A Fully Immersive Exchange Experience

The Mount Vernon experience is intentionally designed around choice. Choices increase as students move through each division. In Upper School, students choose their pathway: Inquiry, Innovation, or Impact, each offering opportunities to explore passions, solve real-world problems, and design their journey of purpose.

Yet, some experiences transcend pathways altogether. The Global Exchange Program is one of them.

Open to any Upper School student with proficiency in French or Spanish, the program invites learners, regardless of pathway, to step into a five-week, fully immersive cultural experience. Following Winter Break, Mount Vernon students travel to France, where they live and learn alongside host families. This year, Sara Castro (Class of 2028) and Eli Diaz (Class of 2027) embraced that opportunity. The exchange continues stateside in late March, when their French partners, Hidaya Benhayoun and Yoann Capgras, arrive and remain on campus through the end of April, completing the full arc of this shared global experience.

“This is something any student can do,” says Associate Head of Upper School Abe Pachikara. “It’s not tied to a specific pathway; it’s tied to a readiness and willingness to immerse yourself in language and culture.”

The Most Authentic Cultural Immersion

Global learning takes many forms at Mount Vernon, but the exchange program stands apart in one defining way: authenticity. “This is the most culturally immersive experience we offer,” Abe explains. “Students aren’t just visiting, they’re living it.”

For Sara, that reality came with both excitement and uncertainty. “As the day started getting near, I started getting more scared,” she admits. “I didn’t know what I was getting myself into.”

Across the Atlantic, Sara’s exchange partner, Hidaya Benhayoun, felt similar initial hesitation. “At first I didn’t want to do that,” she says. “But after reflection, I knew this was going to be a good opportunity to get better at my English and meet new people, new cultures.”

With support from both families, through calls, conversations, and even time spent together abroad, uncertainty gave way to trust. “We had a lot of reassurance,” Sara says. “It made it easier.”

Eli entered the program with his own concerns, having taken a break from French classes. “I was pretty nervous,” he shares. “But once I got there, speaking French became second nature. I used to think in English and translate in my head, but by the third week, it felt natural to just speak.”

That transformation extended beyond language.

“The whole family was amazing,” Eli says. “The mom made incredible French dishes every night, and we spent a lot of time playing board games—especially French Scrabble—and traveling around the country. At school, everyone was so welcoming. Meeting Yoann’s friends was incredible, and I even learned French slang they don’t teach in class. When I got stuck, they helped me out with their English.”

For Yoann, the exchange offered that same sense of discovery, this time in the United States. “It’s amazing,” he says. “You get to discover a new culture and language. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience that shouldn’t be missed. I wanted to come to the U.S. to experience the culture, meet new friends, and create new memories.”

Designing for Flexibility: The MVSO Advantage

In a school that champions agency and flexibility, the exchange program has evolved to better support students’ academic growth. “MVSO has been a game changer,” Abe shares.

During their time abroad, students transition into Mount Vernon School Online (MVSO) for that mod, allowing them to stay on track while fully engaging in their host culture. “They’re not constantly worrying about missing something back home,” Abe says. “They can actually be present—immersed in the language, the culture, and the relationships they’re building.”

True to Mount Vernon’s commitment to student agency, the exchange program is designed to complement, not compete with, other Upper School experiences. “We want students to have options,” Abe says. “So we built a model where they don’t have to choose between experiences; they can layer them.” This flexibility reflects a broader truth: no two Mount Vernon journeys look the same, but each is intentionally designed.

A Transformational Experience

For students like Sara and Hidaya, the impact extends far beyond language acquisition. “I just really want to get fluent in French… and advocate for it so more people will do it,” Sara says. The experience is already shaping her future. “If I go into international law or journalism, speaking multiple languages will help me make more connections.”

Hidaya is thinking just as globally. “I would like to maybe move here later and go to college here… to improve my English more and learn about new cultures.” Both now encourage others to embrace the challenge they once questioned.

“A lot of people are scared,” Sara says. “But you see what you would have missed out on if you didn’t go.” “It’s only five weeks in a lifetime,” Hidaya adds. “The memories you keep are forever.”

Eli agrees. “Absolutely do it! The biggest thing I heard that was holding my friends back was the idea of hosting another student in their house for five weeks, but honestly, that might be the best part. I get to take Yoann around the city and visit all the best Southern food places around Georgia! Not only that, but the exchange program has taught me so much about building relationships and cross-cultural connections, and given me so many unforgettable memories.”