French exchange student finds home at Hawks Nest

The Hawks Nest is now home to one young person who is very far from home. Junior Jeanne Pavard has traveled from France on August 17 as part of the exchange program called WEP (World Education Program), and ICES (International Cultural Exchange Services).

Pavard explains she is from “a small town on the west coast.”  Pavard described her first day in America this way.  “I arrived at eight p.m, so it wasn’t really a day and there was this big storm and it was kind of scary. The family is really nice.”

Pavard is living with sophomore Alison Bufano’s family. Bufano very much enjoys being part of Pavard’s host family.  “It’s really cool because it’s like getting a new family member because that’s really what it’s like, to have a new part of your family. It’s awesome because we share things about our culture and she shares things about hers,” Bufano says.

There are many differences between France and America, “Everything is bigger, like at school we don’t have sports teams or things like that in France.” Pavard says. The school day in France is also very different compared to here, “We start at eight a.m and have like seven classes a day, and I finish at 6 pm,” she adds.

Pavard feels that so far people in America are a lot different than back at her home, “They are open minded people, and just more relaxed.” She describes people in her home country as more “grumpy.” Pavard has tried Chick-fil-a, American hamburgers, and Easy Mac and Cheese and she’s enjoyed it since she doesn’t have foods like this back in France. However, she misses the French baguettes, and claims American bread is nowhere near as good as French bread.

Traveling so far for a great adventure comes with hardships too though, “I miss my friends, and my family but not too much,” Pavard says. “I was tired of my routine in France, and I just wanted to do something different.” she adds.

“I went to the state fair, I’ve done many things,” Pavard says about what she’s experienced here so far. “I would like to visit Washington, D.C.,” Pavard states as something she’d like to do before going back to France.