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Story By Hunter Kotronakis
rance isn’t a country that stays at the forefront of the average Texan’s mind, especially considering the state’s closer proximity to Mexico as opposed to the French-speaking country of Canada. That’s why an opportunity to experience the enlightening company of one of France’s citizens is a welcome one to Seguin resident, Kristy Kirkland, a parent and president of Seguin’s Rotary Exchange Club. She has been housing Melodie Poisson, a foreign exchange student at Seguin High School whose passion for adventure that brought her around the globe to experience a culture different from her own. Having her around has turned the Kirkland family into tourists in their own country –– an experience they have embraced excitedly. “We wanted to take her to Blue Bell in Brenham, Myrtle Beach, all kinds of places,” Kirkland said. “I’ve cooked food for her to share our culture as well, and although she can be a bit picky, she’s good about trying new things. And she said we smile a lot more here than France, which made me laugh.” Melodie’s opinions about the United States and observations about American culture are valuable because experiencing life through the view of an outsider can offer insights otherwise left unnoticed. “One thing that Melodie says about us all the time is that our food is much saltier here than France,” Kirkland said. “It has more flavor, and of course, everything is spicy here in Texas. It’s also harder for her not to have public transportation. She’s used to being able to hop on and get a ride to wherever she needs to go, and she’s a good sport about it, but you can tell she misses the freedom.” Past the subtle differences like salty food and slightly more freedom of travel, Melodie provided a chance to learn about how France sees non-Europeans. Poisson said that in her experience, the U.S. is a lot more religious and that Texas is significantly more
with Love
from France,
Local exchange student experiences life in America
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SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING
