Rotary Club hosts French exchange student
A exchange student from France is staying with an Andover family while their daughter studies in Denmark this school year.
Jeanne Guesdon-Vennerie, 18, is the Rotary Club of Andover's 2011-2012 exchange student. She makes regular visits to the club. Her Andover hosts are Wes Brown and Jan McClure-Brown, parents of Susan Alexis Brown, who is studying in Denmark with the Rotary Exchange Student Program.
Born in Versailles, Guesdon-Vennerie has lived in Toulouse for the past 10 years, but will spend her senior year of high school at Andover High. Before she left France she lived with her parents and two brothers, ages 15 and 20. Her sister, 22, is studying in South Africa for two years.
"Naturally curious, she loves learning new things and thought that becoming an exchange student would expose her to a new culture, new language, and different social experiences," according to Katharine Barr, of Rotary. "Family is extremely important to Guesdon-Vennerie, and being here on her own is a bit of a challenge, but she is looking forward to her year and all that it will bring."
A friend of her older brother's was a Rotary Exchange Student three years ago and she motivated Guesdon-Vennerie by talking with her about her experiences. Guesdon-Vennerie chose the United States because she loves speaking English - which she began studying during middle school - and wants to improve at it.
Guesdon-Vennerie is on the track team at Andover High, is involved in Andover Youth Services, and volunteers at Ironstone Farm on Route 133.
When asked what she hopes to gain from her American stay, she replied, "I hope to learn a lot about American culture, how family life is in this country, what are the differences between the U.S. and my country. I also hope this experience will help me grow and become more self-confident and responsible."