In Spain, mealtime is much later in the day, as exchange student and sophomore at Central High School Claudia Salas-Martin has noticed.
A jarring difference for sure, but it’s only one of the few culture shocks she’s had.
“The time to eat lunch and dinner [is different],” Claudia said. “In Spain, I used to eat lunch at 2:30 and dinner at 9:00. No, [we don’t start the day later]. [On] the weekend, and when [we don’t have school] yes I think [everyone wakes up later].”
It makes sense she’s been generally unsurprised by the differences in culture, as her brother went to Arkansas as an exchange student 2 years ago. It was his trip and the stories that he brought back with him that lit the spark and continued to fuel her desire and eventual decision to spend a school year in the States.
“At first, my brother came here, not to Michigan, but he also was an exchange student. Since then, I knew I wanted to be one.” Claudia said. “[His experience] was really cool. He was a football player and then a soccer player, [and] he had so much fun.”
Her parents especially have been very supportive and passionate about their kids having this be a formative year in their lives. Going to a new school in a new country is definitely not something many people, let alone teenagers, get the chance to experience. It opens one’s eyes to how the rest of the world acts and goes through their day, as well as serving to be a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for a young adolescent to be thrown into.
“I was excited, but I was [also] nervous and scared,” Claudia said. “I didn’t believe that I was going to come [to Michigan]. It was unbelievable. The first month was hard. I was really sad because [of the] distance from [Spain], especially my family; I live with them, but now they’re in another country, another continent, but now it’s not [as] hard. Now I’m happy.”
If someone is a part of a certain culture and lives with the same few people for their entire life, all of a sudden has none of the familiarity they’re used to, it is naturally a remarkable transition. Thankfully, Claudia has had support from her friends and family back home to help her get along, even if it was also a transition for them to get used to as well.
“My parents wanted me to come; they like the experience,” Claudia said. “My friends didn’t like the idea that I wasn’t going to be there for one year. But we talk a lot so it’s okay. I text my mother a lot, [and] we do [a] video call once a week.”
Even though she’s been largely having a pleasant time at FHC, there are still struggles. Regardless of how “tough” a person could be, everyone needs help and support. This is essential, especially when one is completely removed from their family and has zero prior exposure. Claudia has been learning that leaning on one’s loved ones for guidance could not be more important in her situation. Thankfully, she was able to find a good family that shared her interests.
“I didn’t choose [the host family],” Claudia confirmed. “It was the family who chose me. I think it was because I did rowing in Spain, so they [thought] ‘Oh, we also like rowing.’”
The process involves families interested in having an exchange student choose from students’ profiles. Claudia’s profile included the sports she liked, her interests, her favorite season, and other facts that a potential family would want to know. Then, the family will send in a request for the person they want, and if it is accepted, they will exchange contact information and begin getting to know each other before the student officially moves.
Even through the first difficult months, Claudia has found a true connection with her new friends and with her host family.
“Here, people are really friendly. They really are kind with people and integrate you with them and [into] their group,” Claudia commented. “I hope [I’ll come back]. [I’ve been] thinking [about] going back to Spain, and I think I will be so sad to go. But, yeah, I [do] want to come back.”
