CommunicationSpringSummer... - Ontario Modern Language ...

OMLTA/AOPLVAlthough I have been to a commercial sugar shack, I had never had the opportunity to help collect the sap orbeen there while the maple syrup was being made until the exchange. If I had the chance to go back or do anotherexchange, I would definitely take the chance.Maria NorrisMy Quebecois family in Dégelis was my perfect match! Stephanie Levesque was my twin‟s name. Her parentsspoke no English whatsoever, the brother teased me like his baby sister, the two golden retrievers tackled me tothe ground every time I came home, and the house was located only three minutes from school – yet the housewas surrounded by a forest, mountains and an enormous river. Never would I imagine that living with strangerswould be better than my actual home in Newmarket, twelve hours away by bus.The week in Dégelis was so eventful, yet I‟ll never forget the bonding between me and Stephanie. On the thirdday of the trip, I got to experience her average day at school and at home. We were both silent and tired on thebus, arrived at the school and weren‟t very excited for the boring history class that was waiting for us. We endedup chatting and napping throughout the entire class. Lunch at a public school was something new to me and shewould constantly giggle at my failure of pronouncing French words. We chatted through the entire volleyballgame and then, on the bus home, her friends and I clicked so well that I felt like I‟ve known them for years. Theyall teased me about talking on the phone with my boyfriend and then screamed goodbyes when Stephanie and Iran off the bus. Entering the house, we both got tackled by dogs, fed them, and jumped on the couch. At thesame time, we called a friend to share our day with and then the real fun began. She asked me what music I liked,which was the exact same that she liked, and then we danced and sang in full voice until her parents came home.When the parents did come home, we just ran to the kitchen to prepare dinner and dessert together.I have 4 older siblings, boys and girls, but I‟ve never felt such a strong and caring connection to someone athome; especially a stranger I just met two days ago and can barely speak the same language as me and I hers. Iwould love to go back to Dégelis and live at the Levesque house again and hopefully for a longer period of time!Je me souvienspage 27