By Taylor Bulla
Different countries have different cultures, beliefs, lifestyles, and traditions. But there are many similarities.
Senior Robin Kerjosse is a foreign exchange student from Bry-Sur-Marne, France. He will turn 18 on February 19th. Robin is just like any other average teenager; he loves to hang with friends, listen to music, read books, and get on social networks.
"I love going to parties with my friends, but in my spare time I’ve read all the Harry Potter series," Kerjosse said.
Schools in France are very different than Goddard High with the class structure and schedules not being organized the same way.
"I don’t find any of my classes here very difficult because I have already graduated back home, but our classes are much different in France. At my old school we weren’t allowed to pick our own classes. We also go by a week schedule, here at Goddard it goes by day schedule, and I got to pick my own classes," he said.
Each class was much longer than the typical seven-hour schedule at GHS - very similar to that of a block schedule.
"Back in my old school we would have two-to-three hour-long classes, but now I only got 52 minutes for each class," Kerjosse said.
Robin plays soccer for the Boys Junior Varsity Team and was invited to the team part way through the season by a handful of current soccer players. He never has played for an organized team or club before.
"I’ve never played on a competitive team. It has always been just kicking the ball around with my dad in the yard.But now that I’m on an actual team, it is super fun, and the pressure gets intense," Kerjosse said.
So far, all of Robin’s experiences in the U.S. have been positive.
"I really enjoy all of the people here; they’re super friendly compared to back home," Kerjosse said.
Robin has also enjoyed the very different cuisine he has been exposed to, but he found the fast-food to be less desirable.
"Outback Steakhouse was very delicious and I hope I go again before I leave, but McDonald’s in France is better and the menu is different from here," Kerjosse said.
Robin would like to continue with school and go to Paris Descartes VI Law School and become a lawyer when he goes back home June 24th, 2013.
