In French class one day, Madame Keaty told the class that an organization called Language and Friendship was offering the opportunity to host a French student over the summer and asked if there was anyone who would want to participate.

When I signed up to host, I did not know what to expect. Would she like me? Would she like my family? Would she like America? What happens if we don’t get along, and I have to live with someone that I despise? Fortunately that didn’t happen.

Maiwenn Turgis from Lyon, France which is South of Paris, loves to sing, box, dance and sail. With her parents who both work for Air France, Maiwenn has had the privilege to travel to New York, Mauritius Island, Vietnam, and many locations across Europe. Travelling across the globe wasn’t a new experience for her, but living with a completely different family for a month most definitely was.

For me, I had an amazing time learning about her culture and life and showing her the great parts of America. After this incredible experience, I wanted to know how she felt about America and the overall opportunity to live in a different country. Here’s what she said.

What’s the biggest difference between America and France? Maiwenn thought the food was most different between the two countries. She responded, “I did not like the food as much because all the portions were too big and not healthy. Coming from France, it is a big change where we eat smaller meals.”

When I asked Maiwenn to describe what is socially accepted in France or America, she had deep feelings about the subject. “The way of life is a lot different. People in America are a lot more friendly. In France, if I was walking down the street and said hello to someone passing by, people would think I’m crazy. In America it is accepted to be friendly.”

Another thing Maiwenn touched upon was the fact that people don’t judge your style as much in America. “Everyone in France dresses nice, and in America you can go to the store in your pajamas and everyone doesn’t care. The people of France are a tad more judgemental.”

I asked Maiwenn what she was most afraid of before meeting my family, and she replied “I was afraid that I wouldn’t have good relationships with the host family. Because I didn’t know who my host family was until I met them, it made things somewhat scary.” Some of Maiwenn’s friends had situations where the children of the family didn’t talk to the exchange student. Another girl had a family that only ate burgers for dinner. It’s hard to know what to expect when you know nothing about the person you’re going to live with until you meet them.

When we went to the beach, Maiwenn was very surprised that she didn’t have to hide her bag from pickpockets. “In France, it is a big problem,” she said. Coming from France where one has to guard their bag at all times, to Crystal Lake where one can leave it in a patch of sand for a day and no one will touch it was a bit of a change.

Something Maiwenn mentioned was the fact that she didn’t realize the importance of her family until she didn’t see them for a month. Before coming to the U.S., she wanted to study abroad for a long period of time in the United States. However, after living far away from her loved ones for a month, she realized how much she depended on her family and couldn’t be away for a long time. “Before leaving for America I thought ‘One month isn’t a long time away’, but I realized how family oriented I am and the importance of my family, which is really beneficial to learn. In France, we have a saying: l’éloignement renforce l’affection (absence makes the heart grow fonder). I believe this now because of my experience away from my family.”  

When speaking upon the lessons she learned in America, Maiwenn said, “It was a great experience. I learned not only about myself and personality, but also about America and the culture.”And when I asked about her favorite part of America she responded- “I loved going to Chicago. It was just like New York and everything I had pictured. I would recommend this experience to anyone. I made great friendships that will last forever.”

To host a foreign exchange student, you can find an organization online or just talk to French teacher Madame Keaty. She’ll have more information second semester.