Student adapts to life after exchange program

fter nearly a year living in a somewhat remote French village, Dane Lincoln returned to Cape Girardeau more self-aware, self assured and sage than before.

Lincoln was one of three area students who spent a year abroad as part of the Rotary International exchange program. Rebecca Knight and Anna Bishop, both of Jackson, were part of the program. Knight lived in Belgium and Bishop was in New Zealand.

All left hoping for eye-opening experiences that would give them a greater perspective on life. And for Lincoln, that's what he got.

He returned to the states more aware "of who I am in the world and who America is in the world."

During his time abroad, the United States entered the war with Iraq, a move that was heavily opposed by the French. In the first weeks of the conflict, Lincoln was questioned often about his opinion. But those questions subsided once he explained that all the news he gained about the war came from French media.

People were more curious about his impressions of their villages and schools as compared to those in the United States, he said.

He lived in a remote village of 400 that was 17 miles from the school he attended in Bar-le-Duc, France. Because the school was so far from many of the students' homes, most stayed in a boarding arrangement during the week and went home on weekends.

Since he was an exchange student, Lincoln took a 90-minute bus ride each morning and afternoon to get from his home to school and back. The family he lived with had a daughter who spent the year as an exchange student in Canada, a son who was enrolled at the university and a daughter in her senior year at the boarding school.

Making the adjustment to French life was a bit tricky since it was an all-or-nothing effort. Lincoln was immersed in the culture and language from his arrival.

"I went with a sink or swim mentality," he said. "That was key. Once I heard people talking and had to think in French it became easier."

Since sentence structure and grammar rules are different than those of English, Lincoln had to make some mental adjustments rather quickly. "The language was a big benefit," he said.

He's even added French as a college minor since his studies. "It made an impression on me," he said. "Because I had a year of the language, I thought I should do something with it."

He will study graphic design at the University of Missouri-St. Louis this fall.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126