IKE’s Foreign Exchange Students
There is a Japanese proverb that goes, “People judge things by their own experience, not knowing of the wide world outside.” However, there are some people who are willing to know and see what is out there. Certain people that come to mind are our very own exchange students. Leaving their home, their family, and everything they’ve ever been used to for a whole year; that takes a lot of courage! Even so, Eisenhower welcomes them and hopes they have the best experience studying abroad!
After meeting and talking with a few exchange students, there have been many similarities and differences between the school systems and buildings as well. In a recent interview with Elisa Sadowski, an 11th Grader from Berlin, Germany, she said “I like the way school is here. I think it’s cool, but the halls are confusing.” She also mentioned that her school in Berlin is much smaller and that the class schedules there change every day! Elisa later expressed how she likes the relationship between teachers and students, and actually has gotten close with some people who she considers friends, though she finds it difficult because of differing lunch periods. “What reminds me of home is the drama club because we also have one back in my school,” she said. Hopefully we get to see Elisa as the star of our next play!
We also have another fellow drama club member, Maren Cordoba, an 11th grader who is visiting from Loiola, Azpeitia, a town in the Basque Country, Spain. She conveyed her feelings about leaving her home for a year: “It was very hard leaving my family and friends and it’s difficult because I don’t know anyone…it’s a bit uncomfortable being surrounded by new people.” In Spain, because every class has the same student body, Maren says it’s easier to make friends and be comfortable. Nevertheless, it’s always a challenge starting in a new place where you don’t know anyone, especially when you’re away from home.
One cultural impact that Maren has noticed is the way people act here. “In Spain when you meet someone new, you go and talk to them and are eager to get to know more about them and here if there’s someone new, it’s just not that big of a deal.” She also said, “It’s a good thing and a bad thing because, if people mind their own business, you can do whatever you want, and in Spain, people pay attention more to the details, like what you wear, anything new, etc.”
It’s truly quite fascinating how many students we have from different countries, from Deutschland to “Bel Paese”. Olivia Rossi, a 12th grader who comes from a town near Venice, Italy, tells about how the exchange program works and how she was able to get here. “When we are in the 3rd or 4th grade of high school, we get the chance to study abroad. It costs around $12,000 to go to the United States, and the place we travel to is picked for us…if we want to travel somewhere else it is one to three thousand more dollars.” The cost depends on where you travel to. Oliva also said that she’d prefer to go to the South since she enjoys hot weather, but enjoys Yakima and its nature as well.
In another interview with Myrtille Quemeras, a 10th grader from Brest, France, she was asked what the differences are that have surprised her the most here at Eisenhower. Here’s what she had to say: “Everything is huge, from shops, to cars, to food and everything else! I expected that, but not as much! Regarding the school, I was surprised by the many differences between the American and French school systems, such as the schedule for example. In France, our schedule is different every day and our school days are so much longer! I also noticed that mealtimes are not the same as in France. Here, lunch time is not really defined, and dinner usually starts at 6 p.m., while in France, we start dinner from 7-7:30 p.m.” When asked about things she wishes were present back home, she responded, “I really like the fact that the majority of high school students are very involved in their school through the various clubs and sports offered by the school. I would add that the teachers are much more attentive to each student and are always very present to help us. I would also like to bring back to France the kindness of the people here. In general, people are even more welcoming. The students are less judgmental, and I think that really helps everyone to express their real personality and feel comfortable, especially in school.” Sometimes we may take simple things for granted, like the kindness that we’re shown and the relationships we build with each other.
Our exchange students have demonstrated incredible courage by venturing beyond their comfort zones to experience a world of both similarities and differences. Their stories have shown the unique aspects of our school system and the relationships they've formed with teachers and fellow students. As we give them a warm welcome, let us cherish the cultural exchange and learning opportunities they bring, as well as their reminders that the world is vast and full of wonders waiting to be explored. They traveled thousands of miles to meet us, so let's embrace the opportunity to make new friends, share experiences, and celebrate more fun moments to come!
