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7/24/05

BocaNews.com: Local students go to Europe, receive ‘a unique experience’

BocaNews.com

Local students go to Europe, receive ‘a unique experience’

Charlotte Richards never knew staying with a French family would be so different from living in Boca Raton. “I had a unique experience. I stayed with a French family and it was a husband and wife in their sixties. We would eat every meal with them and spent two days and three nights with them,” said Richards. “And they spoke no English.” Cultural differences extended beyond the language barrier, according to the 14-year-old girl. “They had a siesta where they napped in the afternoon from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m,” Richards said. “They didn’t work for those hours. The also had huge meals especially at dinner where they brought out five course meals with potatoes, salads and meats. “It was a lot more traditional there. They hung their clothes because they didn’t have a dryer or air-conditioning. They only had fans that blew around.” Richards was among 40 other local students who got the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience a different culture and live with a family overseas through the People to People Student Ambassador program. The program was started by President Eisenhower in an effort to provide opportunities for students to explore domestic and foreign destinations and learn about the history, government, economy and culture of the areas they visit. Led by delegation leaders and educators, the students spent three weeks touring historical landmarks throughout Europe and other countries starting with the Vatican and moving on to the Eiffel Tower. “We started in London and worked our way to France and Italy and ended up in Rome,” said Kristina Fisher, a chaperone on the excursion and a teacher at Boca Raton Christian School. “The trip helped to improve upon their French culture and give them a taste of what it’s like to be French. They also learned a lot about working together as a group, about the different cultures and about the different ways of doing things.” Brenda Coto said she sent her 14-year-old son on the trip to gain an understanding of other cultures and he came back mature and independent.

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