Isobel Keating
- Destination:
- France
- Host Club:
- Clermont Ferrand Val D'Allier
- Home Town:
- Wanganui
I arrived in France on the 29th of January 2009 and seriously didn't know what I was getting myself into. I was extremely tired and so overwhelmed that I couldn't even think straight. Also all around me I was hearing a language that I barely knew how to even speak or understand. And to tell you the truth I don't regret it for a minute. Enduring this experience has changed my life all for the better. I was in the city of Clermont Ferrand with about 300,000 people and quite a few universities. I attended the school Blaise Pascal where I met some of the most amazing, kind hearted people I have ever met in my life. I made some unforgettable friends who I know will be there for life. I had four different host families who were all pretty amazing. Each one took me in and accepted me like I was apart of their family. That made my time in France a lot more comfortable and has allowed me to look at that country and think of it as a second home now. I really loved the French culture, the cuisine, the people, the fashion, the education, the history, the architecture and pretty much just the French way of life. I loved my bus trip with all the other exchange students. It was amazing how you can just drive so many different countries just one after another in such a short amount of time. It was great being pretty much in central Europe and I really loved catching the train. The summer holidays were great going down the south of France, then into Spain and finally over to Italy. I had an amazing time. I had my first 'white' Christmas with plenty of pretty snow and I had the chance to go skiing. The only real problem I had was with my counsellor... He spoke to me I think about two times during the whole year and he was rather useless at arranging events, travel and family changes. Other than that I had the times of my life. I have matured profoundly and become a young lady who really does appreciate life a whole lot more and who now considers such independance a real, life changing privilege. Thankyou.