.jpg)
Marshall County has been home to several foreign exchange students throughout the years. Traveling abroad to study in different countries can be the ideal learning experience and give students a new outlook on life. For two students in the Foreign Exchange program, living and studying in Langford, it has become an experience they won’t ever forget.
Fifteen-year-old Alejandro Jativa, better known to his friends as ‘Ale’, is enrolled as a sophomore at Langford Area. His hometown is Melilla, Spain with a population of just over 87,000. “When signing up for the program, I had chosen Langford. My mother started researching it and she wanted me to choose a different town, thinking I may get bored as Langford was so small, but I told her no, I had made my decision.”
It turns out that Ale made the right call. His only complaint about America so far is the food, “The food isn’t as good as back home; however I do like a few of Carla’s recipes,” states Ale. Ale is referring to Carla Hardy. Hardy and Micah Small are this year’s host family to Ale as well as Langford Area’s other young exchange student.
Joao Nunez is sixteen years old and is in the junior class at Langford Area. Jo, as his friends call him, is from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. When asked if he had known the English language before coming to America, he states “I started English classes at the age of 8, but being here, I’ve learned more about the English language than in my classes back home.”
He has enjoyed getting to participate in several activities including basketball, football, the school play, trap shooting, track, band and golf. Ale has also thrown himself into all that Langford School has to offer including football, band, golf and the school play.
When asked what about America surprised them the most, both boys answered quickly with the same response. “The patriotism here is next to none.” Ale stated, “Our country never plays an anthem before games or stands quietly, but here I couldn’t believe how quiet and respectful everyone is to the flag.”
Ale says his favorite memory will be going skiing with his friends and taking in a Vikings football game in Minneapolis. Jo on the other hand, will never forget the football game he played in, between Groton Area and Roncalli. The Tigers won in overtime and Jo was so happy to be apart of it.
With the school year winding down, both boys will head back home in early June. Ale says he’s not homesick but is ready to see his family and hang out at the beach with his friends. Jo feels the same, he’s not ready to go home and is really enjoying his time in America.
“Sharing how we as Americans live and being able to teach these young men how a different culture views, sees and enjoys life, has been a rewarding experience. I feel that we have learned as much from them as they have from us,” states Micah.
Carla, the boys’ host mom, feels the same and isn’t looking forward to the day the boys fly back to their home countries. “Being a host family was an amazing experience. Both boys fit right in from the moment they got here. We consider them a forever part of our family and hope to attend both of their graduations back home in Spain and Brazil in the next couple years, meet their families and experience their culture.”
