“The American experience” is something most exchange students strive for each year. Foreign students come from all over the world for the opportunity to immerse themselves in a new culture and hopefully make lifelong friends. Most exchange students hope to find their confidence and knowledge of American culture grow as they navigate new experiences and challenges high school life presents. The community is eager to welcome this new group of exchange students around the school with open arms.
Jimena Villalgordo Garcia
Home country: Spain
Host family: Bierens family
Garcia is a part of the volleyball team and enjoys the culture of the high school.
“Here it is more social,” Garcia said. “[I’m excited to] enjoy all the American culture because in Spain you don’t have like school dances or football games, you usually go to school only for class.”
While there are many perks to being in this new country, there are some aspects that she misses from home.
“[In Spain] you don’t have to get a car to go everywhere, you can easily go everywhere in Madrid so you can go wherever with your friends,” Garcia said.
Jaime Mortera
Home country: Spain
Host family: Frymire family
Mortera has seen through the media the quintessential experience the USA has to offer and now can’t wait to experience it for himself.
“(I’m excited) about seeing how the American dream really is,” Mortera said.
Getting settled in is a big part of this, knowing another culture his whole life means that he has to change some of his routines. By getting out of his comfort zone, he’s gotten valuable memories so far, like playing varsity soccer.
“My experience has been good and I’m enjoying it so far, but it’s really different from Spain so I have to get used to it,” Mortera said.
Nicola Mattig
Home country: Germany
Host family: Stambaugh family
Mattig is a part of the sideline cheer team and her most enjoyable moments have been spending her Friday nights in a different atmosphere than her usual home routine.
“The best experience so far I think was the football game because it’s so huge and interesting and completely different from Germany,” Mattig said.
She also admires the diverse course options available for students to enroll in, making the school day more enjoyable.
“School is more fun here than in Germany,” Mattig said.“Here you have a whole bunch of options you can take and classes that are fun.”
Jorge Gonzalez
Home country: Spain
Host family: Sanchez family
Gonzalez is a part of the soccer team and notices that there is a big difference between scheduling and outside activities when comparing the countries.
“In the Spain lifestyle, the school schedule is made just for you to study and here it’s more around sports. It’s much better for your health because it makes you fit,” Gonzalez said. “In Spain, you can do a maximum of two sports throughout the year because you don’t have enough time for anything else.”
He’s excited to see what opportunities being in the United States will bring him.
“I’ve never been in the United States before and I think that it’s a completely different lifestyle for the whole year,” said Gonzalez. “It’s going to be an experience [I’ll remember] for my whole life.”
Franziska Rueckeshaeuser
Home country: Germany
Host Family: Sampair Family
Rueckeshaeuser is a part of the cheer team and appreciates the kind atmosphere she has experienced so far.
“I really liked the cheer practice because everyone was so nice and friendly, also, at lunch I didn’t know where to go in the line and everyone was very nice and helped me. I just like the people here,” Rueckeshaeuser said.
Rueckeshaeuser is looking forward to the athletic opportunities throughout the school year.
“I really want to try out competitive cheerleading or tennis, and then track and field as well,” Rueckeshaesuer said.
Lucio Pizzo
Home country: France
Host Family: Howe family
Pizzo is part of the rowing team in France and now in the USA. Being a part of this new team is a big change so he is eager to see what the season has to offer.
“I’ve been rowing for five years,” Pizzo said. “I think the thing that I’m excited for is the spring season for rowing because there’s gonna be a lot of races and things like that.”
Used to the school schedule in France, which ends at 5 p.m., Pizzo is relieved to have an earlier ending day.
“The school is really great, finishing at 2 p.m. is really great because I’m not used to it, I can rest and do whatever I want,” Pizzo said.
Julia Calvo Alaminos
Home country: Spain
Host family: Isely family
Alaminos is feeling the spirit with the upcoming holidays as she hasn’t had much experience with them in her home country.
“I think the thing I’m looking forward to the most is Halloween because it’s not that celebrated in Spain,” Alaminos said.
She is a part of the cross country team, where she enjoys spending her free time, whether that’s at practices or meets.
“I’m doing sports, specifically a sport that I didn’t like back home but I’m enjoying it a lot here,” Alaminos said.
