Exchange Students Experience America

In the 2026–2027 school year, the high school partnered with Lycée Pierre d’Aragon, a school located in Muret, France, to host a group of upperclassmen French exchange students who learned at the high school and took day trips to explore the United States. Their visit lasted a total of 11 days, arriving on the night of October 1 and leaving on October 12.

To be able to visit America, the French students, according to the U.S. Department of State, must apply for the Visa Waiver Program or a J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa.

The most notable field trips were to New York City and Philadelphia, and sophomore Eli Rocca, who hosted his penpal Thomas, said, “Thomas’ most formative experience was seeing the New York City skyline as their bus was driving towards it.”

The exchange students enjoyed the many different experiences they had in the U.S. The biggest culture shock for Thomas was how large the stores and places, in general, were compared to France, and Rocca said his penpal “was shocked with the size of Landhope.” “[His] best experience was visiting the King of Prussia mall and seeing how big everything [in the US] is.”

Hosts are also able to learn more about French culture and Eli said another shocking cultural difference between America and France was the eating habits: “Thomas did not eat very much and ate very slowly as customary in France, while we ate significantly more and quicker.”

The French and American school systems are very different, and Thomas said, “in France, our classes are one and a half hours long and we have a half day every Wednesday. We also have classes like philosophy that American schools don’t have.”

Furthermore, when he sat in on Eli’s math class, Thomas said “in math in France we have no calculators and here in America they use calculators for everything,” showing the clear contrast between the two school systems and their educational philosophy.

There were many challenges for the hosts of the French students as well. Hosts are expected to accommodate their penpals and help them further explore American culture with many visiting local areas along with their day activities. Rocca recounted his time with Thomas and said he struggled with balancing hosting and school work.

There are also other exchange programs the high school offers, including exchange programs for Unionville students in France and Germany for the 2027 summer. These trips are designed to help students understand the world better and to become more knowledgeable about different cultures.