My exchange experience in Paris - Nicholis Swart (Grade 9)

Earlier this year, I had the amazing opportunity to go on an exchange trip to France. I remember feeling extremely nervous when I was called into Mr. Ethan's office without any explanation. However, I was thrilled when he told me that I would be going to the International School of Paris (ISP) for a three-week exchange trip. I would be going on this journey with my friend Carolina.

When I first arrived in Paris, I was extremely tired because of the long flights. However, my host family was very welcoming and considerate. The next day, my exchange buddy Jules showed me around his neighbourhood as well as many other major neighbourhoods in Paris. He also explained many interesting things about the city.. He also explained to me the different modes of transportation that people use to get around the city. 

The next day was my first day at school. Overall, everyone was very welcoming, and I had a great time. I was glad to see that the students in Paris were learning basically the same topics and projects that we were at WIS.

When we were not in school, Jules and I visited several popular places in Paris, from clothing stores to the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. We also went to several traditional French restaurants, where I enjoyed local delicacies such as escargot and foie gras.

I was also allowed to watch the football team PSG in their home stadium play against another local team, Rheims in the French football league. This was a huge highlight for me as I could watch world-class players play football for the first time.

Overall I am very thankful for the opportunity that both WIS and ISP have given me so that I could experience different cultures and lifestyles. Through this exchange, i was able to experience French culture as well as European culture as a whole.