In France there is no such thing as a graduation ceremony with a cap and gown, let alone Pomp and Circumstance playing in the back ground.
Nor are there school sports, with rallies, cheerleaders and a mascot.
Proms? What is that?
Ever since our son Sacha was a little boy, he had a dream to go to high school in Willows, and be with his cousins, especially since his cousins Sam (18), Andy (20), Joe (16) and Jack (17) are close in age... Sacha will be 19 in a few days from now.
Last year we told Sacha if he graduated from his high school (in France) with honors, and was accepted to University... then he could take a Gap Year to attend high school with his cousins.
Mission accomplished: A Gap year granted. A dream come true.
Sacha went to Willows High School.... for the pure pleasure of living his dream.
Was he happy?
Did he like it?
Will he be sad to leave?
Yes, yes, yes.
Friends from Willows High, they wore sunglasses.
Sacha living the dream.
School colors: Purple and gold.
1) Sam with his mom, my sister in law, Mat's wife: Shelley.
2) Sam and Sacha.
3) Sacha with his cousin Meghan (Gene and Kathy Meghan's grandparents came to visit us in France, last year.)
4) Sacha with his "rival school's homecoming queen" girlfriend, Sophie.
5) Sam, Sacha and my mom. Sacha lived with my mom this last year.
6) Sam and his dad, my brother, Mat with one "t" who dislikes the brocante.
7) Sacha.
8) Sacha and I, my brother Marty took our picture.
9) Sacha and his friends.
.... and may he continue to dream and have them come true.
He looks so incredibly happy! So glad to see that American high school lived up to his dream. I love that shot of the two of you!
Posted by: Sue | 11 June 2011 at 11:07 AM
Congratulations Sacha, and mom & FH as well, you must all be so proud! Family is a wonderful thing, so many of you are beaming at the camera with the same smiles, I love it.
Posted by: Sam | 11 June 2011 at 11:31 AM
Congratulations. It's wonderful that you could make his dream come true and that he is entering the grown up life happy.
Posted by: Zosia | 11 June 2011 at 12:23 PM
Congrats to Sacha, the pic of you together is wonderful...
Posted by: jackie | 11 June 2011 at 12:29 PM
Congratulations, Sacha!
Posted by: Alison Murray Whittington | 11 June 2011 at 12:31 PM
Sacha has great form in his jumping shots. Looks like a born dancer. Congratulations Corey, must be a fun time for you!
Posted by: Jacqueline | 11 June 2011 at 01:36 PM
Congratulations to Sacha,
best wishes to everybody!
Hugs,
M.
Posted by: M | 11 June 2011 at 01:43 PM
i don't know why but this post touched me very much(i cried) i guess youth a dream come true and ALL THE POSSIBILITIES ahead.happy for all!!
Posted by: g | 11 June 2011 at 03:11 PM
Congrats to Sacha. So many happy smiles! High School graduation is a passage to adulthood and should be celebrated with full pomp and circumstance. Glad Sacha was able to fulfill his dream and had so much fun! Other countries may not be aware but High School in the US is so much fun with lots of good fiendships and memories. Go Sacha!
Posted by: Ann | 11 June 2011 at 03:16 PM
Pleased you were on time to share in !
"Mes félicitations" à Sacha !
What is he going to study ???
Posted by: Marie-Noëlle | 11 June 2011 at 03:32 PM
oh, wow . . . wonderful! I am so happy for him, and for you . . .to be able to give him such a gift!
Posted by: debra | 11 June 2011 at 03:33 PM
Congratulations!
Posted by: Bev | 11 June 2011 at 03:51 PM
When you can bring this look of joy to your son's face it is a gift to you as well as to him. He has memories that no amount of money could buy and and time spent with family that he will treasure forever.
Posted by: Joanne Tuchman | 11 June 2011 at 04:36 PM
Congratulations to Sacha!!!!!
Posted by: Kristin | 11 June 2011 at 04:38 PM
Congratulations, Sacha!
Posted by: Star | 11 June 2011 at 04:41 PM
That is so cool - I had no idea a student could do that.
Congratulations Sacha - way to go!
When I look at Sacha - I see you and FH equally, how did you do that?
Posted by: Rhonda P. | 11 June 2011 at 05:17 PM
I love this post. As a mom to two half American girls growing up here in France, I hope that at least one of them will have a dream like Sacha's...to go to high school in the USA at least for one year!
Posted by: meredith | 11 June 2011 at 05:34 PM
Congratulations Sacha (and Sam). Everyone looks so happy and joyful. It is going to be awfully quiet at your Mother's home when Sacha returns to France!
Posted by: martina | 11 June 2011 at 05:37 PM
Congrats! SAM AND SACHA!!! I put both! :)) Some people in the comments are forgetting Sam! :P
Posted by: Marie | 11 June 2011 at 05:52 PM
this is such an inspiring story of living one's dreams, and it is a wonderful complement to the adventures that chelsea has been living. you and FH provided your children with wonderful role models, and you have done a lovely job of raising them. i look forward to following them on their adventures yet to come!
Posted by: janet | 11 June 2011 at 06:30 PM
Congratulations to the grads! Graduation is always exciting and fun. They looked like they had a ball. Good for them! Great job parents!
Posted by: bleu | 11 June 2011 at 06:56 PM
Brings tears to my eyes.
Great to see everyone filled with joy on this amazing occasion!
So glad you were there Corey and congrats to Sacha and all the graduates.
Posted by: patty g | 11 June 2011 at 07:07 PM
Congrats Sacha. What happiness you bring.
Many blessing for the next passage.
