Mexican exchange students set to visit Saratoga again

Seven students from Cuernavaca, Mexico, arrived on Nov. 14 to experience the way of life at Saratoga, especially the American Thanksgiving culture. The students will stay with host families until Nov. 30.

These exchange students have been annually visiting from Cuernavaca as part of a program conducted by Spanish teacher Arnaldo Rodriguex. In February of next semester, the trip is reciprocated as Spanish students from Saratoga travel south to Cuernavaca over February break to learn Mexican traditions.

Juniors Maddie Stuart, Trina Chatterjee and Jules Ducrot-huet and seniors Nina Nelson, Meera Rachamallu, Summer Smith and Kanaai Shah will be hosting students.

“One of the main reasons I chose to host a student was due to the fact that I am unable to go to Mexico because of high school soccer,” Shah said. “I feel like hosting a student would be the next best experience, as I am able to immerse myself in his culture as well.”

The families who host exchange students plan activities together such as a trip to the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory in San Francisco and Black Friday shopping.  

“The experience in malls is different from in Mexico and the coinciding date of Black Friday provides a great experience for them,” Shah said.

The idea of these trips is to immerse the exchange students in as much American culture as possible during the two weeks that they are here.

Hosting a Mexican exchange student or going to Mexico in February satisfies the cultural credit requirement for Spanish 4 Honors and Spanish 5 AP, but it also provides more valuable skills to both the American and Mexican students.

“[Saratoga students] are aware of the Mexican people who live here, but the Mexican people we encounter here, many have lived here several years, and their traditions have blended with the American way,” Rodriguex said. “The most important thing is that we start breaking the stereotypes of other cultures.”

Since this is Rodriguex’s final year teaching before he retires, there is uncertainty about whether the program will continue in the coming years.

“Im hoping that someone in the department will continue it and even though I am planning on retiring I am hoping to stay connected with the school somehow if I’m allowed,” Rodriguex said.