Constanza - High School France
I am Constanza, I am 16 years old, I come from Ecuador. I arrived in France at the end of the summer with the support of the agency FranciaEducación which is the Latin American partner of Au Pair Connexion in France.
I can say that I have never been so afraid as when I took the TGV, two suitcases of my size, a stop of three minutes and a line of people behind me waiting to leave. No one will take that feeling of relief out of the car while the father talks about the vineyards and the mother talks about how she learned about my country. I continued to admire the French countryside and think about how I got there. This land is old, the vines and the grass tell a story each time the sun rises and sets.
When I arrived, the first thing I encountered was the garden and its sheep, its ducks; seeing the peace that animals feel is something that only this garden gives. Two days later, I suddenly found myself at school, who would have thought? Fear overcame me, the family welcomed me very well, but at school, no one seemed to notice my presence.
I whispered a few words to a group of people to whom I told where I came from and I saw more. It was only at lunch that a girl invited me to eat with her and her friends at her table, but I only wanted to return to this garden.
In seven weeks, I met more people and discovered that the term “socialize” had completely different meanings in France and Ecuador. However, when I adapted a little more, I noticed wonderful personalities among the French, listening to their stories and laughing with them is enriching. They made me discover the best of the French language and culture.
The family with whom I live teaches me new and increasingly interesting things like places and food, always with incredible kindness and openness. I traveled with them. It is always fun to be with two sisters my age and I can only thank the luck I have had such an experience.
I know there is still a lot to live and discover. I could not finish telling all the beautiful things that I have experienced so far and I hope to continue to live my stay in Vendée to the fullest. Thank you very much to the whole team for the follow-up and the professionalism they showed throughout my process.
Constance
