Study Abroad: Katherine Lebo in France
Nadia Liban
Staff Writer
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Senior Katherine Lebo in her Rotary Mechanicsburg-North exchange blazer.
Senior Katherine Lebo is spending her senior year as an exchange student in Groffliers, France, two hours north of Paris, thanks to a program through the Rotary Club of Mechanicsburg-North.
“There was an online application, a student letter, and two rounds of interviews to get here,” Lebo said.
Lebo applied to be an exchange student in 2020 but because of the pandemic was not able to. Lebo started her senior year in her French school, Monday September 5. Now that she is in a new learning environment, she recognizes the differences.
“French school is very different from American school. My school uses block scheduling, and I’m at school for different hours each day,” Lebo said. “The rules here differ as well, for example when you enter a classroom you stand by your desk until the teacher gives everyone permission to sit,” Lebo said.
Lebo is set to stay in France until July of next year. Rotary has been exchanging students for 50 years. They train their students to expect the feeling of homesickness before leaving.
“One of the ways they try to prevent homesickness is to limit contact home to 20 minutes per week at the beginning,” Lebo said. “I miss my friends and family a lot but there is so much to take in here and I’m having a blast.”
“Today marks two weeks that I’ve been in France,” Lebo said. “So far I’ve visited historical sites, gone to Disneyland, Paris, spent time at the beach and lake, tried lots of new foods, and now I’m in school most of the time. Next week I will start taking dance classes here.”
To see Lebo’s adventures check out her instagram, @kate.en.france.