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Linglestown Gazette
Linglestown Family to host French student By John Robinson
Todd and Cindy Rittle live near the Colonial Country Club with their children, Jared, 16, and Lauren, 13. It was Jared who first heard of LEC, thanks to his then French teacher Madame Kathy Lipsett. This fall, Jared will begin his studies in the French IV class at Central Dauphin High School, after a nine-day tour of Paris, Normandy, and Brittany in July. He hopes to be able to use his knowledge of French for travel and for his chosen profession of engineering. At the same time, Octave's primary reason for visiting the United States is to improve his spoken English. He's studied six years but rarely has a chance to be immersed in the language with native speakers. The Rittles fill the bill! Lauren is looking forward to meeting Octave, even though she will spend a great deal of the summer practicing with her swim team and preparing for the Central Dauphin Middle Schools band concert on July 14, which is, coincidentally, Bastille Day, the French national holiday. Todd, a Myerstown native who specializes in medical malpractice insurance, is already planning some activities for Octave, who has expressed an interest in the history of the U.S. "We have a world class museum about the Civil War right here in Harrisburg. Octave should see that, and the battlefield at Gettysburg, too," Todd says. Todd also mentioned the Pride of the Susquehanna riverboat and City Island as great local attractions. Baltimore and Washington were named as possible day trips. HersheyPark and New York City are definite destinations. Octave will be a busy young man. Cindy, from Butler, Pa., is aquatics instructor at the township's Friendship Center. She will have her hands full with an extra guest this summer. "I am really looking forward to meeting Octave," she says. "We've written to him and look forward to exchanges of letters or emails so we can get to know each other between now and his arrival in August." Jared is lining up his pals to show Octave how American kids fill up summer days. There will be lots of ping pong, swimming, bocce ball (or pétanque, as the French say), and long walks to 3b Ice Cream and Dunkin' Donuts down Linglestown Road. There's been talk of tubing and kayaking, too. It will be an exciting three weeks for the Rittles and for Octave. It's unlikely, though, that it will end when Octave returns to his home near Orléans, southwest of Paris. Many former LEC students and host families have kept in touch for years, celebrating the milestones of their lives. If you would like to take part in this experience in
the future, call Linglestown resident John Robinson at 545-2979 or send
him an email. |
(July
7, 2009) – The Rittle family of Linglestown will be playing host
to Octave Leborgne (pictured), 17, of La Chapelle-St-Mesmin, France,
August 5-25. This cultural experience is sponsored by