My name is Yolaine Scolan, and I’m a 15-year-old French exchange student. Since mid-August, I have studied at Fluvanna County High School and lived with teacher David Blaha’s family.

In October 2015, I applied for the “One Year in an American High School” program with PIE (Program of International Exchange). It’s an organization that takes care of all administrative procedures and English test and interview, finding a host family, visa and travel plans, and school enrollment. (For more information on how to enroll in such a program, go to https://asse.com/.)

To apply, I completed a form, signed a contract, wrote a presentation letter and made a photo collage of my friends, my family and me for my future host family.

Then, all I could do was wait. Being placed can take one to six months. Thankfully, my process only took one month. On Nov. 25, 2015, I received the good news: “Yolaine, you‘ve been placed. Welcome to Virginia,” said my French local coordinator.

The host family I was assigned to was the Blahas, who live near Charlottesville, The father, David, is a history teacher at FCHS, while his wife, Amy, is a piano teacher. They have two sons, Brett, who is 14-years-old, and Brady, who is 12-years-old. Once I was placed with them, I started to send emails so we could get to know each other.

In May, I was in Paris for the orientation course with the other exchange students and representatives of the organization. They explained the rules to us and advised us on how we should act with our host family and our new high school. I also met students who now live in other states in the USA, as well as Japan, South Africa, Australia, Argentina and New Zealand. They have become friends with whom I share my experiences, my problems and my questions online. “They understand what you live [like] and go through the same things,” said Maya Ludwiczak, the director of PIE.

In July, I returned to Paris for an interview to obtain a visa at the American embassy, which is the first step of preparation before leaving. After that, I started to read, watch and study some American movies and books. I tried to review my English, meet with my friends, and said goodbye to them and my family.

Fifteen days before the departure, I started packing enough clothes and shoes for one year and four seasons, as well as presents for my host family. It wasn’t easy. “You can’t pack 10 months of your life in a maximum 50 lb. suitcase,” said Enora, a friend from France.

On Aug. 16, I left for the Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, said goodbye to my parents, and took my nine-hour flight to Atlanta, followed by a connecting flight to Charlottesville.

Then I discovered my host family, a new country, a new culture, a new language, and a new high school. “It’s 10 months of a new life in our whole life,” wrote a former exchange student, and I think that it’s a summary of the experience that I have just begun.

Now that I’ve been here a number of weeks, I like pretty much everything in the USA. School is different, but in a good way. It’s less formal and more simply organized. People are more friendly, helpful and kind than in France. Even though I like American foods, I miss my French foods like croissants, crepes and bread.

I feel good here, even if my English is not perfect and I don’t understand everything. It’s hard to make friends when you are shy and don’t speak the same language, and sometimes the fact that I can’t say what I think can irritate and annoy me. However, I’m glad to be here and I try to enjoy it as much as possible.