As one of the participants of the Destination France Program, Ashley Truong, an incoming senior, landed in Paris, France on July 6. 

“When I first met my host sister it was so awkward because usually in America you hug someone when your first meet them, but she wasn’t really into the hug,” she said. “Later when we got to the house, she explained that they don’t really hug there, they kiss your cheek instead.”

Ashley and her host sister, Emma, soon overcame that first “awkward” moment to develop a close friendship through trips such as one to Honfleur, France, and activities like tree-climbing at Accrobranche Aizer. 

“In Honfleur, Emma, her grandma and I went sight seeing and also walked around the town,” said Truong. And at Accrobranche, she recounted, “there were bridges and other activities for me to do on the trees. It was fun but I got a lot of bruises.”

Emma and Ashley also visited the Island of Mont Saint Michel.

“The island was a three-hour drive away from home,” Truong said. “It was located on the border of Normandy and Brittany. While we were there, we went shopping and walked around the church.”

Truong spent three weeks in the Upper Normandy region of France, and loved the experience!