Foreign exchange student experiences Ritzville

RITZVILLE – This past school year, Cindy Julien, a foreign exchange student from France, took part in this rural community and gained firsthand experience of its culture.

Last August, Julien arrived from Sainte-Flour, a town of about 6,000 inhabitants in a mountainous region of central France. She hails from a small-town community where her parents and relatives are farmers.

As a result, her transition to life in Ritzville has not been a tremendous culture shock.

Previous foreign exchange students, some of whom lived in South Korea or Europe, often had different experiences. Some of those students left a metropolis brimming with high-rise apartments and millions of people to be placed in a rural town barely exceeding 1,700 residents.

This isn't Julien's first trip abroad.

Previous outings from France included a trip to Thailand, where she competed in boxing events, and a week-long school trip to Sweden.

Curiosity motivated her to join the foreign exchange program, she said. She loves to explore different cultures.

She said she also hopes to improve her command of English, a skill often providing greater career opportunities.

Julien arrived in America last August and was placed with a family in Mohler, a rural community 6.5 miles southwest of Harrington.

Julien said her first family was not a good fit, so foreign exchange administrators placed her in Ritzville with her current host family - high school English teacher Allison Nichols and her husband Markham.

During the school year, Julien participated in Knowledge Bowl competitions and wrestling. But she found her niche on the track team, where she threw discus, javelin and shotput.

At the regional championships May 18 at Jimmie Snider Field, Julien placed sixth in shot put and 11th in javelin.

Julien's senior year at Lind-Ritzville High School culminated in the commencement ceremony at Gilson Gymnasium on Saturday, June 1. That was her second high school graduation - she'd already graduated high school in France.

Julien also enjoyed a recent trip to Seattle where she visited the Space Needle and Pike Place Market, and she's anticipating that staple of American culture - Independence Day celebrations on July 4.

On July 9, Julien will return to France where she'll rejoin her family and embark on fresh adventures.

Her plans include travel throughout Europe and an excursion to Australia. She's also set her sights on college with a major in sports medicine.