LEC SEEKS LOCAL COORDINATOR TO WORK IN HARRISBURG REGION

LEC (Loisirs Culturels à L’Etranger), a French organization that sponsors three-week homestays for French teenagers in American family homes, is searching for a local coordinator to administer the program in the greater Harrisburg area, according to Louise Lamy, General Coordinator of LEC in the region including south central Pennsylvania, parts of Maryland and northern Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

“LEC has offered student homestays in the United States since 1972,” Lamy says. “Since then, thousands of French students have enjoyed the experience of meeting American families and exploring their way of life. Many longtime international friendships have been made.”

A coordinator will seek and recruit qualifying host families, match students and families, and coordinate the students’ arrival and departure.

 

The coordinator:

- advertises the homestay program through free and paid media

- recruits families to serve as hosts for the French students

- visits homes and evaluates the suitability of homes and families to receive students

- coordinates and advises the choice of student of each family

- coordinates students’ arrival and departure activities

- provides oversight during two three-week session, assisting host families with any problems they may encounter; 

- completes all paperwork and other record keeping assignments

The coordinator will provide his or her own transportation. Coordinators are paid for each host family they recruit, along with certain bonuses for meeting timelines and supervision during student homestays. They must have access to the Internet and an e-mail account and should be interested in foreign exchange programs. 

Most work of the coordinator is done between March and September, when families are recruited, students and families are matched, and students arrive for their visits, normally one group for three weeks in July and another group in August. Final paperwork is completed in September.

The coordinator may wish to create a blog similar to this one, which has proven invaluable as a means of recruitment and matching of students and families.

If you are interested in applying, please send an e-mail with your personal information (name, address, phone, e-mail) and related experience and qualifications to Louise Lamy, LEC General Coordinator, at loulamy@comcast.net.

THANK YOU AND FAREWELL

Dear LEC families and friends:

The LECmobile

This past summer was my last as a coordinator for LEC. I’ve done the job for the last five summers and have placed more than 50 French students in American homes!

It has given me great satisfaction to see students and families transformed by the experience. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you, some of the very finest people in our area.

The LEC Washington office may or may not try to find another coordinator for this area. If there is no coordinator here, you can still participate by contacting Louise Lamy at loulamy@comcast.net. If you want to apply to be coordinator, contact Louise.

I’ll continue to maintain our blog, and you can check www.leccapitalregion.blogspot.com to see how you can participate in the future.

Thanks and best wishes to you all.

John R.

HOST FAMILIES BID FAREWELL TO AUGUST STUDENTS AS THEY HEAD HOME TO FRANCE



Dulles International Airport terminal

 ON AUGUST 22, host families brought their LEC students to meeting places on the East and West Shores to board a van for the two-hour ride to Dulles International Airport in Sterling, Virginia. Before boarding the van, students have traditionally been given souvenir American flags, and they gather with the host families to wave them and say goodbye for the camera.

Once we left the pick-up point in Camp Hill, we headed south on U.S. 15, through the fruit orchards of Adams County, past historic Gettysburg, and into Maryland. Within the hour we stopped at Thurmont to add to our number a student who had been staying nearby. Once that was accomplished, we drove an additional hour to the airport and dropped off the students and chaperon at the Air France portal -- right on time.

After the kids had unloaded their bags, we parked the van and headed for the terminal to take some pictures and say goodbye. These photos are offered as a small glimpse into what happens after the kids leave our host families' homes.

Yann, center, with his host father Robert and brother Daniel.

Johanne, left, and her host mother Robbin.

Chaperon Marie Parey, center, and hosts Paul and Ellen.

Stan, right, and host father Mike.

Floriane, center, and her host family.

Lise, center, with host mother Edie, left, and sister Emily.

(CLICK HERE)

All of the students and host family members present joined in the traditional flag waving "ceremony."

The Great Hall of the airport.

This month's students were no different than any other --

forming a group in the middle of the aisle, preventing

circulation! Nothing could move them!

Stan catches up with a friend.

Left to right, Floriane, Lise, and Johanne.

Yann shows off his Indians baseball cap.

Meanwhile, LEC general coordinator Louise checks her list of arrivals.

Yann shows his souvenir flag to some other students.

The students had many stories to share while waiting.

Students weigh their bags to see if they will meet the weight limit.

Students who stayed in northern Virginia or Maryland

check their cell phones.

This little tyke waited patiently while the students gathered.

These two Air France employees -- sporting the latest haircuts --

waited to start the check-in process.

With all the students accounted for, Louise and chaperon

Marie Parey say their final goodbyes.

(CLICK HERE) Finally, the students were led by Marie into the Air France check-in line.

Our work done, it was back into the LECmobile (the big white van) and home to Harrisburg, but not without stopping for lunch. As you can see, it was pure comfort food, knowing that another summer session of LEC had been completed.

YANN ENJOYS TRAVELING, DAILY LIFE WITH HIS AMERICAN HOST FAMILY

Yann, a 17-year old from Noisiel, near Paris, spent his time in the Harrisburg suburbs with host parents and their teenage kids. They wasted no time getting involved in daily activities and sports. Yann went with them to a supermarket and chose some items to make for the family's dinner. He also enjoyed trips both near and far. See for yourself:

Yann appears to be staking his claim to the National Capitol

in Washington, D.C. He also visited the Museum of Natural History.

