Exchange students adjust to life in American suburbs
November 10, 2009
By Christopher Huber
By Christopher Huber
When Kesley Pereira hopped on the airplane in Sao Paolo, Brazil to come to the United States he was nervous. It was his first time flying, but he was also worried about how Americans would treat him and if he would fit in at school. He said his friends back home made him feel uneasy about his decision to travel here.
The 17-year-old wanted to improve his English so he could eventually study international business back home, so he signed up as a high school exchange student.
Upon arriving in America, Pereira traveled with a group of Brazilians, so he did not practice his English much and remained nervous about meeting his host family and classmates at Eastlake High School.
Despite having trouble understanding the language upon arrival, all of his misconceptions about Americans went away, he said.
“At first I felt a little afraid, but it was OK,” Pereira said. “When I arrived here, everything was different.”
With the school year in full tilt, Pereira and other high school exchange students on the plateau said they are adjusting to life and culture in the suburbs.
“Here (Eastlake) it’s really more comfortable,” Pereira said as he sat against hallway lockers during homeroom. They don’t have lockers at his school back home.
Var Vestergaard, a junior at Eastside Catholic, comes from the Faroe Islands, a Danish territory with a population of about 48,000 people, she said. She’s studied English for six years and speaks nearly as well as most American teenagers. Her idea of Americans was based on movies about high school, she said.
“I couldn’t believe it when I finally got here. It was just a great feeling,” she said. “You just want to go out and see everything.”
Just two months into their approximately 10-month stays, Pereira and Vestergaard said they have settled into life with their host families and have been able to develop friendships with fellow students. They both seem excited about the endless travel opportunities and activity and class offerings in Sammamish and at school.
“Just wanted to experience something new,” Vestergaard said. “Where I live you don’t really experience much.”
Pereira said he spends most of his free time catching up on homework. He said he does have time to play on a club soccer team, though.
“All the teachers have been patient with me and have helped me a lot,” he said.
Among the many reasons they said they chose to attend high school in the United States, Pereira and Var Vestergaard, a junior at Eastside Catholic, came to perfect their English and to experience something new.
“I just signed up,” Vestergaard said. “I didn’t really mind where I ended up.”
One thing that surprised Pereira when he got here was that cars actually stopped for pedestrians. In Brazil, they may run you over if you don’t cross the street fast enough, he said.
Vestergaard, who comes from a small fishing town, said she is impressed with the eclectic food offerings in America.
“That’s been kind of an experience,” she said.
The Sammamish high schools tend to take a fairly hands-off approach to their student exchange programs, according to Kristen Doyle, Skyline’s counselor in charge of exchange students. Students apply and plan logistics with private companies and the school plugs them in with groups like Link Crew.
“The biggest thing is the whole fitting in piece and (for example) finding that spot to eat with someone at lunch,” Doyle said.
Vestergaard got to know her peers while playing on the Crusaders’ girls soccer team. Doyle said Skyline students help foreign students out and counselors check in with them periodically.
“At the end of the program… they have really felt (they’re) part of Skyline,” Doyle said.
Anywhere from one to 10 Skyline students do a foreign student exchange each year and most do it their junior year, Doyle said.
“I think since the economy changed, we’re seeing a little bit less of it,” she said.
Both Pereira and Vestergaard agree that, in addition dispelling old misconceptions about American culture, their English has improved dramatically since arriving a couple of months ago.
“I just couldn’t really say many words,” Vestergaard said. “Now it’s just so much more easy.”
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.sammamishreview.com.
When Kesley Pereira hopped on the airplane in Sao Paolo, Brazil to come to the United States he was nervous. It was his first time flying, but he was also worried about how Americans would treat him and if he would fit in at school. He said his friends back home made him feel uneasy about his decision to travel here.
The 17-year-old wanted to improve his English so he could eventually study international business back home, so he signed up as a high school exchange student.
Upon arriving in America, Pereira traveled with a group of Brazilians, so he did not practice his English much and remained nervous about meeting his host family and classmates at Eastlake High School.
Despite having trouble understanding the language upon arrival, all of his misconceptions about Americans went away, he said.
“At first I felt a little afraid, but it was OK,” Pereira said. “When I arrived here, everything was different.”
With the school year in full tilt, Pereira and other high school exchange students on the plateau said they are adjusting to life and culture in the suburbs.
“Here (Eastlake) it’s really more comfortable,” Pereira said as he sat against hallway lockers during homeroom. They don’t have lockers at his school back home.
Var Vestergaard, a junior at Eastside Catholic, comes from the Faroe Islands, a Danish territory with a population of about 48,000 people, she said. She’s studied English for six years and speaks nearly as well as most American teenagers. Her idea of Americans was based on movies about high school, she said.
“I couldn’t believe it when I finally got here. It was just a great feeling,” she said. “You just want to go out and see everything.”
Just two months into their approximately 10-month stays, Pereira and Vestergaard said they have settled into life with their host families and have been able to develop friendships with fellow students. They both seem excited about the endless travel opportunities and activity and class offerings in Sammamish and at school.
“Just wanted to experience something new,” Vestergaard said. “Where I live you don’t really experience much.”
Pereira said he spends most of his free time catching up on homework. He said he does have time to play on a club soccer team, though.
“All the teachers have been patient with me and have helped me a lot,” he said.
Among the many reasons they said they chose to attend high school in the United States, Pereira and Var Vestergaard, a junior at Eastside Catholic, came to perfect their English and to experience something new.
“I just signed up,” Vestergaard said. “I didn’t really mind where I ended up.”
One thing that surprised Pereira when he got here was that cars actually stopped for pedestrians. In Brazil, they may run you over if you don’t cross the street fast enough, he said.
Vestergaard, who comes from a small fishing town, said she is impressed with the eclectic food offerings in America.
“That’s been kind of an experience,” she said.
The Sammamish high schools tend to take a fairly hands-off approach to their student exchange programs, according to Kristen Doyle, Skyline’s counselor in charge of exchange students. Students apply and plan logistics with private companies and the school plugs them in with groups like Link Crew.
“The biggest thing is the whole fitting in piece and (for example) finding that spot to eat with someone at lunch,” Doyle said.
Vestergaard got to know her peers while playing on the Crusaders’ girls soccer team. Doyle said Skyline students help foreign students out and counselors check in with them periodically.
“At the end of the program… they have really felt (they’re) part of Skyline,” Doyle said.
Anywhere from one to 10 Skyline students do a foreign student exchange each year and most do it their junior year, Doyle said.
“I think since the economy changed, we’re seeing a little bit less of it,” she said.
Both Pereira and Vestergaard agree that, in addition dispelling old misconceptions about American culture, their English has improved dramatically since arriving a couple of months ago.
“I just couldn’t really say many words,” Vestergaard said. “Now it’s just so much more easy.”
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com.
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I LOVE YOU VAR!!!