Four years ago we were asked by one of our overseas suppliers if we would be prepared to take a university student for a month as part of her ‘sandwich’ course.  She was doing a business studies degree in France.  When my three daughters were at school we have had various exchange students. The best being 2 German girls during the D day celebrations! (But thats another story)  So we felt that we should be able to cope. We live and work in a tiny village so not only would she be working with us everyday she would also have to live with us.

We were told that she lived in Paris with her Algerian/French family and she was a Muslim. Any pre-conceived  notions or worries that we had disappeared when we met her at the airport, she was absolutely delightful. She had a wonderful sense of humour and her English was excellent, she even got to grips with our Black country customers, she was so efficient that we struggled to keep her busy. We have become firm friends. Her parents invited us  to Paris for the weekend where we were introduced to all the family, we couldn’t have been made more welcome.

Our student graduated with honours and is now living and working in Birmingham. It was a leap of faith for all of us, but I am so glad the Midland Ladder Company took it. Friends have been made, recipes exchanged and cultural lessons were learnt on both sides. It was a good experience, mutually beneficial.