Secondary School 
How a French Exchange Became a Lifelong Friendship
There’s nothing better than travelling around the world when you know a little of the local language. It allows you to experience a culture in a much deeper way and it is one of the reasons why I have developed a passion for languages.
I have enjoyed studying French at the Pymble since year 3, so when we were given the opportunity to participate in the exchange program, I jumped at the chance. I was lucky enough to be paired with a wonderful student from France named Justine. The College paired us perfectly. We had a lot in common, which truly made the experience unforgettable for the both of us.
I will never forget our first phone call to introduce ourselves. It was a mixture of excitement, doubt and hesitation, but I quite quickly eased into the conversation and realised that Justine was going to be the perfect exchange partner for me.
Meeting Justine at Sydney Airport along with the seven other French exchange students was such a mixture of nerves and excitement. We all arrived filled with hope and anticipation for the next five weeks we were going to spend with our exchange sisters. During Justine’s stay, we visited many of Sydney’s iconic attractions, including Vivid, the Blue Mountains, Australia Zoo and the Koala Park. We even watched a show at the Opera House and climbed the Harbour Bridge. It was incredible to be able to share our city with her and experience it through her eyes.
It was amazing to watch Justine’s English improve over the five weeks, and I can’t wait to see how much my French improves when I visit her in Colmar. After Justine left, it took a while for life to return to normal as my family loved having her stay with us. We developed a friendship with her whole family and have remained in contact since she returned to France, and I truly feel that this program has given me a lifelong friend.
I’m now preparing to spend five weeks with Justine and her family in Colmar. There’s so much to look forward to like exploring the Christmas markets, experiencing a co-ed school with no uniform, and immersing myself in the French culture and language. I don’t think I would ever have had all these opportunities and been able to experience France in such a way, if I hadn’t participated in the exchange program. I know Justine feels the same. I would highly recommend the exchange program to anyone, whether your goal is to improve language skills or simply to experience another culture in an authentic and truly memorable way.
Annabella (Year 10), French Language Exchange – Lycee St Andre, Colmar.
