8A Sunday, May 30, 2021 THE LUFKIN DAILY NEWS LuFKIndaILynEWS.COM EduCaTIOn Foreign exchange students from Europe thrive, shine in Texas

By STACY FAISON home with a bottle of “Slap Ya The Lufkin Daily News Mama” Louisiana hot sauce. “And this is really weird ast pace. Foreign in Texas, but we eat horses. intrigue. Iconic destina- The meat is expensive. More Ftions. Exotic foods. expensive than beef,” Fran- If that sounds like the cesco said, noting they eat it recipe for an action-adventure as much in Northern Italy as story, in a way it is. But those chicken is eaten here. are just some of the ele- And wine is obviously a ments that made up the last much more casual part of nine months for two foreign life in France than it is in exchange students who spent the states, as Hugo’s fam- their junior year attending ily shipped a bottle as a gift classes at Lufkin High School. JOEL ANDREWS/The Lufkin Daily News for coach Russell that Hugo Francesco Lodolini, of Hugo De Grieve, of Castres, planned to present to him at Sondrio, Italy, and Hugo De France, thrived under Lufkin school. Grieve, of Castres, France, coach Hunter Russell as “Hugo, you can’t take it to moved into the Lufkin home a member of the JV cross school,” Harrison told him, to of Pat Harrison, a local repre- country team. “I want to do which Hugo said he’d take it sentative of the ASSE-Inter- this,” Hugo said of cross to practice before school. national Student Exchange country, showing off an array “No, you won’t!” Harrison JOEL ANDREWS/The Lufkin Daily News Programs, for the 2020-21 of medals he won while recalled telling him, laugh- Francesco Lodolini, of Sondrio, Italy, right, and Hugo De Grieve, of Castres, France, moved competing for the Panthers. school year. into the Lufkin home of Pat Harrison, a local representative of the ASSE-International ing at the unintended uproar Harrison had previously Student Exchange Programs, for the 2020-21 school year. such a gesture would cause hosted foreign exchange stu- for the French delicacy foie here. dents who attended school in different sports that got them shown the two one surprise COVID,” he said. “I usually gras. The purpose of the foreign Central, where he taught, up hooked at LHS. after another from the minute take them to the Capitol but “I tried to bring some to the exchange student experi- until this year. Francesco was a member they arrived. it’s been closed — you haven’t United States, but customs ence is to be engulfed in the “Four or five years ago, at of Sterling Meyers’ junior “When I came here, I been able to go this year.” wouldn’t allow it through,” language of the host country. Central, we had one exchange varsity soccer team that won thought there was a desert,” In 2019, Harrison was able Hugo said. But Francesco said he’s also student from Spain that I got district, while Hugo thrived Francesco said, “so I wasn’t to take a different group of Harrison explained how matured a lot being away to know and I just thought I under coach Hunter Russell expecting all the trees and foreign exchange students ducks are mistreated during from his family and that the might enjoy doing that, so I as a member of the JV cross stuff.” to a World Series game in the process of producing foie experience “will help my contacted the organization country team. “And all the things are very Houston. But the pandemic gras, “so it’s actually illegal to future, for sure.” and gave it a try. I started with “I want to do this,” Hugo big,” Hugo said, listing the allowed Francesco and Hugo have it here.” “It’s a very beautiful experi- two students three years ago said of cross country, showing trucks, the streets and Hous- to attend a sporting event “Hugo had a box from his ence and you can grow a lot,” — actually, I had three that off an array of medals he ton as examples. they likely would not have mom and dad that had some he said. “You can learn a lot year because one only did a won while competing for the But after a brief period been able to otherwise. With in it,” he said, “They were of new things.” semester,” Harrison said. Panthers. of homesickness, the two the Rose Bowl relocated to Ar- shipping it, and (customs) Hugo praised the experi- “So basically that was it — The two say sports are adapted quickly to life at LHS, lington this year, they were in took it out.” ence as one that leads to “a the kid from Spain just kind much different in Europe. where Hugo has enjoyed the stands at AT&T Stadium Meanwhile Francesco’s lot of souvenirs and some of inspired me and I thought “We start school at like engineering while Francesco for Alabama’s 31-14 win over family owns a pizzeria — they contacts, like new friends — I could do that and create a 7:40 a.m., done at 4 p.m.,” has taken a shine to robotics, Notre Dame that sent the even serve a fried pizza — so those things.” good atmosphere and let them Hugo said. “All the time we’re both taught by Juan Carlos Crimson Tide to the national while he enjoyed the one he The teens also plan to stay have a good experience.” going to class — no sports, no Aguilar. The teens have done championship. tried in Las Vegas, the variet- in touch and visit each other Francesco and Hugo have nothing.” well enough in their studies And the travels didn’t stop ies he’s had here are “OK, but after they return to Europe at had more than that, as Fran- Instead, there are after- that both were inducted into there. it’s very, very different,” he the end of next week. cesco has hopes of returning school clubs for those who the National Honor Society. Harrison said he always said. “I’m excited to go back after graduation to attend are involved in sports, with Harrison praised LHS asks his students where they There are some that are home because I’m missing my college in California, where maybe “50 people — that’s it,” counselor Angela Roberts for would like to go “and every- better than others, however. family, but I’ll be sad once I he dreams of eventually pur- Hugo said. helping them with scheduling one wants to go to Las Vegas.” “I mean, I like Little arrive there, for sure,” Fran- suing an acting career, while And Francesco noted how and “any issues we had.” During that trip, they Caesar’s because it’s cheap,” cesco said, as his adventures Hugo also wants to live in the different American football “She was just incredible,” visited the Grand Canyon, he said. “But I like Marco’s. in Texas are coming to an U.S. after completing his high games are than the soccer — he said. the Hoover Dam, Red Rock Marco’s or Sam’s, one of the end. “It’s kind of difficult to school studies. or fútbol — games in Europe. The teens also have had Canyon “then we visited all two.” explain.” “I think Texas,” he said “I really like football and some bucket-list experiences the casinos and hotels,” Fran- Mexican food has been Anybody who wants to with a grin. “I love Texas. I it’s very different from soccer during their time in the U.S., cesco said, quickly adding, Francesco’s favorite culinary apply to become a foreign ex- can have a gun, a big truck because in soccer there’s no as Harrison likes to take his “We didn’t gamble.” discovery in the states, while change student or host family … ” music going on. Whereas foreign exchange students on Video calls each week Hugo has developed a fond- can go to asse.com and fill out The teens haven’t had any football here is basically a trips to see things around the helped keep the teens from ness for burgers. But they’ll an application. guns here just yet, however, show,” he said of the spectacle state. But for better or worse, missing their families too both have some stories to “I’d like to get some kids as they are not allowed to Americans — and Texans in the pandemic affected some much, although Francesco, tell in Europe after sam- placed in this area,” Harrison hunt or shoot them, Har- particular — are so accus- of those plans. understandably, pines for the pling crawfish and alligator said. rison said. And while they tomed to. “This year has been more pizza of his native Italy, while at Ralph & Kacoo’s. And Stacy Faison’s email address is have been fishing, it was two Of course, life in Texas has challenging because of Hugo has a serious hankering Francesco plans on returning [email protected].

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