North Cross says ‘salut’ to new French student

​BONJOUR, RAIDERS:  As I beckon him over amid the student commons’ daily lunch rush, Antoine Finot, ‘26 happily bounds over with a smile and a “hello.” with a charismatic French accent. 
     When I met Finot at the back-to-school pool party in late August, I was immediately struck with his infectious enthusiasm and contagious energy. We quickly formed a strong bond over our numerous cultural exchanges and shared interests over topics such as UFC and the environment at North Cross. All of this culminated in my decision to travel Downtown to the dorm to not only follow up on previous conversations, but also to see my friend. A lacrosse player for three years, Finot made the trek to the United States and joined us from the area surrounding Grenoble, France. He joined his team off of a Facebook account run by the president of the organization, and quickly found his love for the sport and its players burgeoning. While he is mainly here for the aforementioned sport, he was extremely impressed with the school, the city, and their characteristic Southern charm. 
    “My favorite North Cross moment,” he said, signaling a look that evidenced deep thought. “I think it was just like, when I came on the first day of school and saw this whole assembly and all the classes, I was very, very, very, impressed.” 
    Curious to understand the circumstances of his move and the ramifications thereof, I asked Antoine how his move to the United States was, what he was looking forward to, and what he missed from France. “I think I miss food from france. Like, in France, it’s easier to have more active, like, fresher food, you know? Like fruits and vegetables, ‘pain’, bread too, baguette, croissant, all the French stuff. But here, it’s definitely safer than in France.” 
    Our conversations mainly revolved around his love of sports and how athletically active he is, despite the reduced amount of those opportunities in France. He highlighted the importance of better collegiate opportunities in the States, and also mentioned the fact that many talented players in France often see their abilities neglected or overlooked. “So in France,” he started, his facial expression a testament to his sentiment on the issue, “School is free, it depends, but it is usually free. Like, the problem is not the money. The problem is if you can succeed.” His passion for the sport piqued my interest, and I asked about his regard to other sports.  “I’m interested in a lot of other sports in France,” he said, his eyes lit up speaking about his interests. “I practice grappling, it’s like wrestling, and I also did badminton.” 
    As we sat around in the dorm’s game room, enjoying a game called “Intensity,” it was evident that Antoine felt very comfortable and relaxed around his friends, receiving myriad compliments (and playful jabs). “My favorite thing about Antoine,” Mercedes Hererra, ‘27, commented as she moved her piece. “Is definitely his sense of humor. And the French accent.” 
    As the hours flew by, the tone of our interview slipped into a more casual manner. “What do you bring to the table,” I asked, attempting to maintain at least some formality. “What makes Antoine Finot tick?” 
    Gesturing towards the table with a bit of confusion, he asked “What, like a real object or?” As we laughed, and briefly helped explain idiomatic expressions, I had a realization: he really did have a great sense of humor,  ironically or not
    There is no doubt about it, Antoine Finot is a valuable asset to our school and we are more than privileged to have him as a Raider. 
    “The school is really good,” he said as he shared his final thoughts, “because all the students are kind.” 

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