GRAVETTE -- Sarah Peronne arrived in Gravette just before school started last August. One day last week, as she leafed through a thick scrapbook which detailed her four-month stay in Gravette, she pointed and laughed and remembered as she looked at clippings and pictures.
Sarah, 18, is an exchange student at Gravette High School and a long way from her home not far from the Normandy beaches of France. And her excitement and exclamations as she describes the past four months are proof she truly is having a good time.
Sarah, the daughter of Jocelyne and Jean-Marie Peronne, graduated from her school in France. Her father is a computer technician. And there is a younger brother, Theo, age 15. But now, as a senior at GHS, she is looking forward to "graduating" from Gravette High. She lifted her hands to her head and exclaimed that she is looking forward to tossing that cap into the air at commencement time. She is also looking forward to the annual prom. Her dress is already purchased for that experience, an experience that is not observed in France.
Sarah, who speaks French, is also fluent in Spanish. And her English, though tinged with an accent, is readily understandable, even to someone with a Southern drawl.
She really likes GHS, where her favorite subject is American history. A straight "A" student, she is a little worried about her semester grade in English.
Although the first few days in school were a little confusing, Sarah has adapted and is well accepted. She even plays guard for the Lady Lions basketball team.
School is much more strict in France, she said. Classes begin at 8:30 in the morning and go until 4:30 that afternoon. However, there are several vacations scattered throughout the year. It's then, in the winter, she enjoys going skiing in the Alps. She has been looking forward to a good snow in Gravette. "To build a snowman," her host mother, Karen Kerr, interjected.
Two different holidays were special experiences for this outgoing, bubbling French lass: Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thanksgiving is an American holiday. And Christmas? It is observed much differently in France.
Of course, there is a Christmas tree and a gathering of family on the big day. Grandparents arrive and there is a big feast and there are a few presents under the tree. But, in America, she noted, friends and others drop in. There is much merriment and many more presents. People in France are more reserved compared to the outgoing, casual, friendly American way, she noted.
Another holiday which Americans observe is Halloween. And it seems quite appropriate that a cute all-black kitten, Izzy, joined the Kerr household about that time. Izzy and Reese, the small Kerr house pet, are both cuddled as shown in the accompanying photo.
Is she homesick? "Not really," Karen interjected. Sarah visits her parents by Skype at least once a week and with friends in France once a month. The size and space of America is very noticeable, she admitted. At home in France it's but a two hour drive to Paris and a short hop over to the Alps for a skiing break.
She has visited many places in the area, including Branson, Tulsa, Razorback land in Fayetteville, and Joplin. A trip to Little Rock will be scheduled during the next few months.
Her parents will be traveling to America later this spring. They will arrive in California, where they will rent a motorcycle for a trip across the vast western United States. Her dad has the dream of following the "Mother Road, Route 66." When they arrive in Gravette, the couple will spend several days, and probably graduation day, before returning to Europe.
It will be mid-June before Sarah makes that trip. She hopes to again visit Gravette sometime in the future. She admitted being a little disappointed when she learned she would not be an exchange student in California or New York or Florida. But her experience in Gravette and with its people and culture have changed that.
As for the future, Sarah said she may go into the communications field, a suitable career considering her language capabilities. Of course, that may change.
There is a liberal culture for French youth, Sarah noted, where alcohol consumption is legal at age 18 and smoking is allowed. She does not miss that, but there is one thing she admits to really missing: bread. Somehow bread in America just isn't the same. Karen just sort of shook her head and both laughed at that confession.
Sarah described her stay in America as "an amazing experience." She will encourage her friends in France to become exchange students. And she added with emphasis, "Being an exchange student is something that any American student would enjoy."
Kerr added the importance of the program. Sarah is the eighth exchange student she has hosted and she keeps in touch with all of them. Several have returned for visits, and she has made trips to their countries. She and her grandsons, Jeremy and Grant, spent several days this past summer visiting families in Holland, Switzerland, Germany and Austria.
Kerr fought for the privilege of hosting a student this year since the local program had been curtailed. She and Sarah recently attended a meeting of the Gravette school board where Sarah was introduced and welcomed.
A large second semester scrapbook will be completed before Sarah returns home, another book of memories for her to enjoy and reminisce about. And Gravette and its friendly students and residents will occupy a great part of those memories.
General News on 01/08/2014