In 2019, Seton School in Manassas partnered with Inspired Gateways to have Catholic French students come to America and live with Catholic host families during the Spring of 2020. The goal of Inspired Gateways is for French students to experience high school life in the U.S., learn servant leadership, share Catholic values, learn English and form American friendships.
My family was one of the families that volunteered to host a student. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic just weeks before my student was supposed to come, the program was put on hold. However, this did not stop Héloïse and me from forming a strong friendship. We communicated online for two years until finally, in December 2021, she was able to come to America.
Héloïse was here to spend Christmas with my family, but she also got to experience a week at Seton where she joined my classes. She met my classmates and spent time with my friends, including a fun girls’ movie night at a friend’s house. We formed a bucket list together so that we could do everything that she wanted to do here in the U.S. while also getting to experience the life of a normal, Catholic American teenager. We went to the movies, baked cookies, went to the beach, went ice skating, played and made up games together, wrapped Christmas presents, and stayed up late talking and getting to know each other even better than before.
It was a joy to be able to share my family’s Christmas traditions with Héloïse. We decorated the house, had Chinese food on Christmas Eve, Christmas Mass at our parish, and went to the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington the following week to celebrate Mass and relish the beautiful decorations. We also shared American history with Héloïse by taking her to visit Mount Vernon and the Manassas Battlefield.
“My stay in the United States was very instructive,” said Héloïse. “Obviously the unknown is always a bit frightening, and being away from your family, especially for Christmas time, can seem a bit depressing at first. However, the Kammerdeiners were wonderful hosts. They did everything to make me feel welcome and comfortable.
“I was able to discover new gastronomy, new people, and new places and spots in town,” she said. “Everything was so different from France, not only the language, but also the American habits and the culture in general. I found it exciting because I was constantly stimulated, my English was improving day by day, and, because I’m curious by nature, I loved to learn more about Manassas and its people. This trip was unforgettable and my encounters are everlasting.”
Inspired Gateways has been partnering with Virginia area high schools for the past several years. “This program is truly unique,” said Nancy Briggs, coordinator. “There are many high school exchange programs out there, but Inspired Gateways is intentional in forming friendships between Catholic families in France and America, providing enrichment and encouragement through the shared experience of our Catholic culture. These visits have inspired subsequent travel among a growing network of connections between these two countries and are building lifelong friendships.”
Find out more
For more info on Inspired Gateways, contact Mary Brand, 540/270-9650, [email protected], or go to inspiredgateways.us.
