At ELHS, a select group of students doesn’t come back.
While small, this group of teens have made a lifetime of memories at the school in a short period of time.
This group is the foreign exchange students of ELHS.
For these students, their time abroad will soon end and they will return to their home countries.
While many of the exchange students are enjoying their exchange year, they also miss their homes that are thousands of miles away. The only times possible to physically visit their families was winter break, spring break or if their family decides to visit. For Ludovica Pendone (10), being away from Italy was a change that didn’t come easy.
“It was hard, especially at the beginning, but you get used to it,” Pendone said. “I would say it’s not being away from the family, but more so being away from your culture and the place where you live.”
On the other hand, Nagham Hafaitha (10) will miss the U.S. because of a variety of reasons, such as the connections they have made throughout the school year and things they have learned. One aspect of U.S. culture that she will miss is how she learned about self-reliance and other values that she’s come to appreciate during her year here.
“It’s completely different from the lifestyle that I have in Palestine,” Hafaitha said.“Both sides have good and bad. When I go back to my home country, I will absolutely miss the people and environment that taught me this.”
Because the school systems outside of the U.S. have many differences compared to where these students came from, many exchange students found there was a more relaxed school environment, allowing for them to experience more outside of the classroom.
As a result of the contrasts between schools in different countries and the U.S., Lily Flament (10) thinks the transition back will be difficult. Flament’s school in France didn’t allow things she did this school year, such as theater, because school takes up almost all of the day.
“I’m sad I’m gonna go back to France, the days are longer,” Flament said. “We don’t have time to do anything else.”
Just like Flament, Pedone has longer school weeks, even going into Saturdays. Plus, when they return, they have to study for a major three-part test the last year in the Italian high school curriculum.
“I will have a hard test at the end[of the year] with two writings, one in Italian that is a written essay, which is about five hours. Then I have six hours of math and physics,” Pedone said. “There is also a thesis and speaking test about it in front of all my teachers.”
After their time at ELHS, many exchange students are sad to leave their host families. Outside of just giving them a place to stay, the host family helps by supporting the student in adapting to a new culture and way of life. In Flament’s case the McEvoy family has been a support system throughout the year along with Clara McEvoy (11) and Sadie McEvoy (9), who did the school’s production of “Once Upon a Mattress’ alongside her.
“They definitely had a positive effect on my life. [It’s] like having another working family,” said Flament. “It’s really interesting, because our families work in different ways. I learned a lot about more emotional stuff here, more than in France.”
Over their time with their host family, exchange students often form close bonds with them.
This can lead to plans of visits between them. The Pedone’s host family, the Mayhews, are planning on visiting her in Italy over summer break.
“During spring break, [her host family] met my parents when they came here,” Pedone said. “So we organized together for them to come to Italy in the summer, as well as my host grandparents.”
After wrapping up the school year, several students are hoping to return back to the U.S. someday, whether for college or for travel. For Flament, while prices are a barrier, she still hopes schools like MSU are a possibility.
“I know I feel good here, so I’m thinking about coming back,” Flament said. “I don’t know if I can make a way where I can afford to come back, but I’m not saying I’m never coming back.
