Types Of Exchanges We Facilitate

- Student Exchanges. Each summer, students of Hanover High School spend two weeks with host families in Joigny, France. Similarly, each spring students from Joigny visit Hanover. Since 1990, over 450 students from Hanover and Joigny have participated in exchanges.

During an exchange, students develop language skills, visit cultural sites, spend a day or two in Paris or Boston, and absorb the cultural mores of their host families. In general, Hanover students stay in the homes of the French students whom they hosted during the April visit. An exchange typically lasts 12 -14 days. All student costs except airfare are born by the hosting organization and the host family (which provides room and board).

In addition, we have had several students from Hanover and Lebanon stay with host families and attend school in Joigny for a semester or two. They attended regular classes and received credit for their studies. One such student, Alison Schuster of Lebanon, reported that "classes began at 8 AM and went to 5 PM. For lunch, a full sized meal was served at the canteen for an hour and a half. I took chemistry, Portugese, math, French literature, French language, and since everyone took English, so did I."

- Adult Exchanges. Every other year, adults from Hanover/Norwich and surrounding communities are invited to stay with host families in Joigny. On alternate years, French families are invited to visit the Upper Valley. To date, we have had over 125 adults participate in these exchanges.

- Special Interest Group Exchanges. We have facilitated exchanges for such diverse groups as tennis players, musicians, quilters, artists, gardeners, and soccer players (boys and girls teams from the elementary school). On an alternate year basis, the high school send musicans and choral groups to Joigny as part of an exchange program .

- Miscellaneous Exchanges. We have facilitated internships where we assist French youths in finding summer employment with local firms. In addition, we have assisted in house exchanges where families from Joigny and Hanover stay in each others' homes.