It has been a whirlwind three weeks for a dozen teenagers from France who have briefly called the Fargo-Moorhead metro home. For the past three weeks, Jillian’s family in West Fargo has been hosting Mathieu. Lilly’s family has been hosting Noa. Twelve French students have been staying with Fargo, Horace and West Fargo families as part of a three week immersion program.

« Just discovering the American way of life, and improve, a little bit, my English, » said French student Manon Gartiser.

« A lot of new people and I make friends, that’s very cool, » Mathieu Nodin said.

« Everything is bigger than France. Everything is huge, really huge, » said Laura Mussard.

« The landscape. What I have seen is very flat. In France, we have a lot of mountains, » Hugo Bruchon said.

And our weather? Well, even the French have taken notice.

« My family sent me a message (from France) a few days ago, and they were doing a BBQ, with great sun, » Hugo said.

The parents back in France likely practice world-class French cooking, and sent their teenagers here, to experience our American cooking and diet.

« It’s very delicious, but not always very healthy, » Hugo said.

« Probably the main difference I found was food, definitely, » said Sheyenne student Carson Griffin. « Because they want to make their food taste very good without sugar and fat, but it is still very good. »

The students will fly back to France on Friday. Some students from West Fargo will be headed to France this summer for a chance to experience where these French students call home.