Assignment 3 Danielle Dutton

The second I got off the plane I knew the experience would be unforgettable. Walking through the terminals inundated by spoken French, written French, French culture, just a group of teenagers trying to find our way around the gigantic Paris airport, I knew my experience would be special. I was right.

This summer I was fortunate enough to be a part of the Lexington-Deauville exchange program and lived with a wonderful French family for three weeks in a tiny town just outside of Normandy. I saw Paris, the Normandy D-Day beaches, Etretat, Versailles, and Mont Saint Michel. And though all of those were incredible, my most vivid memories can’t be captured on postcards. The most meaningful parts of the experience were the times I spent with my French family experiencing everyday life with them, laughing with my correspondent Louise and her sister Juliette, going to the vegetable market with my French mom, making jokes with my French dad, seeing the French people as exactly that – people. I consider myself lucky. Sure, I didn’t see as many landmarks as the average tourist would in three weeks, but I’d still argue I saw more of France. I saw France for what it really is, not just the show put on for tourists. I experienced the small town life, I talked to shopkeepers, I went to social events, I ate an authentic (and home cooked!) French diet, I was immersed in the culture, and I loved it.

When you spend that much time living as a part of a family in another culture you realize family is one thing that doesn’t really change. The first night I arrived I was overwhelmed. I was out of my comfort zone in a new house hearing a different language with people I had never met an ocean away from home. I won’t try to say it was easy – it wasn’t at first. But my family made it worth it that first night and forever after. My mom and dad made sure I had everything I needed and then some, Louise made sure I understood and was comfortable, Juliette made sure I was entertained. The compassion was genuine and at times overwhelming – that’s what I’ll never forget.