Gaining new cultural experiences is something many people want to achieve in their lifetime. Certain people are lucky enough to be able to accomplish this before they reach the age of 18. Through its willingness to accept students from abroad, the high school offers an amazing opportunity for students around the world to come to our hometown of Grand Rapids and gain the experience of suburban life in America.
This year we welcome nine new students from countries and cities all across the globe. Let’s learn more about each and every one of these students.
Irene Pulido
Home country/city: Madrid, Spain
Host: The Leonardis Family
Irene Pulido is 16 years old, she enjoys the football games and all the enriching activities the high school has to offer. It is hard for Pulido to get used to the new schedules that America has and the early morning wake ups compared to the later and slower days in Spain.
“The high school schedule is every day, the same class at the same time, and the start of school is very early in the morning,” Pulido said.
Pulido is participating in cheer and has met a surplus of new people, she also enjoys the food.
“I like mac n cheese and I love pizza,” Pulido said.
Isabella Burillo Marinho
Home country/city: Alicante, Spain
Host: The Sweet family
Burillo Marinho is 14 years old, she enjoys specific foods that America has to offer.
“I really like Chick-Fil-A,it’s really good, the sauce, I love it,” Burillo Marihno said.
Burillo Marihno enjoyed seeing Mackinaw Island with her host family and is looking forward to more new experiences this year, as well as improving her language skills.
“I think the main thing I’m excited for is to improve my English,” Burillo Marinho said.
Paula Gonzalez Vera
Home country/city: Catalonia, Spain
Host: The Seitz Family
Paula Gonzalez Vera is 15 years old. She is involved with the high school’s swim team. She enjoys participating in this after school sport with her teammates. Swimming in Spain is available but not connected to school, so it is a fun and new opportunity. Gonzala Vera is excited to get to know new people and embrace American life.
“I want to enjoy this experience and maybe to improve my English, of course, I also want to get to know people and to know the culture here,” Gonzalez Vera said.
Although there have been struggles in this transition to America, Gonzalez Vera enjoys the change in routine.
“I like to have lunch at 12 and dinner at five because in Spain, it’s kind of different, we have lunch at two and dinner at nine,” Gonzalez Vera said.
Isabel Garces Negrillo
Home country/city: Madrid, Spain
Host: The Kramer family
Isabel Garces Negrillo is 15 years old, she loves the food America has to offer, restaurants like Culver’s have been a big hit.
She is involving herself through the varsity cheer team. In Spain, Garces Negrillo had dance experiences, so she thought cheerleading would be a natural fit and assist in getting to know new people as well as getting to perform.
“I did dance [in Spain] for a year, like modern, and I also did aerial silks, which is silks hanging from the ceiling,” Garces Negrillo said.
Although there are many pros to America, there are things in Spain that are impossible not to miss.
“I think my favorite thing about Spain is the food, also the culture, people are really open and really happy,” Garces Negrillo said.
Jaime Castillo Duran
Home country/city: Cadiz,Spain
Host: The Kapanui family
Jaime Castillo Duran is 15 years old, Castillo Duran is getting used to the new food types and the differences in temperature living in Michigan exposes to its residents.
“The food is different, it is healthier, and the weather is very different,” Castillo Duran said.
Castillo Duran loves the culture of the school and the change in schedule, it keeps him on his toes.
“The school is very fun, and bigger than the one I attended in Spain, and my friends are funnier,” Castillo Duran said.
In his free time, he is thrilled when playing soccer with friends and embracing American culture.
Irene Digoncelli
Home country/city: Como Lake, Italy
Host: The VanTimmeren family
Irene is 17 years old, she appreciates the relaxed culture of America and the all around kindness. She finds the culture to be so different from her normal and it is a challenge as well as a fun new experience.
“I think just the lifestyle is so different,” Digincelli said.
She is looking forward most to the ability to be independent in America.
“[I am looking forward to] making new friends, being on my own, and to be able to create a new life, just on my own,” Digoncelli said.
Tobia Mondino
Home country/city: Saluzzo, Italy
Host: The Isely Family
Tobia is 17 years old, he enjoys going to all of the football games and participating in the student section, they do not have anything like this at their schools in Saluzzo. Living here is an enriching experience for Mondino.
He is excited to celebrate new traditions here in America and explore new terrains and cities.
“I went to Mackinaw Island with my family, it was so fun,” Mondino said.
There have definitely been some adjustments that have been hard to make but the independence he has gained has made it worth it.
“Waking up so early has been hard,” Mondino said
Tobias Bodholdt
Home country/city: Vipperod, Denmark
Host: The Blann Family
Tobias is 15 years old, he loves the food America has and enjoys embracing a new culture. He enjoys classic American things like fast food, and baseball games.
“I really like going to the Whitecaps game, those are fun,” Bodholdt said.
Bodholdt has enjoyed many things about America and is optimistic about what the future holds.
“I am excited just to learn about the American culture,” Bodholdt said.
Virginia Gaetani Lovatelli
Home country/city: Florence, Italy
Host: The Rasmussen family
Virginia is 17 years old, she is from Florence, Italy which was most recently titled “the most beautiful city in Europe,” by Travel and Leisure.
Gaetani Lovatelli is participating in the cheer team and is excited to do the dance team this winter. She enjoys the variety the school offers and the difference in structure compared to home.
“I love your school system, It’s really different from ours and I think it’s better,” Gaetani Lovatelli said.
Gaetani Lovatelli has not enjoyed everything about America but the overall experience is delightful.
“I don’t really like your food, but the cookies are good,” Gaetani Lovatelli said.
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