Editor's Note: Inés Boudet du Mochet is a 17-year-old French student who, through the Crestview Area Sister City Program, spent the summer visiting Okaloosa County.
After staying with a host family in Niceville, she spent the rest of her visit with Crestview hosts.
As she enters the equivalent of her senior year in high school, Inés is considering a career in journalism, and shared her impressions of the Emerald Coast— and America — with us.
I decided to come to the USA to improve my English after I passed my oral English exams in France. I was very bad in English; I think worse than me does not exist!
I arrived in the USA on July 2. I went to Crab Island, in Destin for the Fourth of July. It was crazy! And really different from France. This is a very nice place: this white water and all the boats.
In France, the national party is on July 14, and we haven't a Crab Island; we have just beautiful fireworks at night.
You are lucky, because you can drive at 16 years old. In France, we can pass our driver's license at 18 years old, but we can drive with our parents at 16 years old.
Also, we can drink at 18 years old, and here it's only at 21 years old.
I have visited Crestview High School, and it was really different. Here it is very cool! You give a lot of importance to sports, and you have teams and the school colors have to be defended.
In France, we haven't teams or school colors, as the French Academy wants (academic) results.
We have a collective sport in the towns, but I think it's too bad not to have teams like you have. It gives a more attractive side to school, I think. After class it is fun because you have student groups and clubs, but in French schools, we haven't any.
Now in terms of insurance, when you go to your dentist or your doctor, sometimes you pay the whole price (if you have no insurance). In France, we have the social security, paid in our taxes; and with this we don’t pay all the price.
My visit to Crestview and Niceville was a very good experience, and I hope you will have the opportunity to live an adventure like this at least one time in my country.
It's was just wonderful here!
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Through Inés’ eyes: Visiting French student shares her impressions of NW Florida