Marquette Catholic High School already has a French connection with Fr. Marquette’s 17th century travels through Northwest Indiana. But every year in February, that connection gets deeper, as Marquette welcomes several exchange students from the Loire Valley region of France.
This year, Marquette welcomes four French boys: Harold Urlik-Joly, Laurent Faye, Pierre Auconie and Guillaume Azema, all 16. They boys attend St. Denis International School in Loches, France, which is just south of Tours and more than 130 miles southwest of Paris. The St. Denis program gets students out into American Catholic schools in Indiana, Tennessee and Georgia; this is the eighth year Marquette has hosted students from the French school.
“I’m excited to see if some of the clichés about Americans are true,” said Pierre Auconie with a laugh. Since arriving Feb. 1, the French exchange students have had plenty of opportunities to see if the movies and shows imported from the United States are accurate. “The basketball game [homecoming, Feb. 2] was just the same as it is in the shows,” Pierre said.
The high school experience – including games – is only one of a few clichés the travelers have found so far. All of the boys expressed how welcomed they felt by their host families.
“Here, my hosts are very friendly, open, and nice,” Pierre said. “It’s different in France. We are more formal. I like this better.” Pierre is from Tours, France.
Tom and Marilyn Gotsch, Chesterton, Ind., have two Marquette students, Billy, 16, and Bobby, 14, who are hosting Pierre, a huge basketball fan. Pierre will have an opportunity to see an NBA game while he is here, and will even get to shoot some hoops with the Marquette basketball team during practices.
Laurent Faye found a striking similarity upon reaching the Marquette campus. The Parisian, who is a boarding student, said that French high schools have compact, urban campuses, just like Marquette. “This is a lot like a school in Paris,” he said. The compactness of the campus, however, is not necessarily mirrored in the layout of the city. “Michigan City is much more spread out than most French cities,” Laurent explained. “Here, it looks like it is difficult to get around without a car.” Marquette senior Zack Knibbs, 17, and his parents, Ted and Soula Knibbs of LaPorte, are hosting Laurent.
As a part of their English studies program at the French school, the students live with host families and attend Marquette classes. They get to participate in Marquette student activities, getting a full idea of what daily life is like for teenagers in the United States. There is also plenty of sight-seeing, as student group trips and family outings to Chicago and Notre Dame round out their stay on this side of the Atlantic.
“I want to see Chicago,” said Guillaume Azema, another Parisian, who also hopes to come back to the United States to see the West Coast. By exploring the area and meeting Americans, Guillaume says he will come to a better understanding of American culture. “It’s about discovering a new rhythm, a new day, a new town” Guillaume said.
Guillaume is staying with Marquette junior Dante Cardenas, 17, and his parents, Javier and Julia Cardenas, Michigan City, and their family. This is the third consecutive year the Cardenas family has hosted a French exchange student.
Harold Urlik-Joly is not a newcomer to American culture, but is enjoying his first foray into the American school system. “I have cousins in Miami,” Harold explained. “So I have been to Florida.”
His family connection provides some background knowledge of the United States, but this will be his first trip to Indiana – and his first experience with Indiana winter. Harold is staying with Marquette sophomore Dominic Vernon and his mother Mary Vernon; this is the Vernons’ third experience hosting a student from St. Denis.
But it’s not all playtime for the French students; in addition to any Marquette studies or homework, they will complete a portfolio that documents their experience in the United States.
“The cultural exchange is important,” said Laurent. “There are a lot of differences between France and America, but there are so many similarities, too.”
Pierre echoed some of Laurent’s thoughts, adding: “We need to know each other’s cultures so we don’t see the differences as faults.”
Despite having been here for only a week, Guillaume quickly noted several distinct differences between French and American schools. “It’s not the same,” Guillaume said. “Here, it’s faster. There are no breaks and a shorter lunch. And we learn the same things, but in different years (grade levels).”