Posted by: Sharon Penney-Morrison | 11 June 2011 at 07:58 PM
Aw! Congratulations Sacha! Graduation is one thing the U.S. does well.
Posted by: Carolyn | 11 June 2011 at 08:09 PM
Congratulations to you as well Sam1 Nice name. You look like a blond version of your father in that picture where you have your arm around him.
Posted by: Sam | 11 June 2011 at 08:09 PM
Corey - You look so beautiful! We don't get to see you much. Such a lovely picture of you and Sasha!
Posted by: Lynn in Oakland, CA | 11 June 2011 at 08:57 PM
A special shout-out to your Mom, who I'm sure enjoyed having Sacha living there, although it was still a huge responsibility! I imagine she and Sacha will miss one another terribly. Happy Birthday to your boy, and hope you get to stay for the festa!
BTW, Farmboy Husband worked for Collegiate Cap and Gown in Champaign, Illinois, during their graduation rush seasons for a couple years (since his own HS school-year ended earlier than most), and he assures me that even that long ago there were caps and gowns in the most amazing array of colors -- over 100 shades, as he recalls! So he wasn't the least bit surprised that WHS would have purple and gold regalia.
Posted by: Kathie B | 11 June 2011 at 09:37 PM
How wonderful to have dreams come true! May Sacha have many dreams come true throughout his life. Your mom will miss him when he travels back to France. But won't you just love having him nearby? What an experience he had this year.
Posted by: Marilyn | 11 June 2011 at 11:20 PM
Oh, congratulations Sacha. That last photo of him running down the sidewalk in his gown bought tears to my eyes. Run, Sacha. Run into your bright future.
Posted by: Amy Kortuem | 12 June 2011 at 12:40 AM
I feel the world declaration from these bright young adults. Congratulations for the achievements.
Posted by: Lee | 12 June 2011 at 12:58 AM
Congratulations to Sacha!
Posted by: kelelyn | 12 June 2011 at 01:45 AM
In the 6th photo, is the hand configuration supposed to represent honker feet? I assume the origin of the mascot has to do with migratory avians who stop off to glean the rice fields following harvest, right?
Posted by: Kathie B | 12 June 2011 at 01:49 AM
I want a Sharpie so I can connect the freckles on Sacha's face.
Posted by: Franca Bollo | 12 June 2011 at 03:49 AM
Congratulations Sacha! Wishing you a happy and successful future!
Nice pictures Corey!
Posted by: Cathy J. | 12 June 2011 at 04:04 AM
How lucky that Willows High School let your son attend and graduate with his cousin. I'm sure he had a year that will remain in his heart forever!
Posted by: Cheryl~ Casual Cottage Chic | 12 June 2011 at 04:09 AM
Very nice for him and how proud you must be. He has much joy living his dream. Hope he can continue to live with joy!
Posted by: Lyndee | 12 June 2011 at 05:06 AM
Beautiful.
Posted by: ellen cassilly | 12 June 2011 at 05:54 AM
Congratulations Sacha, Sam, and all of your friends. May you all follow the path to your dreams and live life fully & loudy. Corey, you and French Husband are to be applauded for helping Sacha realize his dream. ......and they all lived happily ever after.
Posted by: Jeannie | 12 June 2011 at 08:25 AM
ConGRADulations Sasha and congratulations to you Corey and your French husband for raising such hard working ambitious children!
Posted by: Maura | 12 June 2011 at 02:02 PM
What a wonderful post, full of happiness and dreams come true, with more on the way, and what parents Sacha has who gave him the wings to fly (and jump off of porches and who knows what else), no matter how much it tugged at their hearts. What a heartwarming post this was. You make me want to sing.
Posted by: Penny | 12 June 2011 at 03:24 PM
You and your special family are just the cutest! So happy for you!
Posted by: Brenda, Walker, LA, USA | 12 June 2011 at 05:14 PM
Congrats to Sasha!!! Well done!!!
Posted by: Irina | 12 June 2011 at 07:04 PM
Congratulations Sacha!...you look VERY happy!
I know he had a wonderful time with his cousins this year...something he will never forget...(AND he looks like his Dad.) :)
I love the photos...AHHHHHH! To be young again...
safe trip home!!
Posted by: Brenda L. in TN. | 12 June 2011 at 11:44 PM
Great pictures - everyone having FUN!
Posted by: Lora | 13 June 2011 at 12:56 AM
This is the sweetest post I've ever read. What a wonderful family and marvelous ties across countries and oceans. We lived in California and Memphis for almost ten years and every summer vacation was a just a two week sleepover for all 8 of the cousins. My kids and my sisters' kids are as close as siblings and what could be better than that!
Posted by: Mrs. Pom | 13 June 2011 at 01:08 AM
Your children are so fortunate to have you two as parents. You really support their dreams and they are becoming such cool people.
~elaine~
Posted by: Elaine L. | 13 June 2011 at 09:54 AM
Congratulations to Sacha and Sam! I can see how proud you are and with reasons! May he can live his dreams every day of his life.
Posted by: Gracie | 13 June 2011 at 02:47 PM
I love teh joy leaping off the page! Where was Chad?:)
Posted by: Michelle Riley | 13 June 2011 at 05:44 PM
Graduations always make me cry....so full of excitement/dreams/future/saying goodbye to high school friendships. Great photos. Congrats to Sasha and Sam - may their dreams come true!
Posted by: Victoria Ramos | 13 June 2011 at 08:13 PM
Congratulations to Sacha for a beautiful year and living his dreams!
Posted by: Beverly | 14 June 2011 at 08:44 PM