Students From Bretagne, France Experience Smithtown Lifestyle

French Exchange 2012

      Last March, twenty students from Bretagne, France were welcomed into Smithtown High School West. They experienced the “American lifestyle”, by attending school, living with American families, and participating in activities that typical teenagers would. Sixteen High School Students, from Madame Gallagher’s class,  (Nicole Barriere, Taryn Dunigan, Nick Eng, Cassidy Foley, Mike Gerver, Danielle Gladstone, Sara Heinlein, Sarah Kearns,  Catherine Kinney, Samantha Kodack, Krista Lamberti, Nicholai Mitchko, Sam O’Carroll, Vera Penavic, Emily Roach, and Faryn Solomon) , eagerly, opened their homes to the French. I happened to have the privilege of hosting two exchange students and it was absolutely amazing. They had the chance to see NYC for the first time and all of the beautiful sights on long island. All of the host students and I became extremely close with the exchange students.  We were able to learn so much about each other. There is so much out there in the world and experiences like this help us to broaden our perspectives. I can’t wait to participate in the exchange next year. —Sara Heinlein