One group from Costa Rica, stayed with students and their families for five weeks in December and January. Another group visited from Germany for two weeks in April.

Six students spent the entire year. Pei-Yi (Paggie) Liao, Oscar Necking, Thiago Nogueira, Susanna (Su) Pacchetti, Alysson Pereira, and Philipp Sprengeler all gave up a year of school in their own country to study in America. Together, they represent five countries and four different exchange programs.

Fitting into a social crowd can be a challenging task for a teenager, and to some it is the most important. “At first it was hard, but now it’s better,” said Liao, from Taiwan. “I met a lot of friends here.”

Nogueira, from Brazil, had a similar experience. “[Students] were not so open,” he said about his first few months. They did warm up, though. His favorite experiences were attending parties to socialize and have fun. He also enjoyed John Fraser’s math class.

Pereira, also from Brazil, liked U.S. history, health, and English. “We have open discussions, and I like that,” he said. He also enjoyed snow boarding, an activity that is impossible in Brazil due to the lack of snow.

Students also pointed out how much the school systems vary from country to country. “We don’t choose our classes in Taiwan, and everybody studies harder. Some parts are better than here, but I do like the classes here. They’re more creative,” Liao said. She enjoyed being creative while making pots in Cindy Irby’s ceramics class.

Necking, from Sweden, was also involved in the arts program, participating in Irby’s IB Art History class as well as the spring musical “Little Shop of Horrors.”

The Lincoln lifestyle affected each person individually, and possibly permanently. “I learned and saw a lot of cultural things. My host family, my friends. It opened my eyes, and I became not so shy as before,” said Liao.

Pereira was also changed. “[My time here] made me more responsible,” he said.

Advice was offered to any students who plan to travel abroad from Nogueira. “Be outgoing and friendly,” he said. “Don’t talk about politics. Don’t criticize [the people you meet]. Do sports.”