"The Best Two Weeks of My Life!"
That’s what some French students from Vauban school wrote about their two weeks at Peabody. Our exchange program came to an end this past Monday as we said goodbye to our new friends from Vauban Middle School.
It was a very rich experience for everybody indeed: the French and American students, the school faculty, the hosting families and even the French families on the other side of the pond! One Peabody parent stated, "Hosting a student from Vauban was a wonderful experience, not only for our child, but for our entire family! As busy as we were during the visit, it caused us to schedule more time to do fun things together and enjoy one another's company. We got to know other Peabody families outside of school and witness our kids sharing a completely new experience. In sharing our home and our city with our French student, we all became more mindful of what makes living here in Charlottesville unique and special. We learned about our differences, but perhaps more importantly, we learned that many boys everywhere like to play sports, are constantly hungry, and enjoy video games! My son remarked, "I felt like I had a brother!" He has a standing invitation to stay with his Vauban counterpart's family - something he is excited to try next year! It's a commitment, but a worthwhile one. We highly recommend hosting to Peabody families."
One Peabody student will travel to France in June and attend the Vauban Middle School with her French friends. Some families will visit their guest in France this summer or have other traveling plans involving their French guest families. So..."mission accomplished!”
Our first mobility program was really positive and was the culmination of three years of curriculum activities. We are very grateful to all the support and all the people who made it possible, and we can’t wait to continue the adventure in the next years! Like in the French saying: “Longue vie to the Peabody/Vauban partnership!”
