Part II: Beyond Borders - My Eye-Opening Experience in the French Exchange Program

After welcoming 17 French students to the Country Day campus this past fall, the Country Day French exchange students embarked on a journey this spring across the ocean to France, where we spent two amazing weeks immersed in culture and language.

Some Country Day students were incredibly nervous about leaving the country. Many were apprehensive about the homestay, and almost all were worried about the sufficiency of their French. However, what almost overwhelmingly exceeded the trepidation was the excitement; the excitement to be in a new country seeing and trying new things.

Once we had successfully boarded the flight, I began to grow more nervous. Yet the reason for my anxiety was the very thing that excited me; simply put, it was the fear of the unknown. What would being in a foreign country be like?

Once we arrived in Paris, we immediately boarded a bus to Colmar, a town in the eastern region of Alsace. It was a long journey, and many of us were tired from the trip. But there was still a sense of wonder; whether it was stopping at gas stations to take quick pictures of French snacks or simply remarking at the architecture all around us.

Soon, we reached Colmar and were able to reunite with our exchange partners. I was very excited to see my partner, Eline Nordez, though it seemed like no time had passed between us. We had been talking online frequently and she was very considerate in making sure my home away from home was as comfortable as possible. Eline tried to ensure a full immersion in French culture. Indeed, her parents were very generous and cooked classic Alsatian meals. French was strictly spoken in the household, yet they were kind when dealing with my many grammar mistakes.

On the first full day with my exchange partner, I was able to visit a true French patisserie, where I could indulge in various French pastries. In France, life seemed much more relaxed; school would sometimes not start until 10 a.m., and after-school time was left for meeting up with friends. Whether it was walking through French grocery stores and remarking at the variety of breads, cheeses, and chocolates, or buying eclairs at the city center during lunch breaks at school, Country Day students were able to get a taste of life as a student in Alsace.

I am most appreciative of this opportunity for the chance it has given me to create friendships across cultures and nations. My favorite part of the exchange was the time I spent with Eline. There is something distinctly different about an exchange program compared to any other service trip or CCDX Week outing: the opportunity to create lifelong bonds.

Sadly, the week had come to an end when it seemed like we had arrived just yesterday. There was something distinctly more forlorn about leaving for Paris than when the students of St. Andre left Cincinnati. I believe it was the finality of the moment; the “exchange” part of this trip had come to an end. There were many tears shed and many assurances made that we would all visit one another soon, and I can’t wait to visit the beautiful town of Colmar once again.

We took the TGV, a high-speed train, to Paris on March 11. There, we spent a few days with our tour guide learning all about the rich culture of Paris and making Franco-American connections. Paris was distinctly different from the homestay in that it was much quicker paced. Watching for pickpockets, staying with the group, and metro train troubles were all major concerns (Dr. Hecker, who was always concerned about our safety, would constantly count the number of students at every metro stop). However, Paris is a beautiful city with a variety of landmarks and monuments, and we enjoyed our range of experiences – whether it was learning about the history of the Arc de Triomphe or marveling at the beautiful impressionist art of the Musee d’Orsay. The most magical memory from this trip came on our last day in Paris, when we went up to the third level of the Eiffel Tower (an experience that was almost impossible to book!)

We knew we had limited time, and, at first, everyone was snapping pictures trying to get the perfect image for their socials or to send back to family and friends. From the top of the Eiffel Tower, you could see all of Paris. We reminisced on the past few days as we pointed at the monuments that we visited and the places we’d seen. As the sun dipped below the horizon, we came to the realization that our French adventures had come to an end. Many were eager to return to a sense of normalcy and home in Cincinnati, but we also felt that the trip ended much more swiftly than anticipated.

I’m immensely grateful for this opportunity, something that I know only a few schools in Cincinnati can provide. Through this program, I became more proficient in French, learning key differences between taught and spoken French. I also developed valuable skills such as independence, adaptability, and communication. Lastly, I would like to thank our amazing faculty chaperones, Dr. Hecker and Ms. Corwin, who made every effort to ensure an enjoyable trip for us all. I can’t wait for Country Day students to embark on a journey to Spain next year and continue building bridges across borders.

Article written by Shiva Shyam `26. You can read Part 1 here.