Studying abroad is beneficial because it allows students the opportunity to grow intellectually and discover how other countries and cultures compare to their own.
This year Kettle Run is hosting five exchange students. Two of the students are from Brazil, one is from Germany, one is from Georgia, and one is from Japan. Normally, when studying abroad, the student stays for a year, but a student may also decide to stay for a longer or for shorter amount of time.
Georgian student Dachi Okropiridze believes traveling abroad is a great experience. “I get to know people from different countries with different traditions,” Okropiridze said.
Brazilian student Marcos Germano wanted to study in the United States because “I wanted to experience a different culture, and see how things are different from Brazil.”
The United States has many similarities and differences from the countries that these students came from.
German student Hannah Schmidt believes that going to school in another country opens many doors. “If you are in another country, you automatically learn things you can´t learn at home about youself and your country, and you see different views,” Schmidt explained.
Kettle Run senior Maddie Turner studied in Germany for seven months.
“At first. I was only going to stay for the summer, just to see what Europe was like,” Turner explained. “But then I decided to stay another seven months because I wanted to learn the language.”
Living in another country provides a great opportunity to learn another language because you are surrounded by people who speak it every day.
Many students have the same answer when it comes to why they choose to study abroad; they want to learn a new culture and meet new people.
Okropiridze said, “First of all, America is much stronger, like with economics and politics. It is safer here, and there are more things to do.”
Germano agreed. “In Brazil, people my age are more free to the world, making them more mature,” Germano explained. “But living for one year in one of the strongest countries in the world, with people all over the world, is an interesting experience.”
Turner added, “My favorite part of studying abroad was being able to immerse myself in another culture and meet new kinds of people.”
Traveling to a new country can be very exciting, but also scary. Studying abroad means you have to leave your own family and friends from your country. It can be hard, especially if it is your first time in the country.
This is Okropiridze’s first time in America, while it is Germano’s fourth.
According to Turner, Germany isn’t a whole lot different from the United States.
“They have adopted a lot of the United States culture, and the teenagers act exactly the same. The clothing styles were a bit more ‘European’ and, of course, they have an entirely different history than us, so they have a different mindset,” she explained. “Also, there are a lot more foreigners there, and most kids speak three or more languages fluently, so it seemed much more accepting than here, in Fauquier.”
Hosting a foreign exchange student is also an incredible experience for families.
Math Teacher Erich Yost sees it as a fun experience.
“I love it because it exposes us to different people from all over the world. Dachi has been a pleasure to have,” Yost explained. “It has made our family more interesting because we get to deal with his culture which makes our house more fun.”
Only 1% of students study abroad each year; more students should be encouraged to take place in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.