West Chicago welcomed French teacher Laurie Van Gorp in the language arts department earlier this year.
Van Gorp always enjoyed taking French in school, despite not speaking it at home. A year-long stay in France solidified her motivation to teach the language as well.
That said, her cross-continent journey began in Buffalo, New York, where she was born. Van Gorp was educated at the University of Iowa, where she majored in French and journalism.
One of the reasons Van Gorp considers herself a Francophile is the food.
“I like the pastries. I like desserts. I like the bread, and just all the fresh fruits and vegetables that they use in their meals,” Van Gorp said.
However, French culture appeals to her as well.
“I also think they have a little slower pace of life and take a little bit more time to build in, you know, time to relax, time to have fun with family,” Van Gorp said.
In addition to living in France for a year, Van Gorp has taken multiple trips – some with students, and some without.
“I’d say, in addition to when I lived there, maybe ten times. This past summer, we went to Paris, and I liked being in Paris again. [I] would like to go back and see some more, and spend time in neighborhoods that we didn’t visit, [or] the south of France,” Van Gorp said.
While she has collected many souvenirs over the years, one stands out.
“I went to Nice, in the south of France, and they are famous for things like tablecloths, like Provincial-style tablecloths and napkins, and things like that. And so, I bought a tablecloth that is kind of unique to that region that I like,” Van Gorp said.
In the future, she would love to visit Annecy, in the Alps, near Geneva, Switzerland.
“There’s a huge lake in Annecy, and it’s really beautiful. And I’ve never been, so I’d love to go there, “ Van Gorp said.
In the meantime, Van Gorp is focusing her attention on fostering a love for all things French with her students, and is enjoying her first year at West Chicago Community high School.
“The students all seem to really help each other out and work together. And the same goes for the faculty here. I really [think] the community of parents and students and teachers is really positive and supportive,” Van Gorp said.