My Nickel’s Worth

The beginning of the new school year represents many different things. A fresh slate from the previous year in academics, a new year for sports and a chance to meet new people and set new goals for yourself. But for me, it also reminds me that a new group of foreign exchange students have come to America!

I have always been so interested in other cultures and countries, as well as getting to know several foreign exchange students throughout the years including when I was in high school. But for my senior year, this took on a whole new meaning for me. At the beginning of my Senior year of high school, I met a foreign exchange student from France named Pierre. My basketball coach had us meet and play basketball on the first day of cross country, as he had played in France and was looking forward to playing basketball in America. Our friendship began on that day years ago, just shooting some hoops. From there, we hungout all the time, had classes together, and he even went on vacation with my family and I. My family and I had always loved the French culture after going on vacation to Paris years ago. I would always joke that Pierre is the French version of myself. He has taught me so much about the French and European culture and we still talk all the time to this day.

This December, Pierre will be the Best Man at my wedding. We haven’t seen each other in a few years but that hasn’t held our friendship back in the least. I look forward to seeing Pierre this Fall and want to remind everyone to continue to love on our foreign exchange students and make them feel welcome. You can learn so much from our foreign exchange students just by listening, and I encourage you all to do so and welcome them to the American way of life and the Texan way of life!