For the first two weeks in March, about 40 high school students were visiting Cornwall from France. On March 13, Cornwall Middle School students, who are just beginning to learn French, had an opportunity to sit down with their European visitors for a cultural exchange.
Since 1991, Cornwall High School has been involved in an exchange program with juniors and seniors from Lycée Val de Durance in Pertuis, France. Every other year, Cornwall students spend a week with host families in France and then four days in Paris.
This year the French students stayed with American host families. During their trip they visited various sites in New York City, including the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Little Italy, Chinatown, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Museum of Modern Art. They also took an overnight trip to Washington, D.C.
Last Friday, the French students visited the middle school and fielded questions from the students.
The French students eagerly waited in the library for the arrival of the American kids. The middle schoolers were to pair up with one of the French students, but they were clearly hesitant.
One table of French students was very open and invited students to sit with them.
“We have the best table,” one of them exclaimed.
As soon as the students settled in their seats and started asking questions, the tension was broken. As time went on, it started to sound more like a casual conversation between two strangers, rather than an interview.
Students asked each other about the subjects they like in school, as well as what foods they do and don’t like to eat. They compared seasons in each country and one middle school student was surprised to learn how warm it is in France during the winter and how little it snows.
The Local was able to sit down with Matthew Legeail and ask him about his experience in America.
Legeail said he enjoyed eating fast food, but missed the familiarity of his meals back home, including fresh vegetables.
He was shocked to learn how cold New York winters are. He left France in a T-shirt, which he quickly exchanged for a hat and gloves. Legeail said he found it difficult to eat lunch when he visited Central Park because his fingers froze.
Legeail also shared his thoughts on American schools. It seemed to him teachers were more lenient when it came to disciplining students who make noise in class. He said if students in France don’t show their teacher respect, they get yelled at and are asked to leave the room.
The visit ended with a farewell party on Friday evening, where two French students thanked their hosts on behalf of the entire group.