Students greet French students at RDU Airport, October 17, 2024. Photograph courtesy of Eva-Marie Andruejol.
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Carrboro High School welcomes French exchange students for the first time since Covid
Aylin McGowan
Students from Dautet High School in La Rochelle walk out from customs in RDU Airport, October 17, 2024. Photograph courtesy of Djina Alicante-Stuesse.
Last Thursday, Carrboro High School students greeted 24 French exchange students from La Rochelle, France. This is the first time since before the Covid-19 pandemic that Carrboro has welcomed the Dautet High School students. La Rochelle hosted Carrboro students over Spring Break of 2024, and many of the Carrboro students will be hosting the French student that hosted them. There are new students, both host and exchange, who have been communicating online since May of 2024.
“I think it’s the human connection that will happen between all the teenagers that's the most important part of this exchange,” said Madame Eva-Marie Andruejol, the French teacher at Carrboro High School.
Carrboro is the only school in the district that does a program like this.
“It makes Carrboro I, I think, unique,” Andruejol said. “And there is so much that we can do in the classroom, but opening outside the classroom, the opportunities will make a difference I’m sure.”
Host students are excited to show the French students the best of American culture. From Homecoming and pumpkin spice, to Halloween and falling leaves, it is sure to be a trip to remember. Not only is it the perfect time to be visiting the United States, it is the perfect time to be exposed to new cultures, customs, and experiences.
“It’s great to give opportunities to discover new countries and cultures,” said Aimée Fleury, one of the exchange students.
Students, both the exchange students, the host students, and the bigger Carrboro High School community will be able to see how language and culture brings people from across the globe together.
“I think there’s a big community in the world that speaks French,” said Carrboro High School sophomore Henry Brooks.
Global connections are so important and special, and Covid shut down so much.
“It’s just so much more than just a language, and learning conjugations and verbs. It's more than that.” Andruejol said.
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