Mill Valley welcomes exchange students from Spain and Mexico
Juniors Eva Garcia and Diego Medina compare their lives in their native countries to life in America
November 26, 2021
Many of us can only dream about spending the school year in an- other country, but for exchange students, Eva Garcia from Spain and Diego Medina from Mexico, this is their reality.
Medina and Garcia have had to adjust to an entirely new atmosphere. From differences in family, culture, and schooling, the world in which these students live has been completely flipped. Medina said that America is different in “an economic way,” and that, “it’s weird living with another family.”
Both students say that school in Kansas is much different than school in their home countries. According to Garcia, there is a wider offering of classes compared to Spain.
“Here you have more specific subjects,” Garcia said. “In Spain, you have math, you don’t have any other [classes] like calculus.”
Medina emphasizes that the atmosphere at Mill Valley contrasts from the environment of his original school. According to Medina the typical life in Johnson County is also different compared to his home country Mexico.
“I don’t see many people that don’t live good, not like in Mexico,” Medina said. There are multiple reasons for exchange students to want to come to another country. Medina has very practical reasons for wanting to come to the U.S., believing that he can benefit from his experience in Kansas. Medina says being in Kansas could help him in the future.
“It gives you a lot of work opportunities and it’s also good to learn another language,” Medina said. The process of becoming an exchange student is not always a simple one. Garcia said that there was a long process she had to follow to come here.
“You have to do some exams, and some tests, go ask for a visa, and then look for someone who wants to host you for this high school,” Garcia said.
In addition to this, it is also not an easy task to host an exchange student, and includes various steps. Garcia’s host parent and district patron, Susan Kamunyu, confirms this. Kamunyu is a volunteer for the organization ANB Education; this organization helps exchange students experience American culture through local host families.
“ANB Education was looking for a host family. I just told them I’m interested and it was connected to ANB, and that’s how I did my application,” Kamunyu said. “There was a background check, they have to come to your house and meet your family.”
Furthermore, Kamunyu feels that this process was completely worth it, and encourages others to do the same, “you learn a new culture,” and, “do something good for humanity,” Kamunyu said.
Though Garcia and Medina’s life has changed dramatically they still value their experience here in Kansas.
