This fall, students got the opportunity to participate in an exchange program, Mistral Boreal and Programme de mobilité Baltlantique. We chose to participate in these exchange programmes because we study French B and wished to improve our language skills.The exchange program entailed both a three week exchange to France and a three week period during which you hosted a French student. The greatest difference between the two programmes is that they occur during different dates. Additionally, Mistral Boreal is an exchange for the Azure Coast, and Programme Baltlantique for Bordeaux. 

When asked which aspect of the exchange we enjoyed the most, both of us always answer visiting France. Although showing Finland to a foreigner was interesting, going to France felt 

like a much vaster experience, due to there being so many new things to see and explore. Although one of us lived in the south of France, and the other one in the southwest, we fully agree that the absolute best thing about the stay was the setting. Getting to live next to beautiful beaches, small coastal towns and shops was awesome. 

The biggest obstacles we faced had to do with cultural differences and differences in the respective school systems. Hence, collaborating with the exchange students during our daily lives so that everyone's day would run smoothly was . A good example is that the French exchange students thought that our time when we have dinner is very different and bizarre considering that they have dinner very late in the evening, around 9 pm, since we have dinner at around 6-7 pm. In France we almost fell asleep at the dinner table. 

We recommend applying to either exchange program if you are eager to experience living in a different country for three weeks, get familiar with French culture, and want to improve language skills and perhaps social skills as well.