On November 22, Belmont Hill welcomed Mustafa Soykurt, the current Consul General of France, for an engaging and informative visit to our campus. All students taking French, along with additional curious students, had the unique opportunity to learn about diplomacy from a professional government official.
The session – conducted almost entirely in French through the assistance of French teacher Mme. Montanaro – gave students an immersive linguistic insight into a cultural experience. Mr. Soykurt began by explaining his diplomatic role and how his job is run. He then went on to explain his personal and professional background before delving into the intricacies of diplomatic life. Some topics that were covered by Mr. Soykurt included his role in supporting over 10,000 French citizens in a region, maintaining efficient communication with Paris, and promoting France’s culture in the United States. Having begun her career as the French Consulate in Boston, Mme. Montanaro discussed her own connection to diplomacy as well. Students actively participated throughout the conference by asking questions in French, which demonstrated their language abilities and linguistic curiosity.
Following Mr. Soykurt’s talk, students enjoyed feasting on a charcuterie board. Rhett Curtis ‘26 said “the food was great, and so was his speech,” reflecting the general grateful attitude that boys had about this experience.
Indresh Chandel