Have you ever thought about getting to know different cultures without leaving your country? Our school is experiencing this as we welcome a group of exchange students, each bringing their unique cultures, languages, and perspectives.  Discover how their stories and experiences are transforming our school into a melting pot of ideas and friendships.

Junior Alexia Cantallops is 16 and from Spain. She’s on the girl’s field hockey team.

Junior Isabella Scholz  is 16 and from Denmark. She’s on the girl’s soccer team. 

Senior Klara is 16 and from Germany. She intends to play girl’s ice hockey in the Winter

Junior Jan Martin is 17 and from Spain. He is on the cross country team. 

Junior Vit Hejda is15 and from Czechia. He’s going to play boy’s ice hockey. 

For all the exchange students, the hardest part of being on an exchange is leaving home and being away from their friends and family, all while having to adjust to the new culture and habits. 

“You feel that you have to ‘stand on your own legs’ and have to learn how to manage your feelings without support from your parents,” says Isabella. 

How are you liking Vermont so far?

“I love it but it’s a big change. I live in a big city back in Spain but I feel that it is good to live in a different environment, especially because I like to hike so it’s easier here than in Barcelona. The only bad thing it’s that we don’t have public transportation in Vermont so I always need a ride to go everywhere, “ says Alexia. 

What is the most different thing here from your country? 

“The food and people’s diets are really different here but I feel that people here are more friendly than in Spain,” said Jan.

“Everything is so big here, in the supermarket it is like I’m tiny. The milk cartons are huge, even chips,” said Klara. 

“The school here is easier but is more fun. I love the assemblies because I feel that it’s a moment that all the school is together having fun,” said Alexia.

How did you decide that you wanted to do an exchange?

“I woke up one morning during my winter vacation last year and had a feeling I had to hurry up and find out what I had to do after 9th grade. Then the exchange came to my mind, and I asked my friend about it, who was sure that she was going on an exchange year,” said Isabella. 

“I decided 3 years ago when my brother was here because he had a really good experience, met really good friends and improved his English a lot and seeing that he had the best year of his life here was what made me make this big decision,” said Alexia. 

“I always wanted to explore the world to see and experience different things. My stepmom did an exchange to America when she was younger, so when I came up with the idea to also do an exchange, she advised me to do it,” said Klara.

“I wanted to improve my English and also be better at hockey, so the U.S. was my first choice for that,” said Vit.

“I just thought that would be a really great opportunity because I will never be this age again, so I have to enjoy it while I can and have new experiences,” said Jan.

Were you able to pick Vermont?

Only one of our exchange students, Alexia, picked Vermont. Her brother took part in an exchange program through Harwood a few years ago, so she’s staying with the family who hosted her brother. But, even though the rest of the exchange students did not choose Vermont, they seemed really happy to be here, with Klara having exclaimed that

“I wasn’t able to pick Vermont, but I couldn’t have gotten a better state,” said Klara.

Vit also said that “Vermont chose me.” 

Making an exchange it’s a really big decision and it’s not easy, you have to stay away from everyone you love and leave your comfort zone to go to another country alone at such a young age. But after some time, you understand that it’s a great opportunity for you and you also find incredible people that make you feel at home even when you are so far away from home. I’m sure that I will always remember and be thankful for the great time that I’m having here and the amazing friends and teachers that I have.