Jacques
As a member of the association since 2016, I have welcomed several foreign students of different nationalities, mainly Asians.
I can therefore attest with delight to the relationships I have shared with some Korean, Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese students.
Our meetings took place in very diverse and varied ways, but more often than not, we would meet together in my house to share good French or Asian meals.
Each of the students decided to cook a traditional meal from their country. So we were all able to share good moments of conviviality around Vietnamese, Chinese, Yemeni and Iranian specialties.
And it is during these evenings and meals that each of them could improve the learning of the French language, and the discovery of the regional culture.
In addition, with Youna and Xiaoxiao, I accompanied them when jogging, on bike rides on the Ile de Ré, and even on a sea trip on a speedboat, in the Perthuis of Charente.
I also remember going out to the Île de Ré with Trang, Hongli, Yanzhuo and Sonoko, where we had lunch at the restaurant, and took long walks in the alleys of Portes-en-Ré, and on the beaches in the north of the island.
Apart from these good times spent together, I had to intervene a few times to help them with their administrative procedures at the Prefecture for Visa renewals, at the C.A.F. for social assistance, as well as at the C.P.A.M. (Health Insurance). At the end of the university year, some students return to their country for good after completing their studies in La Rochelle. But we are happy to stay in touch by email and on social media. Thus, we continue to keep ourselves informed on both sides of each other’s lives.
In summary, the relationships I had with these students brought us shared happiness together.