We arrived in Les Baux de Provence not knowing what to expect. We were greeted warmly by our host families who were patient as we attempted to piece together sentences in French. With their incredible support it didn’t take long for us to feel at home.
Group picture
“THIS PAST WEEK HAS BEEN FILLED WITH AMAZING AND NEW EXPERIENCES. THE THOUGHT OF LIVING WITH ANOTHER FAMILY WAS FRIGHTENING AT FIRST BUT IT HAD TURNED OUT TO BE AN EXTREMELY REWARDING EXPERIENCE. MY HOST FAMILY AND I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM EACH OTHER AND I AM EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THESE NEXT FEW DAYS HAVE IN STORE” – MILLIE
“FOR THE PAST WEEK I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REALLY BOND AND GET TO KNOW MY HOST FAMILY. WE HAVE DINNER EVERY NIGHT TOGETHER AND EVEN THOUGH THEY TALK IN A LANGUAGE I CAN’T UNDERSTAND, IT’S AMAZING TO BE A PART OF THE FAMILY. “- CHRIS
Evelyn with her host family
“THIS WEEK HAS BEEN BY FAR THE MOST IMMERSIVE WEEK OF THIS TRIP. BEING WITH MY HOST FAMILY HAS MADE ME EXIT MY COMFORT ZONE AND TRY SO MANY NEW THINGS EVERY DAY. IT’S SO MUCH FUN, AND I WISH I HAD MORE TIME WITH THEM”- AUTUMN
Millie and Autumn enjoying ice cream
“IT’S BEEN A BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE ADAPTING INTO DAILY LIFE WITH MY HOST FAMILY. IT’S MY FIRST TIME, AS WELL AS THEIRS, AND OUR OCCASIONALLY HOURS-LONG CONVERSATIONS AT DINNER HAVE BEEN A LOVELY CHANCE TO GET TO TRULY KNOW EACH OTHER. I HAVE AN INSTINCT, DEEP-IN-THE-GUT FEELING THAT I’LL BE BACK HERE AGAIN WITH THESE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE. I CAN’T WAIT FOR MORE ADVENTURES TO UNFOLD! ” – SADIE
Sadie with her host mom
“THE HOMESTAY HAS DEFINITELY BEEN DIFFERENT FROM ANYTHING I’VE EVER EXPERIENCED. I AM SO GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO FULLY IMMERSE MYSELF IN THE FRENCH LANGUAGE AND SLOWLY IMPROVE MY ABILITIES. MY HOST FAMILY IS SO SWEET AND I CHERISH THE OUTINGS WITH THE GROUP NOW THAT WE ARE MORE SPREAD OUT. I ALSO LOVE MEETING MY FRIENDS’ HOST SIBLINGS AND BECOMING FRIENDS WITH THEM. “- BROOKE
Evelyn, Gabe, and Isabella enjoying a group outing
“DURING THIS SPAN OF TIME I SPENT WITH MY HOST FAMILY I’VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE CULTURE. IT’S SO COOL TO EXPERIENCE THIS SEEING AS IT’S SO DIFFERENT THAN MY OWN HOME. I COULDN’T HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER HOST FAMILY. ESPECIALLY MY HOST SIBLINGS WHO’VE I’VE GOTTEN SUPER CLOSE WITH AND THEY’RE FUNNY AND AMAZING AND ALWAYS MAKE ME LAUGH. WE’RE ALL LEARNING ABOUT EACH OTHERS COUNTRIES WHICH IS REALLY INCREDIBLE. I KNOW I WILL CRY WHEN I LEAVE BUT I WILL SEE THEM IN THE FUTURE… HOPEFULLY! “- CAROL
CAROL WITH HER HOST FAMILY
“FROM TRYING TO UNDERSTAND MY HOST FAMILY’S ACCENT TO PLAYING UNO WITH NEW RULES ALL IN THE SAME WEEK. I’VE GOTTEN SO CLOSE TO MY HOST FAMILY THAT I COULD HONESTLY SAY THAT BY THE END OF THE HOMESTAY PORTION I WILL CRY BECAUSE I WILL BE LEAVING PEOPLE THAT HAVE BECOME MY FAMILY. ” – EVELYN
Brooke with her host family
“THIS WEEK FOR THE FIRST TIME I’VE BEEN ABLE TO FULLY IMMERSE MYSELF IN FRENCH CULTURE BY BEING WITH MY HOST FAMILY AND INVOLVING MYSELF IN THEIR DAILY ACTIVITIES. I FEEL I HAVE BECOME A PART OF THEIR FAMILY AND THEY HAVE BECOME APART OF MINE.”- AMINA
Sarah with host family
Autumn with host family
Claire and Evelyn at a local bakery
Brooke, Carol, Nell, and Mattis
A bientôt !