Also in Washington, Yann and his host brother, left, visited the

National Gallery of Art.

On a trip to New York, the family went to New York City and took the metro to Brooklyn.

Waiting for the train are the whole family, with Yann on the right.

Yann leads the way into the Cotton Candy Machine art boutique

to see an exhibit by artist John Burgerman.

Yann, in foreground, and his host brother did some

kayaking on Memorial Lake,

in a state park in Lebanon County.

Wet from their time in the water,

the guys take a stroll along the lake.

Yann, in red, and his family journeyed also to Philadelphia

to see the world-famous Philadelphia Museum of Art.

LISE DISCOVERS THAT DAILY LIVING IN USA IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN AT HOME

Recently, we asked students if they would like to write a paragraph about their visits to our region. Here's a very charming and informative note we got from Lise, who is visiting a family in Cumberland County.

Hi.

I am Lise, I am 16 and I stayed in Boiling Springs, PA, with Steve, Edie and Emily. As you asked I wrote a few things about my stay.

I discovered the american way of life with a very welcoming and funny family. What I lived during these three weeks had nothing to do with my daily life in France.

I had the chance to visit big cities such as New York, Washington and Baltimore. Moreover, I learned about the life of a young artist, as the daughter of my host family, Emily, is a singer/songwriter. I enjoyed following her while she was rehearsing, performing, recording songs for a radio, and meeting one of her idol !

Food, cars, people, cities, landscapes ... Everything is different and exciting in the USA !

I hope this is what you wanted. If you want me to write a longer paragraph, let me know and I will be glad to do it.

Goodbye,

Lise

Lise, right, and host sister Emily, met one of Emily's favorite performers, Jackson Browne, at the Luhrs Performing Arts Center of Shippensburg University. Surprisingly, according to Lise's host mom Edie, Lise's dad, when he saw this photo, reported that he actually has a record by Brown, who is virtually unknown in France. Small world, isn't it?

JOHANNE VISITS CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE AND THE BIG APPLE

French student Johanne, 17, hails from eastern France, near the city of Annecy. She's staying with a family near Hummelstown, and they're enjoying getting to know each other. Johanne, as you will see from these photos, enjoys arts and crafts, especially painting designs on clothing. She wore some of her designs as she traveled with the family to Philadelphia and New York City.

At Independence Hall, Johanne and her host mom, Robbin, pose before what might be the most iconic building in the entire United States. Independence Hall was the Pennsylvania State House when Congress began to meet there in 1775.

Johanne stands in the Assembly Room at Independence Hall, where the Declaration was sign July 4, 1776.

Robbin, Johanne, and host sister Evelyn stand before the famous Philadelphia Museum of Art, where there as an exhibition of paintings of French artists, Gauguin, Cézanne, and Matisse.

In the Big Apple, Evelyn, Shane, and Johanne viewed the Manhattan skyline from Staten Island.

Johanna and Robbin wait for the train in the New York subway.

Left to right, Robbin, Evelyn, Shane, Johanne, and Nicle (behind bell), visited the Bell of Hope at St. Paul's Chapel near Ground Zero in Manhattan. The bell was a gift to the city of New York from the city of London after September 11. It was cast by the same foundry that cast the Liberty Bell.

Johanne enjoys a quiet moment in Central Park.

Here Johanne stands amind the hustle and bustle of Times Square.

Visits like Johanne's to Philadelphia and New York City are typical of the experience that LEC host families provide in addition to the experience of daily living.  LEC is very grateful for the generous hospitality that our host families show to our students.

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE -- FOR FLORIANE TO PLAY IN

Floriane, who comes from Cran-Gevrier, in southeastern France, is 16 years old. She told LEC she liked to do anything that includes being outdoors. She is staying with a fine family in Mechanicsburg. You'd find their home on a quiet street, surrounded by an open field. The host parents and their three kids are enjoying having Floriane with them and share their everyday lives with her. They also include her in special fun -- as you can see in these pictures, all taken outdoors!

Floriane's host family took her canoeing on the mighty Susquehanna River, which plays such a big part in central Pennsylvania. Floriane is third from the right.

Floriane, left, and her host sister Madi

board the vessel.

On the water again at Ocean City, Floriane shows

her family how to catch a fish.

Floriane takes a ride in a large float. Do you think she

might be heading home to la belle France? We hope not!

Floriane, right, poses at the shore with the kids of her

host family, from left, Nick, Danielle, and Madi.

STAN IS ALL OVER ALL-AMERICAN PERRY COUNTY WITH HIS HOST FAMILY

Stanislaus, 14, of Tassin, France, is spending three weeks with an experienced LEC host family near Newport, Perry County. Known for its small towns and rural atmosphere, Perry County has been home to three LEC students before Stanislaus.

"Stan" is having a good time with his hosts Mike and Salyn, as seen in the following photos:

Stan got to ride in a yellow Mustang, which he calls his dream car.

American "muscle cars" are quite popular in France.

Closer to home, Stan does a little fishing.

Maybe he brought home some dinner!

Back at home, Stan admires the remote-controlled helium shark in

his host family's living room. Doesn't every American family have one?

Hosts Mike and Salyn took Stan to the famous hunting and fishing

store, Cabela's, near Hamburg in Berks County.

Salyn joined Stan in front of the Cabela's statue.