Meet Regina - SYA France 2026
Extracurriculars Abroad: I visited a retirement home every other Monday with a group of SYA students. We would sing for the residents, make arts and crafts or just talk about life in the U.S. I also became part of a running club and would go every Tuesday for around two hours. Then on Wednesdays, I participated in a conversation group with middle-schoolers at the Franco-American Institute.
Favorite SYA Class: My favorite class was French Cinema with Mdm. Peña. I loved this class because we delved into the history of cinema while also learning about the technical side and applying those skills to our short films.
Favorite Food in France: My favorite food was the traditional bretonne galette with ham, cheese and eggs. French cheese is especially delicious and the most essential ingredient of all is the demi-salted butter.
How did SYA impact your college search process?
SYA made me realize that I can truly live anywhere I want to. I’m now open to the idea of attending an international university and I definitely want to study abroad again in the future.
Do you have a favorite memory with your host family?
My favorite memory with my host family is the time we spent in Italy. They invited me to travel with them during winter break in February and this week of vacation was the longest I have ever spent with them. I really felt like a part of the family because we would go everywhere together and share every meal too. Being around them for an extended period of time made me realize just how compatible we were and I felt grateful we were placed together. Despite being outside of France, my French improved a lot because I wasn’t speaking English at school or with my friends. Furthermore, I got to see beautiful places I never thought I would see like lake Como.
What did you learn abroad that surprised you?
What surprised me the most was the importance of meals with one’s host family. I have always enjoyed meals with my family back home but it’s a little different with my host family. They put lots of care into every dinner we have and it’s almost like dinner is a moment to recharge. We can stay at the table for one hour or even two. Dinners helped me find my place with my host family as I could always count on this time to be around them. The most important meal of all was Sunday lunch where another delightful surprise was the platter of cheese they brought out after we finished the main dish.