Melissa Rizzo, Reporter
@mrizzo_courant
Routine is something that most take comfort in, whether that be going to classes with friends that you’ve known since the second grade, or sitting at a coffee shop in town and tasting that same sweetness of the blueberry muffin that you’ve ordered for years. But what about those who crave adventure; those who wish to upend their habitual lives in exchange for a new experience? Our high school is home to a select few international and foreign exchange students: individuals who have sought adventure and landed right here, in New Canaan.
According to the School Counseling Department Chair, Cynthia Rivera students from anywhere in the world can have the opportunity to come to school in New Canaan. “We have a whole foriegn-exchnage system where students from around the world may ask about coming here,” she said. “They must then work through an international agency who will find a guardian family for them and manage the visa process.”
However, getting accepted into our school isn’t as simple. “Once they’re approved by the agency, we look at them from a maturity standpoint. They have to be mature enough because it is a huge culture shock. Immersing themselves into a different country, culture, and language is very difficult, so we look for students who are upbeat and willing to work a little hard at it,” Ms. Rivera said. “Most kids have a great experience and really enjoy themselves here.”
Benefits to international and foreign exchange programs aren’t limited to the participating students themselves. “I think kids at our school definitely have a lot to gain from increased interactions with different cultures. International students provide such a unique perspective. This is a positive because they see the world differently and can offer that to the classroom experience, especially in classes like History and English,” adds Ms. Rivera.
Anne Koorwinder-Gott, Junior
Junior Anne Koorwinder-Gott is an international student from Costa Rica, experiencing her first year in an American high school. Having spent time previously in California and the Netherlands before her move to Costa Rica, Anne is quite accustomed to life on the move. “I love making new friends wherever I move and learning new languages,” she said.
However, being an international student isn’t all smooth sailing. “I definitely face certain challenges,” Anne said. “It is hard to keep up with different education programs. There are some things we cover in class that I haven’t really learned or focused on because they were not a priority in Costa Rica.”
The differences Anne refers to are most prevalent in STEM courses. “In Costa Rica we were taught Science in a holistic, general sense,” Anne said. “Our Science curriculum was not divided into Biology, Geo-Physical, and Chemistry classes, like it is here.”
Despite the challenge, Anne is enjoying the start to her American high school experience, embracing new luxuries like free periods and the ability to drive at sixteen, all while maintaining her cherished Costa Rican traditions. “It’s mostly in the holidays that I connect myself back with Costa Rican culture,” said Anne. “I will always call my friends to celebrate with them, to still be a part of the celebrations.”
Anne’s favorite holiday, ‘The Day of the Kids’, is one she feels particularly connected to. “The day is kid-oriented.” Anne said. “We get to eat our favorite dishes, which for me is white rice with black beans. It’s so good, especially with Pico de Gallo, a mixture of diced tomatoes and cilantro.”
Carlotta Fattor, Junior
Junior Carlotta Fattor, a foreign exchange student from Italy, is participating in her first year here and has noticed many differences between school in America and in Italy. “Here you change classes every period, but in Italy I stayed in one room and had the same classmates for all of my subjects,” Carlotta said. “I was with the same 20 people, everyday for five years, so I never really saw people from outside of my class. But here, you get to meet and work with so many people.”
Meeting different people and making new friends has never been a challenge for Carlotta. “I just try to go out there and talk to as many people as I can,” she said.
Amongst her network of friends, Carlotta works to keep her culture alive by turning to the kitchen. “I try to make others more aware of Italian culture, especially by cooking pasta,” Carlotta said.
Claudia Garcia, Junior
Junior Claudia Garcia, a foreign exchange student from Spain, was inspired to complete a year of high school in America by a close friend. “A year and a half ago, my friend did an exchange year and really enjoyed it, so I talked to my parents about doing one too,” Claudia said. “We just had to fill out forms, and a few months later, I received an email that gave me the name of the family I was going to live with in America.
Claudia has found much joy in her life as a foreign exchange student. “I love meeting new people, and the students here are really friendly,” Claudia said. “On the first day of school a lot of people talked to me.”
Despite this, Claudia has faced some challenges. “Sometimes I find the language barrier to be quite difficult,.” Claudia said. I have a good level of English, but when I came here I realized that I can’t always understand people.”
Claudia has found that she can overcome this language barrier with the help of her teachers. “When I say ‘I am from Spain and I am an exchange student,’ every teacher I have will take the extra time to help me,” she said. “They always ask me if I understand, and this definitely helps me feel more comfortable and less overwhelmed.”
While living in America Claudia makes sure to maintain her culture, as her Spanish heritage is an important part of her identity. “Though the language and culture in America is different, I often cook Spanish omelets, talk to my family, and listen to Spanish music to help me stay connected with my roots,” says Claudia. “I’m living the dream.”
Click here for some exclusive clips!
