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French exchange student adjusts to life in Concord
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Published: November 20, 2009
CONCORD — When Pierre Albrand, 17, arrived in the United States, one of the first things he noticed was the food.
The exchange student from France has been living in Cabarrus County and attending Concord High School since August. And while he says there are similarities between here and his home in southern France, food and eating habits are a major difference.
"Here, you can eat everywhere and (have) a lot," Albrand said. "For you, it's no harm, but for me, (having) 20 kinds of fast food in the same area, I say, 'wow.'"
Albrand has been living with the Kelnhofer family in Concord. Ben Kelnhofer, 17, a junior at Concord High School, was studying French last year and wanted to be a foreign exchange student.
His parents, Peter and Mary Kelnhofer, compromised by agreeing to host a French exchange student.
"We decided to bring France to him," Mary Kelnhofer said.
The family had heard about American Field Service, an exchange student organization, and after completing the application and having extensive background checks and home interviews, they waited to see if there would be a male exchange student from France.
A few months later, they met Albrand.
After he arrived, Albrand said it took a few weeks to adjust, but three months later, he says he is comfortable.
"I feel good here," Albrand said. "France and USA, I think, are rich countries, so there are a lot of similarities."
While many aspects of teenage social life are the same, Albrand noticed there are some differences in the pastimes.
"In Europe, we don't have baseball or football," Albrand said. "The first thing I learned was the rules of American football."
Having rivalries was different for Albrand, and something he commented on while going to the recent football game between Concord and A.L. Brown high schools. Albrand told the Kelnhofers that rivalries were not really an official part of sports in France.
By the end of the Concord and A.L. Brown game, though, Mary Kelnhofer said Albrand was celebrating his school's win, just like the rest of his peers.
"He lived the rivalry," Mary Kelnhofer said.
Another difference he noticed was the focus on religion here. Albrand said he was surprised by how much Americans are tied to religious beliefs and say things like, "God bless you."
Religion is something Albrand was preparing on Monday to talk about for his presentation at an AFS information session on Tuesday night.
"In France, I don't have friends who have religion, and here, you say, 'I have to go to church,'" Albrand said.
He relates that to the amount of patriotism here, too. Just before his first game as a member of the Concord High varsity soccer team, Albrand said he was shocked to hear the national anthem, because in France, they sing it on July 14, to celebrate the country's independence and after national competitions.
The amount of patriotism here, like the shorter amount of time for eating and the English slang words, are just part of the culture Albrand is still adjusting to and learning.
He is not the only one who is learning from his experience here. Members of the Kelnhofer family said they have gained new perspectives in the past three months.
"The best part is realizing we take things for granted," Peter Kelnhofer said. "(We've been) learning things from Pierre, his viewpoint or perspective, and seeing how different cultures expect things and don't expect things."
Before Albrand spoke to students and parents this week who might host exchange students or study abroad next year, he said he was looking forward to the rest of his own experience here, including celebrating the upcoming holidays.
"It's (been) three months now, and I say, 'wow,'" Albrand said. "I realize it's almost Christmas."
• Contact reporter Jessica Groover: 704-789-9152
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