Since 2005, students and staff from Notre Dame de la Providence in Vincennes, France have traveled across the ocean to visit Vincennes Lincoln High School — building friendships and sharing culture along the way.
This year’s visit brought 18 students France to Indiana’s First City for a week filled with learning, discovery, and new experiences.
General Student Supervisor Madame Isabelle De Luca has been part of the exchange since 2013.
For Principal Madame Nathalie Haies, it was her first time visiting.
“We work over the course of one year and we select our students based on several criteria which is very precise,” Haies explained.
She said the goal of the visit is simple.
“Discovering the U.S. and other educational systems is a priority for us. We hope they bring back home with them the American spirit through all the events they take part in, like the pep session yesterday or the football game tonight.”
For many of the students, it’s their first time ever in the United States. Among them is Daphne Reuter, who says she’s been amazed by the atmosphere at Lincoln High School.
“People are so nice with each other,” Daphne said. “The first thing I saw was the volleyball game, and there were people cheering and encouraging each other.”
She said her time at Lincoln has been amazing — and shared some of the biggest differences she’s noticed between the two schools.
“We have way more classes. We finish at 5 p.m. after starting at 8. The teachers are nice here — you’re more close to them and you trust each other,” Daphne explained. “Here you can talk, you can drink, you can eat. It’s paradise for me.”
The schedule wasn’t the only thing that took some getting used to.
“Here you eat at 11 or 12 for lunch and we usually eat at 1 or 1:30 p.m. In the evening you eat at 5 or 6 p.m. and we at 8 p.m. usually,” she said.
Transportation has also been an adjustment.
“Vincennes here seems bigger because people have to take the car to go place to place, while we can just walk or take the subway.”
Throughout the week, the students have been learning about life in Vincennes, Indiana, and small-town America — both inside and outside the classroom.
In addition to attending classes, the group visited Amish Country, the Indiana Military Museum, and Vincennes University, and even took part in the school’s pep session.
When asked if there was a particular student or teacher who made her visit special, Daphne smiled.
“Every teacher here made me feel great. Everyone is nice. If you need help, you can just ask, it’s normal. No, I really don’t have a name — it’s everyone.”
Madame Haies and Madaem Deluca wrote a letter to share with everyone they met on their visit:
"Dear Mayor, Dear Mrs Duke, Dear host families, Dear friends,
It is such a joy to be here with you this week. Every time we come back to Vincennes, Indiana, it truly feels like coming home — surrounded by familiar faces, warm smiles, and wonderful memories.
Our students have been looking forward to this moment for so many months — it’s truly a dream come true.
Mrs Haies, our principal at la Providence high school, who’s been here for the first time this year, is amazed by the warmth of your welcome and the friendship which exists between our two communities.
Thank you, Mr. Yochum, thank you Mrs Duke for welcoming us every two years with such honor and hospitality.
We are deeply grateful to Mrs. Karen Query and Mrs. Hammad, who initiated this exchange back in 2005. I was lucky enough to join this great adventure with Bailey in 2013, and since then, we’ve been proudly carrying the torch. Thank you, Bailey.
We would also like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Lincoln High School host families, who open their homes to our students and treat them as their own children.
Our cities may be sister cities, but for us, Lincoln High School and La Providence High School are truly sister schools. We are proud to be part of your community, because we share the same values:
• Respect and open-mindedness
• Humanity and compassion
• Service and community engagement
Dear friends,
Mrs. Haies, Mr. Labbé, and I are already looking forward to welcoming you to La Providence High School next June, to continue writing our shared story together.
Thank you all for your kindness, your generosity, and for keeping this wonderful connection alive between our two communities. Thank you."
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