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Featuring you and your life
November 19, 2015
and even going to parties. They live normal lives Co-Sports Editor with their parents who have anholub@students.wcpss.net careers ranging from an Five international archaeologist to a school students joined the Cou- teacher. gar family this school year The students gave up through the foreign ex- their familiar lifestyles to change program. learn new knowledge and to Olatz Gonzalez Santiago gain experience from a difand Pablo Lopez both made ferent perspective here in the their way from Spain to U.S. Wake Forest, Caceila Muel- “I miss my family, but ler and Jenna Schwitters that is okay because this is my from Germany and Sireerat experience just for one year. I Luesiripapon from Thailand. am glad I have the chance to “It was a really long be here,” Luesiripapon said. Most students were nerflight. I think it took my plane nine hours,” Lopez vous about their new life in the U.S. due to their percepsaid. Although the students tion of our country from precome from thousands of vious knowledge. miles across the world, their “We’ve got a lot of steinterests are just like any reotypes about America, but they are not true. We think other student at our school. In their home countries that here people eat really they spend free time going to badly, but that’s not true, and the beach, going to the mov- we think that you are all fat, ies, hanging out with friends but that also is not true,” Lo-
By Gus Holub
o t g n i p n a Le ear L Foreign exchange students give insight on their experience in America
pez said. Their opinions have evolved for the most part after first-hand experience in the US. Schwitters says that all the Americans she has talked to so far have been “very nice and welcoming.” For all of them there has been a lot to adapt to. “Living in a European country is so different. Our cities are smaller and more compact. You don’t have to drive around a lot. You can walk everywhere,” Mueller said. Staying in contact with their families is a necessity for the students who will be without them for months. “We have applications that I use a lot to talk to my family and friends. We also try to Skype every week,” Gonzalez said. The foreign exchange program has expanded the students’ understanding
of other cultures as well as broadened their social horizons. Wake Forest has allowed these students to compare differences to their schools and lifestyles. “Our culture is different, our education system is really different from yours and we have other foods and things. School I think is the biggest difference. We have more choices here,” Lopez said. Gonzalez who is also a Spanish native experienced restrictions in previous school years. “Last year all the students did the same thing. We didn’t have any options,” Gonzalez said. The students enjoy the new and different aspects of their American high school experience . Schwitters said, “I think it’s the school spirit here. That is something we do not see as much back home.”
Jenna Schwitters, 11
Pablo Lopez Quintana, 11
INTERESTING FACTS • Most foreign exchange students come through Wake Forest’s Rotary Club • The Rotary Youth Program echanges with over 40 countries. • The typical cost for a Foreign Exchange year is between $4,000 and $6,000. (CSRYE Central States Rotary Youth Exchange)
Olatz Gonzalez Santiago, 11
Q and A
Caceilia Muller, 11
Sireerat Luesiripapon, 11
Spain
Spain
Thailand Germany
Germany
Hometown? Population?
Hernani 8k
Bradenburg/Havel 70k
Lopburi 100k
Norden 25k
Sarria 14k
Number of kids in your school?
800
1,000
4,ooo
2,000
300
Sports offered in school?
Basketball and Soccer
Volleyball, Table Tennis, Soccer, Badminton
Volleyball, Soccer, Badminton
None
Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball
School hours and days?
Mon.-Fri. 8-3
Mon./Wed./Fri 8-3 Tues. & Thurs. 8--1:30
Mon.-Fri. 8-4
Mon.-Fri. Depends on Grade
Mon.-Fri. 6 hours
Favorite class there and here?
Math
Politics & Latin/ Creative Writing
Chinese/English
Gym
Biology/English
Number of siblings?
1
1
1
1
0
Mom and Dad occupation?
Doctor and Shoe Mender
Teacher and Archaeologist
Housekeeper & Retired Soldier
Sells houses & Job finder
English Teacher& Businessman
Future Plans?
Study Technology
English/Politics Teacher
Become an Ambassador
Not sure
Become a Translator
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