Foreign Exchange to France?

How do I convince my mom to let me be a foreign exchange student in France?

• I am really interested in being a foreign exchange student because I love France and its language. I researched a lot of different programs and got a lot of information about it. I ...show more

• Answer:

  Make sure the program you're looking at is reputable. Don't just pick something off the internet, because then your mother could end up being right after all! The best option is a direct exchange through your school. Then you'd be traveling with a teacher she knows/trusts and other Americans she knows/trusts. Usually if you get a family that doesn't work for you, you can switch. But many of the for-profit programs attract (surprise!) for-profit families. I would really recommend avoiding those kinds of programs. Can you compromise with a much shorter exchange? Saying goodbye to you for a summer or a semester might be easier for her. Do your research about living in France. Tell her exactly how you will deal with whatever situations arise. See if you can get at her specific concerns - is she worried about you walking alone at night? Is she worried you'll get homesick/be miserable? Is she worried about the expense? Also keep in mind that you'll have a great chance to study abroad in university. You'll be older and more prepared from an academic/social standpoint to get more out of it because you'll already be living away from home.