opening.

For teenagers and pre-teens in your family, I think it's especially important. They're getting ready to go out into the world, they've read and heard about other countries, but for the most part they lack experience. Here's a chance for them to meet and spend quality time with a person their own age from another country.

Few easier opportunities exist for them to challenge or confirm many of their assumptions about people in other lands. At the same time they're helping their young foreign guest deepen his or her understanding of Americans. Lifelong friendships often result from these exchanges.

So, If you have a teenager or pre-teen in your family, think about broadening his or her horizons this summer. American Discovery is bringing 12 French high school students to the East Bay in August. Five of them still need an American host family, with their arrival less than a month away!

What does it take to become a host family? Just a spare bed, food and some
transportation during the roughly twelve days that your student guest will be with you between Aug. 2 through 22 (We're taking them on a camping trip in the middle of their stay, Aug. 6 to 13).

Today I'd like to introduce you to Vincent, who wrote this letter to you,
his prospective host family:

Hello,

My name is Vincent. I am 17 years old and I am living in Lyon a city in the south east of France.

I go to a private High school which is called Notre Dame des Minimes. I am in a scientific section where Math, physique and biologic are really important. I'm also studying English and Spanish.

Concerning my family, I have got one brother Guillaume and one sister Marie who are 21 and 20 years old. My father is working as senior account manager and my mother is a housewife.

I have already been many times with English's and Irish's families. It always has been a very nice experience. Each time, I really enjoyed to stay with them and to visit these two countries. It was also great to discover a new way of live, new habits, new tasting foods.

I'm really excited to go to the States. It always has been a dream to me to go to the USA, to visit your country and know your culture and lifestyle. My two siblings have already been there several times and it always had been a good experience for them. They always come back home very pleased. From August until June my sister is going to study in an American University.

With my family, we love to visit different countries during the holidays. I usually go to countries around Europe like Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Greece, Ireland or England. My parents have always wanted to give us interest to traveling because it is enriching to meet new people and to visit different countries.

Concerning my hobbies, I'm in a mountain bike club and every Saturday we ride nearly 15, 18 miles. I play tennis, volleyball, badminton. I love cinema too, going on computers and internet, playing videos games, I use to listen to pop and rock music.

Expecting meet you soon.

Vincent

The following four students from France also need a host family. For more
information or to host, contact Jonathan Draper at 510-300-7022 or jonathan@AmericanDiscovery.net. If you have questions about what's involved in hosting, go to AmericanDiscovery.net/hosting.

Gregoire - 15 years old. Lives in a little village near Bordeaux in the south of France. His father, Richard, is a manager. Mother, Fabienna, is a homemaker. Has a younger brother and sister: Armand and Clothilde. Has a dog. Feels his English is good but wants to improve. Says, "I'm a great fan of American TV series. Also I like to cook (more exactly to eat what I cooked) and to read."

Brian - 17 years old. Lives in Orchies, near Lille in the north of France.
His father, Tonio, is a construction worker. Mother, Sabine, is a government official. Has a younger brother, Yohann and a dog, Ness. Favorite foods are meat, potatoes and vegetables. Enjoys sports, music, TV, hiking and going to movies. Plays soccer & ping pong. Says, "I would discover American life and improve my English. Waiting to meet you, please accept my sincere greetings."

Violaine - 15 years old. Lives in Burgundy. Her father is a doctor. Her mother is a professor. Has three siblings: Severine, Ludovic and Alexis. Has two cats. Doesn't eat meat. Likes to go to theme parks, play games and shop. Participated in a home-stay with a family in New York last August. Is looking forward to getting to know a California family with a child or children her own age, if possible, this summer.

Florian - 16 years old. Lives in the north of France near Lille. His father is a teacher. Mother is in business. Concentrating on science in high school. Favorite subject is math. Plays tennis. Enjoys bowling and movies with friends. Favorite foods are fruits, pancakes & pasta. Says, "I hope there is an American teenager of my age in the family. I would love to stay in touch and welcome my new
American friends to France."