Speaker for March 8 - Florence Fayn

Larry Emrich of the Downtown Club was kind enough to bring Florence Fayn to speak at our meeting.  Florence is a 16 year old Rotary exchange student from France.  More specifically, she is from Saint Baldoph, Sovie, a town made up of approximately 3,000 people and surrounded by the French Alps. 

On August 16, 2011, Florence left the Geneva, Switzerland airport on a 19 hour flight to Los Angeles.  Upon arrival, she met her first host family who had a daughter who was only one year older than Florence.  The daughter, who was leaving for Italy on an exchange program, spent her last few days in the United States showing Florence around and introducing her to many other teens.

On August 23, 2011, Florence started her first day at Ventura High School as a sophomore.  Florence dove right in and joined the water polo team and the French club.  Florence noted that her fellow students had an intense focus on getting good grades and going to college.  In France, students are mainly focused on graduation with little emphasis on going to college. 

Florence found that school sports are much more serious here in the sense that the students are taught to be very focused.  In France, sports are more for fun and much less serious.  Florence also noted that the students here have a much more open and friendly relationship with their teachers.  In France, the students “only talk to the teachers when they have to.”

During her stay in the United States, Florence visited many places including Lake Elsinore, Huntington Beach, San Diego, Santa Monica, Big Bear, Venice Beach, Santa Barbara, Hollywood, and Santa Cruz.  Florence thought that she must be in Alaska when she arrived in Big Bear.  In her country, California is always portrayed as sunny and warm.

Florence’s five-year study of English proved to be very helpful, although she admits that she was quite rusty when she first got here.  In France, it is mandatory that students take English classes.

Florence is currently living with her second host family.  She is looking forward to living with her third, and final, host family who has two daughters close to her age.  Before she leaves she will take a road trip heading up North to see even more of the United States.

Florence says she is extremely thankful to Rotary for providing this opportunity and allowing her to have an experience she will never forget.

Deborah A. Perkins