Photo courtesy of Lauryn Boutin
Hastings Senior High welcomes foreign exchange students from all over the world to a new chapter of their life here in the U.S. This year, Hastings High has embraced ten exchange students from Brazil, Germany, Czech Republic, Italy, and Spain.
“I like this life because it’s not like the life in Europe. We just don’t live this life and we just don’t have the kind of life you see in the movies. I feel like I’m in an American movie here and everybody in Europe wants to be here like I am,” said senior Natalie Semecka.
In America, foreign exchange students experience a very different lifestyle than what they are used to.
“For example, you don’t have oral testings. So you don’t have to talk in front of the class and you have to change every class. We just have one class. The same classmates for five years,” said senior Vera Casorerio.
Foreign exchange students not only have a change in school life, but also their home life.
“When you’re an exchange student and you have a good host family, I think that’s very important. Some people don’t think it’s that important, but it really is. Whether you are in California or in Nebraska it doesn’t really matter, but I know it sounds like California life would be better. I think it actually depends on your host family and not really the place,” Semecka said.
Being new to a whole different society can be nerve wracking. It is not easy being “the new kid” in school. This can really affect the way one would view our nation as a whole.
“Maybe the fact that people here in America are really kind and generous. I think it would probably be different in other states, but here in Nebraska most of the people I have talked to have been really nice to me,” Casorerio said.
When foreign exchange students come to America, they all have different experiences. Some transitions tend to be easier than others.
“My transition to America from the Czech Republic wasn’t really difficult for me, but maybe a little stressful. I have been learning the English language since I was in first grade so that definitely helped me here in the U.S,” Barbora Felendová said.
