Lucy Noakes has always had a love for France and when she heard about the Rotary Youth Exchange program she saw it as the perfect opportunity to experience life in the country.
"I've always wanted to go to France, I've had an interest in the culture and I'm quite intrigued by their food and their way of life," Lucy said.
The city of Arras, two hours away from Paris, will be Lucy's home for a year while she lives abroad staying with a number of different French families.
Lucy will attend a school in the city completing year two at a high school which is equivalent to our Year 11.
Lucy first heard about the Rotary Youth Exchange when her parents were discussing that the Parkes Rotary Club needed someone to go on an exchange.
Latest Stories
"My sister and I both overheard their conversation and we both wanted to go but I wasn't old enough at the time."
Now Lucy is old enough and is sponsored by the Rotary E-Club of Brindabella.
During her year abroad, Lucy hopes to become more confident.
"I'd like to grow within myself and become more confident as I can be quite a quiet person, I don't especially like talking infront of people so I hope to improve my public speaking and gain more confidence."
Lucy said she is excited to try real French macaroons and is excited to see a squirrel but said escargot is not on the top of her list of things to try.
"The school that I'm going to has a robotics club, I know nothing about robotics but I just really want to try because Rotary says try everything and if it's not good, it's not bad, it's just different, so I want to try it."
During her exchange Lucy gets the chance to visit other countries on a Euro Tour.
"We get to go to ten other countries on the tour including the Netherlands, Italy, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Germany over 15 days.
"We also get to tour around France for around ten days too. The district that is hosting me, they will also take us to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower, Disneyland and Mont-Saint-Michel which is an island with a castle on it."
Lucy has had the chance to talk to Manon who is from France and is currently taking part in an exchange in Australia, here in Parkes.
"She's told me a little bit about France and it all sounds quite cool."
Lucy has also been talking to an exchange student who is currently in France and she shared with Lucy that in every house there is a draw dedicated to cheese which has made Lucy even more excited for her once in a lifetime trip.
She has recognised that the language will be bit of a challenge while she is in France but took a French class in school last year with the hopes for applying for an exchange in France.
"My biggest culture shock to start with will be the fact that they drive on the opposite side of the road and it is currently snowing in Paris so as soon as I get there it will go from hot to cold.
"It'll be a big shock, but a good shock because I won't have to deal with the heat," Lucy added.
Due to the expense of going on an exchange Lucy has been doing everything she can in the lead up to her taking off to France to raise as much money as possible.
"I have been selling socks and painting little Christmas trees and nutcrackers because it can be quite an expense to go."
Lucy can't wait to meet new people and said she is very excited about the friendships she will make along the way.
"You get to experience a whole different culture, there's another whole world out there and I've been here my whole life. I've only been around NSW and the ACT so I want to experience what's out there."
Lucy will get her chance to experience a world outside of NSW starting January 18 when she boards her first-ever flight.
make sure to keep a look out in future papers as Lucy updates us throughout the year about her once in a lifetime experience.
