By Joey Villareal, Leilani Valero, and Rehema Hamimu.
The first day can fill any incoming highschooler with anxiety but imagine starting the school year in a new country, using a new language.
This school year, Abilene High is hosting four exchange students from across the globe.
“Everything is different,” Chilean senior Amanda Rubio said “The people, the culture, the food, everything.”
The transition for these girls not only involves a new learning environment but also a completely new culture and way of life.
“The first days were kind of hard because I was in a different place, house, everything was different, even the language,” sophomore Olga Sancho from Spain said. “I’m excited about it, because it’s a new place and I want to see everything. I want to discover new places and new people.”
American schools may come as a culture shock to many foreign students, but despite the big change these students seem to be open to new things
“You see different people every day,” junior Janice Nollenburger from Germany said. “Like in Germany you have your one class with thirty people and that’s it. Here you have like a hundred different people you meet every day and that’s crazy.”
Many things come from a foreign exchange program including new life experiences, friends, and places.
“I really wanted to experience a new culture and new things and just see the world,” Hungarian senior Ana Gergaly said.
