White Station junior Alex Schwarz is studying abroad in Strasbourg, France – about seven hours ahead of us and almost halfway around the world.

Schwarz first found out about Rotary Youth Exchange her freshman year when she read an article from The Scroll about former student Davis Baker, who studied in Germany. Since then, her parents and school counselor Pamela Gossett have collaborated to send her abroad. To graduate with the rest of her class, Schwarz is taking an English class online, which will let her return as a senior.

She chose to go to France, but in high school she had taken Spanish for two years. About a year before leaving, she learned French with a tutor, yet now it seems small compared to her cultural immersion experience. “95% of the French I know now I learned while being here,” Schwarz said.

Though set on studying internationally, she did not have any specific expectations. “I just wanted to have a really good time and learn French,” she said in an email interview. Currently Schwarz is about six months into her experience, and she is living with her second of three host families.

School differs drastically compared to American customs. “Each day of the week, I have different classes and finish at a different time… at [noon], I have an hour for lunch, so I can leave the school and go to a close bakery or restaurant,” said Schwarz.

In addition to her schedule, the social environment at her French school also varies. She explained that student-teacher relationships are more formal, and school’s simple purpose is to provide classes. “There are no school sports here, or really extracurriculars [in general]. So there’s no homecoming or prom or football games.”

With the recent conclusion of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, Schwarz saw little French enthusiasm over the games. “One thing I have really started to appreciate… is America’s sense of togetherness,” she said.
She thinks that as a country, America deserves to win ‘most spirited.’ “Even in the Winter Olympics, when there aren’t really a ton of super popular sports in the US, Americans still really come together to cheer on Team USA.”

So far in Schwarz’s experience, French fashion and food have been her favorite parts of the experience there. Though she is primarily exposed to the French culture, she is also exposed to other international exchange students. Because of her experience and new perspective, she said she is more aware that “there are no wrong views or opinions, and making judgments gets people nowhere.”

Schwarz is set to return to the States on July 16th. From missing home to adapting to a new culture, she has struggled some. Even so, she currently considers exchange one of her greatest choices and a priceless opportunity.
“Yes, it’s hard, and yes, sometimes you cry and just want to go home, but once you make it past the hard parts, it’s so rewarding. Whenever I start missing my life in the States, I remember that what I’m gaining here makes up so much for what I’m missing there.”