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French exchange student returns
language, as she feels her current level of understanding just isn’t enough. “I can’t really express myself,” she continued, “It’s hard to have a real conversation and really understand what the other person is saying.” Still, she has found WHS students to be very friendly and welcoming, and has already
FEATURE
October 16, 2009 • THE ARROW
Homecoming rally
(Continued from Page 1) The DJ will be Don Henry: Club Groove. “There has been a great deal of planing for this year’s homecoming,” said Brandy Wilbus, dean of activities. The nominees for Homecoming prince and princess for each class are: FIGHT ON WARRIORS: Cheerleaders Alyssa Freshman Boys: Schrupp, Jenny Seltzer, Taylor Kennedy, and BritKyle Erick- tany Impelitteri lead the Juniors in their class cheer. son, Brett Hagy, Devin Ray, Dylan Ray; Fresh- mi, Nelson Spruce, Matt Sulliman Girls: Rebecca Dixon, Stac- van, Caleb Williamson; Junior ey Kane, Madison Olandt, Han- Girls: Siara Behar, Shelby Bownah Weigel. Sophomore Boys: man, Catherine Gebhardt, Suzie Luke Hegeman, John Hagy, Alex Meyer. Senior Boys: Nobel Loho, Struck, Michael Mancuso; Soph- Adrian Muguerza, Zach Stark, omore Girls: Sasha Allen, Lilli Tim Witwer; Senior Girls: McAuBabb, Rachel Phillips, Bianca ley Cahill, Victoria Fealkoff, JuRiazi. Junior Boys: Nick Sare- lie Millet, and Becky Sadwick.
PHOTO BY SARAH GERLACH
The most shocking revelation, though, was discovering the amount of non-academic affairs that go on America has always been about campus. She explained known for its unique culture. For that in France there are no school this reason, 17-year-old Adèle clubs, sports teams, or events like Beaumais left her home in rallies and dances. School spirit Normandy, France to spend the is completely unheard of. “It’s ’09-‘10 year as a student at WHS. not even imaginable in France,” Beaumais first encountered she says. “It’s all very American culture American.” when she took part Beaumais hopes in the foreign-exto hone her talent in change program the arts—an area she last October. wants to pursue as Beaumais—along a career—by taking with several other Life Drawing and French students— Computer Graphics. spent two weeks in She is excited to study Southern California in a new environment sightseeing, explorand is sure it will help ing local hot spots, to inspire her. She is and experiencing delighted to be at WHS, first-hand the diand thankful that such versity of American an extraordinary, onceculture. in-a-lifetime chance has After their presented itself. “I’m two-week stay, the BIENVENUE ADÈLE: French exchange student Adele Beuahappy to be here. It will students returned mais studies at WHS for the year. be really good for me.” to France and their
David Van Etten Staff Writer
PHOTO BY DAVID VAN ETTEN
everyday life. Beaumais, however, found herself craving more, and before the year was over had made arrangements with Michelle Carney ’10 (her host for her original two week stay) and her mother to return this fall to spend the entire year living in the Carney household and attending school as a full-time student. Beaumais arrived one day before classes began and enrolled as a junior. Understanding and familiarizing herself with different ways of life is very important to Adèle. She wants to spend a full school-year in a foreign country “just for the experience,” she said, “to discover another culture.” She is also eager to improve her grasp of the English
made several good friends and acquaintances. She was happy to report, “I don’t feel like an outcast because people talk to me.” While she has enjoyed herself so far, Beaumais had to adjust to an unfamiliar way of life. “People and places [here] are different. I think the state of mind is different,” she said. This seems to be of little consequence to her, though. “I love California,” she said, “That’s why I’m here.” One of the major differences Beaumais has noticed between French and American culture is the amount of independence that teens have here. She has also found that the in-classroom learning experience is much more relaxed than it is in France, and the teachers here are less formal and less strict.
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