Mexican exchange students experience SHS culture

On Nov. 16, students from Cuernavaca, Mexico visited the school, and are currently staying with host families until Dec. 2.

Sophomores Daniel Ahn, Sam Strawn and Andrew Weng, as well as juniors Aditya Chetia, Analisa Ruff and Amy Shephard volunteered to host the students.

“I’ve never done anything like this before,” said Chetia, a Spanish 4 Honors student, said. “I wanted to see what it would be like to have someone from a different country stay at your house and learn about your culture, and what it is like where you live.”

Chetia, like many of the other host students, began messaging his exchange student, Uriel Díaz, prior to his arrival.

“[I asked] him what he would want to do and try here, like food and places to go,” Chetia said. “I’m also definitely interested to hear what he has to say about the U.S.”

The program aims to have students from Mexico experience our country’s culture, especially during the Thanksgiving season.

“I came up with this idea my second year teaching here,” Spanish teacher Arnaldo Rodriguex said. “We came in contact with these students because we travel to their high school during our Mexico trip in February, so some of the kids that went on the trip last year know these students.” 

The families hosting the students this year will organize trips to San Francisco, Monterey Aquarium, Santa Cruz and local malls.

Ruff, who is hosting Kathya Valle, is even going to travel to Disneyland with her student to visit her brother in L.A.

“It’s going to be a really fun experience to have her there and see how she adapts and how well she can speak English,” Ruff said. “Because my brother left for college last year, I’m excited to have someone else in the house.”

Strawn said that his family said his family wants to keep their exchange student busy.

“We’ve hosted an exchange student before, and it was really fun,” Strawn said. “My family lives up in the mountains so we don’t normally do much, and this was a great opportunity for us.”

Strawn said that although he is excited, he is a bit nervous because he isn’t sure how much English the exchange student will know.

“That will probably be the biggest dilemma,” Strawn said. “I’m not sure how easy it will be to communicate.”

Despite the possible challenges, the outcome will nevertheless be worth it, according to Rodriguex.

“I think that this experience will give students not only appreciation for the Mexican culture, but also lifelong connections and friendships,” Rodriguex said. “I am looking forward to the joy and excitement these students will bring to our campus during the next couple of weeks … This experience makes our world a better one.”