As the school year comes to an end, the exchange students who were present, along with everyone else, may seem to have become part of the school, as if they had always been there. But just a few days after school ends on June 4, the exchange students will return to their own countries, leaving behind their friends made during their exchange year. However, their departures don’t have to be all sad; the memories that were made between the host and the exchange students will be cherished forever.
During their time in the U.S., the exchange students were able to experience new cultural opportunities. One of the greatest differences between the U.S. and other countries is the dedication and competition that is put into sports, such as football, during the fall sports season. Exchange student Maria Seda Costa, who is from Spain, has had some of her most memorable experiences during her exchange year.
“The sports are so different here, and they are so important to everyone,” Maria said. “Everyone takes sports so seriously; sports are [really] important to the people here, and football season seemed so competitive.”
In other countries, such as Spain, there aren’t as many sports offered at different schools, meaning more new opportunities for the students who had their exchange year at FHC. Not only did the exchange students experience new things during their exchange year, but the host families also made new memories. John Fisher, who is the FHC yearbook editor, English 9, and English 11 teacher, hosted an exchange student from Germany, Masha Fiss. This was Fisher’s second exchange student after previously hosting multiple exchange students during his high school days, and it was his sophomore daughter, Julia Fisher’s, first experience with an exchange student.
“When I was younger, my family had several exchange students,” Fisher said. “We had around seven different exchange students growing up, and when I was younger, we had an exchange student who was a similar age to me; we really bonded.”
For most of the hosts of exchange students, it may have been awkward at first with a stranger living in your house for the first few weeks, but now that they are leaving in a matter of weeks, many of the hosts consider their exchange students their best friend. Julia, who lived with Mascha, had an awkward experience in her first few weeks of hosting, but as time went on, they both quickly became close.
“The only interaction I had [with Mascha] before she came to America was one FaceTime call when we knew she was going to be an exchange student,” Julia said. “At first, it was a little awkward because she would just stay in her room during the first few months, but later on, we got to know each other a lot more after she came to my soccer games and after homecoming.”
While many of the hosts had met their exchange students briefly before they came to America, in the end, the students from abroad learned to warm up to their host families and saw their new environment as comforting.
“We all got a lot more comfortable with each other,” Maria said. “My host mom started to feel like an actual mom towards the end of my exchange year.”
For many of the hosts, having another face around the house has become a daily part of life, but all good times have to come to an end, and soon, the exchange students will have to leave the U.S. and return to their home countries. Still, that doesn’t mean that the memories that were made during the year will be forgotten.
“Having an exchange student is a unique experience,” Fisher said. “During the year, I kind of considered myself a host-dad, while she was around. [Our family] took her to the cottage, Michigan games, and we went to a Notre Dame game as well.”
After the students leave, many would agree that it will feel like something is missing inside the home. After having another person in the house for so long, it can sometimes feel like a sibling or child has gone off to college. But the memories left by these temporary students will forever be remembered by the students at FHC, and the students and parents who lived with them as well.
“When [Mascha] leaves, we’re going to have an open bedroom in the house; it’s going to feel like I lost a sister,” Julia said. “I’m going to cry every day, and it’s going to feel super weird. So yes, it’s going to be a lot different around the house.”
