Going to a Cubs game, taking the architecture tour, visiting the Willis Tower and the Art Institute might seem like typical activities for someone living in Chicago. However, for the French exchange students from Lycée Saint-Paul in Lille, these experiences were most of their firsts during their visit to Chicago from April 18-27.
“All of the buildings were really tall, and there are a lot of skyscrapers,” Sixtine Decroix, a French exchange student, said about her impressions of Chicago. “There is also a lot of fast food and junk food.”
During the days that the French exchange students stayed at U-High, a usual difference they noticed was the more relaxed atmosphere at school, but busier after-school life, contrasting with theirs.
“The setting is very different with what they do after school; they tend to go to a café outside and have a coffee, versus at Lab, the homework load is intense,” said U-High French teacher Catherine Collet-Jarard. “So French kids were really surprised with how much work they have to do after school, and they don’t get to hang out as much as they do.”
When the French students spent their time exploring Chicago and experiencing American culture, their hosts also enjoyed having the opportunity to share their daily lives with them.
“My favorite part was having someone by me and I could do things I normally do, but having a friend there to help me and have fun with me was nice,” sophomore Hannah Gao, who hosted Sixtine, said.
Ms. Collet-Jarard encourages students to step out of their comfort zone and participate in the exchange program.
“I think it’s very important for students to travel abroad and to discover something that is different from their own environment, and to experience that firsthand,” she said.
