Me, Myself and France
Me, Myself and France By Kelly Ho
‘Those French, they have a different word for everything.’ Steve Marti
Being an exchange student is an amazing, difficult, heart-wrenching experience, but all worth it in the end.
Last year, when I was 15, I decided that I wanted to do something else, I wanted to be something more, and I found that Hong Kong just wasn’t doing it for me. And I saw that little poster hanging in my classroom, promoting having a year living abroad as an exchange student, I suddenly had this crazy idea: I always love France, what if I go there for a year?
I presented the idea of spending a year abroad before going off to F.4 to my parents. They were being fully supportive and after about half a year of planning with AFS, I finally had my heart set for going to France even though I didn’t really speak any French. But time flew away so fast, it was like yesterday I was signing up for this exchange program, the next day I’m going to France, and today, I’m at home smiling at the past.
Flying to Paris was when I really realized where I headed and all that it took to get me there: I was going to France! I could see La Tour Eiffel from the plane and I can’t really begin to explain the full range of emotion that went through me at the time. I went to a public school and I lived in Hazebrouck, it was a small town with a less-than-24,000-population, it is 30 minutes away from my favorite city in France, Lille and it is located in the Northern France. Later on I had a few days to play around before going to school.
My school, Lycée des Flandres was my favorite place in France, I had so many friends that I treasure and I had such a good time there. But it wasn’t easy the first few weeks. First, no one spoke English! I felt so trapped. I could not have an intelligent conversation! My pocket dictionary became my best friend and I never left home without it. The language barrier was definitely the most difficult part of being in France, at
‘Those French, they have a different word for everything.’ Steve Marti
Being an exchange student is an amazing, difficult, heart-wrenching experience, but all worth it in the end.
Last year, when I was 15, I decided that I wanted to do something else, I wanted to be something more, and I found that Hong Kong just wasn’t doing it for me. And I saw that little poster hanging in my classroom, promoting having a year living abroad as an exchange student, I suddenly had this crazy idea: I always love France, what if I go there for a year?
I presented the idea of spending a year abroad before going off to F.4 to my parents. They were being fully supportive and after about half a year of planning with AFS, I finally had my heart set for going to France even though I didn’t really speak any French. But time flew away so fast, it was like yesterday I was signing up for this exchange program, the next day I’m going to France, and today, I’m at home smiling at the past.
Flying to Paris was when I really realized where I headed and all that it took to get me there: I was going to France! I could see La Tour Eiffel from the plane and I can’t really begin to explain the full range of emotion that went through me at the time. I went to a public school and I lived in Hazebrouck, it was a small town with a less-than-24,000-population, it is 30 minutes away from my favorite city in France, Lille and it is located in the Northern France. Later on I had a few days to play around before going to school.
My school, Lycée des Flandres was my favorite place in France, I had so many friends that I treasure and I had such a good time there. But it wasn’t easy the first few weeks. First, no one spoke English! I felt so trapped. I could not have an intelligent conversation! My pocket dictionary became my best friend and I never left home without it. The language barrier was definitely the most difficult part of being in France, at