2 minute read
from France, with Love
Local exchange student experiences life in America
Story By Hunter Kotronakis
France 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 Story By Hunter Kotronakis conservative than her homeland.
All of that might be intriguing, but it’s important to remember the real purpose of Seguin’s Rotary Exchange Program, which is building a community.
“You become a part of a family in a sense - and even if you aren’t hosting at the time, you can always get involved for one weekend and give them an experience they’ll remember for their entire lifetime,” she said. “It’s amazing to see students come here all shy and quiet and then leave so confident and energized by their experience. You can’t be a part of a program like this and come out unchanged.”
Most of the people involved are just glad to have had the opportunity for adventure. The Seguin Rotary Exchange Program is genuinely doing wonders for all parties involved when it comes to the destruction of cultural barriers and the enrichment of communities.
“Seguin’s exchange program has been around for 50 years, and Melodie Poisson is our 50th exchange student,” Kirkland said. “This is something we are extremely proud of. As the current president and a member of the Rotary Club, I intend to continue this tradition for many years."
