Looking for Host Families for Besançon Students

S.O.S. Call for Host Families

Your chance to meet an unusual and delightful group of French students from Besançon in Charlottesville

March 5 - 15, 2014

Twenty-one enthusiastic French students (ages 18-20) and two teachers will arrive soon in Charlottesville for a Sister City exchange. They are studying architecture, engineering, and building construction. This is a first trip abroad for most of the group, and they are especially excited to be coming to Charlottesville.

The Alliance française has graciously and elegantly welcomed so many visitors from Besançon. Some of you met Stéphanie and Mikaël, the charming teachers who were here in January 2013 to be begin planning this exchange.

Nine of the students will be on a work-day schedule during a mini-internship while here. The other twelve students will spend their days at the Charlottesville-Albemarle Technical Education Center (CATEC).

Last week, on the same day as Presidents Obama and Hollande were visiting Monticello, U.S. Consul General Reade — who represents the U.S. Ambassador in Franche-Comté — was visiting students and teachers from this group! They all spoke to CATEC via Skype. The Consul General is a wholehearted supporter.

Here is an S.O.S. to the Alliance française for 3 kinds of Francophile helpers:

1. Hosts who can provide a bed, breakfast, and some dinners for a French student (10 nights). If you can drive your student to a central drop-off/pick-up spot each day, tant mieux, but if not, we will make arrangements via numbers 2 and 3 below.
2. Drivers to help with occasional transportation within Charlottesville in your own car.
3. Gophers to be on call for miscellaneous help.

Host families do not have to "entertain" their guests 24/7 — the students will be at CATEC or on a work site or have group activities during the day and also some evenings. If you have hosted French visitors in the past, you know what a fun and enriching experience this is.

For more information, please contact:
Louisa Dixon : dixonlouisa@cs.com or (540) 294-2474