Students breaking bread with French teenager
By Chris Simon

Photo by Chris Simon Innisfil Central Public School student Claire Philp, left, hugs French exchange student Coline Menard outside the school Monday. Menard was living with Philp's family for the last three months, as part of an international exchange program. Menard left for France yesterday. In February, Philp will be travelling to France, to stay with Menard's family. She'll be staying with the family for three months.

Coline Menard has travelled several thousand kilometres to attend Innisfil Central Public School.

The 14-year-old had been on an exchange trip from Nantes, a town in western France, for the last three months. During that time, she'd been living with 13- year-old Innisfil Central student Claire Philp. Seeing each other almost 24 hours per day, they've become inseparable, and know each other as well as twin sisters.

"I really want to come back," said Menard, looking across a table at a smiling Philp.

The two have forged strong bonds, said Philp.

"During the summer, we'd stay up late talking," she said. "We're a lot alike. We're together more than I'm with my brother, I see her more than my parents or any of my friends."

Menard and over 60 other French students participated in the exchange across Canada.

While Menard flew back to France yesterday, it won't be long before she sees Philp again. In February, Menard will host Philp for three months.

"There are differences (between cultures); the weather, the food, and the school days (in France) are much longer," she said.

Over the last three months, Menard has immersed herself in plenty of Canadian culture. She's visited Canada's Wonderland in Maple, a Philp's family cottage, and dramatically improved her English language skills. It's been a valuable experience, she said.

"I really wanted to travel. At my age, it's the best time, because I don't have any obligations in France," she said. "It's been good to learn English. When I came to school, I was lost. (Everybody's) been really nice, but I really didn't know them when I arrived. (But) we did a lot of things and I was never really bored."

Philp agrees.

"I've learned way more (French) than I ever have in my life. It's easier to learn when you have to speak it, you're not just sitting in the classroom," she said. "At home, I'm used to being alone in the mornings. But having someone there, going to school with and being in class with someone you live with, that changed."

Philp cannot wait until she visits France. She enjoys travelling and learning about other cultures.

"I really like travelling, I've travelled with my family a lot," she said. "We've been to a lot of different provinces, but I've really only been to the United States. I really wanted to make new friends."

Menard's Innisfil Central classmates held a goodbye ceremony for her, only hours before she departed for France.

Innisfil Central teacher Julie Hall says Menard will be missed.

"It's been a great experience, the kids have enjoyed learning about life in France," she said. "She's really involved in sports, and the kids have been hanging out on weekends. The whole program is an amazing experience for these kids, they learn the culture and language. The other kids have seemed to focus more on French; it's important."