There are a few new faces tucked here and there among Custer County’s
high school student body. One of the more charming new smiles to grace the
school’s population belongs to Jacques deGinestel who
has arrived as a foreign exchange student courtesy of ASSE,International Student Exchange Program.
Jacques’ desire to
come to the United States
results from his goal to become a diplomat in his native land, France. His
hometown is Lille, a city of about 300,000
people two hours north of Paris.
There he attends a private Catholic school. He is a Roman Catholic.
Jacques said that if
you can’t speak English well in Europe, you
can’t do anything. He is adamant that he will work very hard to improve his
language skills while he is here.
The new student is
impressed by the beautiful landscape and looks forward to skiing while he is
here. He says he wants to take part in as many American sports as possible.
Currently, he is setting the cross country team on fire
with talent and training from “across the pond.”
In France,
de Ginestel attends school six days a week from 8
a.m. until 6 p.m. In addition to English, he has studied Spanish and three
years of Mandarin Chinese, which he thinks is very difficult. When he attends
university, he plans to study political science.
Here in Custer County, the exchange student is enrolled in U. S. history,
government, algebra II, junior English, anatomy, weights and A.P. Spanish.
Jacques is staying with the Comerford
family, John, Jeanene and Matt. Matt is a sophomore
at Custer County high school and runs cross
country with his exchange brother.
According to Jeanene Comerford, “we had an extra room after Cari
left for college, and Matt has always wanted a brother.”
Jacques began applying to become a foreign exchange
student last March.
According to this French citizen, the French people love
America.
“America
is a dream for us,” he said. Commenting on the French president Nicolas Sarkozy, Jacques said he seems to be what we Americans call
“hyperactive,” even trying to do the job of the prime minister.
Jacques’ grandfather is American, splitting his time
between Denver and a home near Normandy
in France.
He is a retired colonel from the U. S. Army who consults with international law
firms and writes books. He has already watched his grandson run a cross country
race.
Jacques arrived in the U. S. Aug. 21 and saw the Valley
for the first time Aug. 23. “I like the landscape. It is beautiful.” The new arrival will not be able to go hunting with the rest of the Comerfords because of hunting license laws, but Jeanene says he will have the opportunity with the rest of
the family to dress out an elk. The family attended the state fair together,
and Jacques will have the chance to help the family gather cattle from
horseback.
Jacques already feels very welcome in Custer County.
He was nominated for all the student council positions, including president,
and holds the title of junior class treasurer. He has been nominated for
homecoming royalty already, also.
When Jacques is at
home in France,
he is so busy from school that he has very little spare time. What time he does
have, he enjoys spending visiting with friends and family, frequently visiting Paris for enjoyment.
“I love America
and France,
too,” he concluded.
– Joanne Canda
