Au Revoir
Our friends from Frejus return home, and await the arrival next summer of a new batch of American travelers.
By Martin Davis
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Email Martin
“There was not a dry eye on the tracks as the students said good-bye to each other and to their families for the past two weeks,” said Craig Vasey, who’s president of the Fredericksburg Sister City Association.
Last week, our friends from Frejus boarded the Amtrak for New York City and the final stage of their visit to the United States. But before heading away, they gathered together at James Monroe High School to catch a glimpse of an American high school.
Both the gym and the auditorium caught the students’ eyes. So, too, the yellow school bus the school system supplied for the students’ day at Kings Dominion.
Before leaving for a day of fun, they joined the Advance at the JM library to reflect on their time. in the U.S.
We talked for a bit about food — both how the French students felt about American food choices, and how their American hosts who had visited France last year felt about food in a country renowned for its excellent cuisine.
“The portions are so large,” said one of the Frejus visitors. “It’s so full of fat. It’s heavy. I couldn’t eat it every day.”
Then ended by noting, “But I love it.”
An American host compared that experience to her time in France, where the food was “fresh,” “not processed,” and baguettes were a favorite.
They also shared their thoughts about language. Asked if the language barrier was a source of frustration, the students mostly said only a minor one. They found ways to communicate, and to connect.
For the French students, that meant learning lots of new English expressions. One student in particular, who displayed a competent command of English, talked of his desire to perfect his English, because he wants to travel.
Carrying On
Next year, American students will travel to France in the summer, and adult members of FSCA will make their way to Frejus in the fall.
Watching these students — both American and French — leaves little doubt that traveling to other lands is both eye-opening, and life-changing.
And you can be a part of it.
Joining FSCA creates opportunities to support visitors when they arrive, or just learn a bit more about our friends across the ocean — even if you don’t make the trip.
To our new friends from Frejus, thank you for sharing your adventures with us all. Until next year …
Follow us on Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Local Obituaries
To view local obituaries or to send a note to family and loved ones, please visit our website at the link that follows.
Support Award-winning, Locally Focused Journalism
The FXBG Advance cuts through the talking points to deliver both incisive and informative news about the issues, people, and organizations that daily affect your life. And we do it in a multi-partisan format that has no equal in this region. Over the past month, our reporting was:
First to report on a Spotsylvania School teacher arrested for bringing drugs onto campus.
First to report on new facility fees leveled by MWHC on patient bills.
First to detail controversial traffic numbers submitted by Stafford staff on the Buc-ee’s project
Provided extensive coverage of the cellphone bans that are sweeping local school districts.
And so much more, like Clay Jones, Drew Gallagher, Hank Silverberg, and more.
For just $8 a month, you can help support top-flight journalism that puts people over policies.
Your contributions 100% support our journalists.
Help us as we continue to grow!