La Vie Française

Rotary Youth Exchange

When I was 18, I spent a year abroad as a Rotary Exchange Student. It was a big thing at the time, as the ‘GAP’ year that everyone seems to do so easily these days, was still a relatively new concept. 

After going through quite an intense selection process, then listing the top 5 countries we would like to visit ( France was my #1 hope, although we were warned that we may not get any of our preferences), I was delighted to learn that I had actually been awarded my preference and I was indeed going to be living in France – for a whole year, with a bunch of people that I had never met.

A Rotary Family

I grew up in a Rotary family. Dad was part of Rotary since I can remember and Mum was always involved with the Rotary wives and all their activities, cooking, baking, arranging events, judging events, participating in events, manning stalls etc.  

Our family participated in the Youth Exchange Program hosting young international students in our home. I remember students coming from Denmark, USA, South Africa and Norway to name a few.

Mum reminded me once that when I was young, I used to sit with the students when they called home and spoke in their native language – and was apparently fascinated with hearing them speak. Perhaps that was what sparked my life-long interest in languages and far flung places.

So there I was in the early 90’s, a country girl gone ‘a la Française’ – to the land of the frogs, on the adventure of a lifetime.

What to expect

I honestly had no idea what to expect. I wasn’t nervous, (au contraire) I was so excited as I had spent 4 years at school learning French and was keen to see if anyone could actually understand me, or I them.

Despite my luggage getting lost for a few days, I could not have asked for a more wonderful experience. I could actually write an entire book about how amazing this experience was for me, and the impact it has had, and continues to have on my life.  But for now, I’ll just break it down into smaller bite sized learning’s.

Such an incredible experience

The stories that follow are a mix of memories, experiences, observations, travels and impressions that I have collected since 1992. The relationship I have with France and her people is one I will always cherish and forever be grateful for. And I will tell anyone I can about it. 

I hope you enjoy reading my tales, and learn a little more about my second homeland and the beautiful people I call my French family.

Travel is the best.