Canada is the second largest country in the world.  Only the Soviet Union has a greater land area.  Canada is slightly larger than the United States, its southern neighbor, but has only about a tenth as many people.  About 80% of Canadians live within 200 miles (320 kilometers) of Canada's southern border.  Much of the rest of the Canada is uninhabited or thinly populated because the country has rugged terrain and a severe climate.  Canada is a land of great variety.  Canada's people are also extremely varied.  About 40% of all Canadians are of British descent, and about 27% are of French ancestry.  French Canadians, most of whom live in the province of Quebec, have kept the language and many customs of their ancestors.  The Canadian flag bears the symbol of a maple leaf. . . . . .

We have met many Canadians and find them to be very hospitable and friendly.  They are very kind, gracious, and well mannered.  We consider ourselves fortunate to have these folks as neighbors. We had the pleasure of hosting an exchange student from Canada in our home in DeRidder, Louisiana USA.  We enjoyed Amélie sharing our home with us and becoming a part of our family.   She attended South Beauregard High School in Longville, Louisiana, along with Karina (from Brazil), our daughter Amy and grandchildren, Leah and Andrew.

Amélie Ferland-Dufresne is from Laval (suburb of Montreal) Quebec, Canada.  She lives with her father (Jean-Pierre),  mother (Chantal), and her twin sister (Chloée).  Her father teaches French and her mother is a Physical Therapist.  French is Amelie's native language.  She came to our home in early August of 95.  Karina came about two weeks later.  Amélie  is very lovely, intelligent and gifted, especially in drama and violin.  She made friends very quickly and was very popular.  She was elected to serve on the school homecoming court by her fellow students at South Beauregard High School.  She had a 4.0 grade point average during her school year.   Amélie celebrated her eighteenth birthday with us in April of 1996.
 

Amélie is an enthusiastic, cheerful, sociable and good-natured young lady.  She is very patient and respectful of others.  Amélie had a leading part in the school play.  She loves drama and loves being on the stage.    Since returning to her home in Laval she and her sister have made top grades in the University in Laval.  Amelie's twin sister (Chloée) was hosted by a family in Texas the same year that Amélie was with us. Amélie is now attending a University in Montreal.  Her parents can be very proud of Amélie.  She has talents galore and will be successful at whatever she attempts in life.     I was fortunate to meet Amelie's family during a business trip to Canada while Amélie was staying in our home in DeRidder.  Amélie has a very nice family!  Her parents have a lovely home a few blocks from the river in Laval.  They really know how to make a person feel at home.  I met friends, grandparents, aunts and uncles.  They are a very musical family.  It was a real treat.  We hope to be able to reciprocate some day soon.  They are always welcome!

Amélie's arrival in Lake Charles Airport

Come again Soon!

We have hosted eight foreign exchange students in our home, beginning in 1987.  We had four from France, three from Brazil and one from Laval (suburb of Montreal), Canada.  We stay in touch with most of these students and their families. Some of the exchange students came for a month during the summer months.  Some came for one school semester (five months).  Two of the students came for an entire school year.  It was a delightful experience for us, our children and our grandchildren.  We love each one more than they will ever know.  My wife and I plan to visit these young people and their families within the next two or three years.  Two of the students have made return visits,  one with her mother.  We arranged to host these students through two different organizations, Nacel and P.I.E.  No compensation is furnished to the host families by either of these organizations, but the rewards are well worth the cost.  The students do have medical coverage and their own spending money.  The host family  supplies shelter, food and transportation.
 

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