Do you wonder whether going to school in a foreign country would be vastly different? Here’s a taste of a school day in France, relayed by high school junior Beth Ruhl of Lawrence, who has begun her second semester studying overseas:

6:40 a.m. I head off to take my five-minute shower because hot water is expensive in France.

6:50 a.m. I pop in my Mylene Farmer CD, one of my favorite French singers, and start to get ready for school.

7:10 a.m. I go up the winding staircase to the first floor for breakfast with my family. We eat croissants, yogurt, fresh fruit and baguette. I discuss my plans for the day with them, then head off to school.

8 a.m. As I approach the schoolyard, I am met by several friends. We greet each other with la bise, a kiss on both cheeks, and complain about gym class.

8:10 a.m. It’s time for an hour of basket or basketball. Go gym! Here it is much harder because you are judged on athletic ability, not if you just make an effort and participate.

9:10 a.m. We arrive at history class. At this moment we are studying the Third Republic. Today’s lecture is on a general named Boulanger who disapproved of the Republic and was pro-monarchy.

10:10 a.m. This is one of my favorite times of the day. We have a 10-minute break between periods, which we use as cafe time. Everyone buys a coffee or cappuccino, and it’s great when it is cold outside.

10:20 a.m. Because I am in the literary section this year I now have two whole hours of French. Right now we are doing a theâtre unit. It is interesting because last year in theater class we studied “The Bald Soprano,” a play by Eugene Ionesco, in English, and this year I am studying it in French. We are also studying Berenice, by Racine.

12:20 p.m. Now it is time for lunch. Normally we go to la cantine for lunch, but today it’s really crowded. Lines in France are really different. For things such as getting on the bus or lunch lines, there is a big mass of people, not really a line. We decide to go to our friend Julie’s house. Everyone helps set the table while Julie makes the pasta that we eat with cheese and ham.

1 p.m. Today there is a surprise for Jennifer and me, the two Americans. It’s called the Galette. The Galette is a cake with a little ornament inside. Whoever gets the ornament is the king or queen for the day and has to wear a crown. As it turns out Julie got the crown, but the cake was good!

1:30 p.m. I have some free time now, so I decide to go check out some of the After New Year’s sales.

2:30 p.m. Next, I go to the school library. I begin to work on a project about the propaganda of World War II in Europe. After a while I am a bit tired, so I decide to get a magazine to read in English! Fortunately for me the library has several English/ American magazines and literature.

4 p.m. Time for my music theory class. We get to listen to a part of one of Bach’s symphonies today. Near the end of class we always sing. Today we are singing something in English so I have to read the lyrics. It’s amusing to listen to the class repeat them.

6 p.m. The school day is finally over! I walk with my friend Clementine to my bus stop. She tells me about a concert she is playing in soon. She is studying to be a professional pianist in a conservatoire. It is crazy how well she plays! I tell her I can’t wait to see it and take my bus.

6:30 p.m. I arrive home and watch TV with my host sister Clemence who is 17. She does the scientific section at school.

7:30 p.m. Study for a big history test coming up.

9:30 p.m. I go to check my e-mail and write to all my friends and family.

10 p.m. It’s another big day tomorrow, so I call it a night!

Junior Beth Ruhl is studying in France for the school year. Contact her via teens@ljworld.com.