While many students’ closest ties to France are breakfast croissants, sophomore Rosie Struve will be very connected to French culture in the coming months.

Rosie will be spending her second semester abroad through the American Field Service (AFS) Intercultural Program, which will match her with a host family and confirm her schooling.

“I just had this urge to go somewhere and do something radical, change my life up a bit,” Rosie said.

While she made the decision to study abroad this upcoming semester spontaneously, Rosie has taken the initiative to follow through with her plans.

“It was completely my decision,” Rosie said. “This is something I wanted to do to add my own twist on my high school experience.”

According to Rosie, the details have yet to be finalized since the program really works toward making sure the student’s expectations are met.

“Even though nothing’s guaranteed, I’m hoping maybe I’ll end up in a cute little rural village or something,” Rosie said.

While there are several things that may seem intimidating about spending six months abroad in a foreign country, Rosie is most nervous for her experience at school.

“I know it’s going to be hard when I go to school,” Rosie said. “I’m going to have to make new friends and work on my French, but I’m hoping that I will learn from this experience.”

Having already traveled to France on a family trip, Rosie looks forward to being independent, immersing herself in the French culture and seeing beneath what the tourists are shown.

“They want you to immerse yourself in their culture and bring to them ways from the American culture as well,” Rosie said. “I feel like Los Altos has its own cultural bubble, and part of being an exchange student is about having an open mind and exploring other cultures.”

Rosie hopes her stay abroad will be something she’ll remember as the highlight of her high school experience.

“I really want my stay abroad to be something I will remember for the rest of my life and look back on with no regrets,” Rosie said.