CRESTVIEW — Théo Toulat says he anticipates learning about American business practices and management strategies as an intern at the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce.
Choosing Crestview for his three-month, Council on International Educational Exchange-supervised program was easy, he said.
“I love to travel and I love the U.S., and I wanted to see Florida,” said Théo (pronounced Tay-o) who first experienced America during a several-week work exchange in New Hampshire and New York in 2014.
Théo already has plunged into North Okaloosa County culture, experiencing local life through a home-stay arranged by the Crestview Area Sister City Program.\
That’s included:
●Attending worship at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church with his host family
●Enjoying local favorite cuisine like fried chicken and bread pudding at Desi’s
●Attending the Northwest Florida State College Film Club’s screening of “Dead Poets Society”
●Paddling around one of the area’s many small lakes
The business management major at the University of Nantes La Roche-sur-Yon campus is the latest of four French students to intern here, made possible by the city’s Sister City relationship with Noirmoutier-en-l’Île, where Théo often lives in summers with his grandparents.
The program has also led to a student exchange with Northwest Florida State, which will welcome six University of Nantes business majors for the 2016-17 academic year.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: French intern explores North Okaloosa culture (VIDEO)