Students at Whitewater High School had the pleasure of getting to know six International Exchange students from five countries (Italy, France, Spain, Germany, and Slovakia) this year! The international students were introduced during the first day of school assembly and enjoyed a pizza party hosted by the National Honor Society in September. They took a variety of classes at WHS and enjoyed participating in clubs, organizations, and athletics. Highlights for the students included football games, Prom, Model UN in Chicago, and a Boat Tour of Lake Geneva in May. Here are some reflections from these special students this year:
Elisa Albertini from Italy
Some of the things I really enjoyed this year were improving my English, visiting the United States, trying different foods, and meeting special people. My plans for the future include going back to Italy and finishing high school. After that, I want to go to college somewhere in Europe, but I’m not sure where. I hope my new friends will have an exciting future and a beautiful life. I also hope that I’m going to see them again either here or in Europe.
Tristan Courbis-Gaggioli from Spain
Some of the things I really enjoyed this year were meeting new people and learning about the culture. One of the things I loved the most about attending school in Whitewater is taking all the different classes and meeting all the teachers that helped me during the year. I will never forget all of the friends that I made here and all the memories that I have. My plans for the future include going back to Barcelona to complete my last year of high school and then coming back to the United States to attend college. I hope my new friends will keep in touch. I hope I can see them again.
Tilia Di Sangro-Foucault from France
Some of the things I really enjoyed this year were becoming more social and independent. I had to live nine months far away from my family, my friends, my country, and everything that I ever knew. The beginning was complicated but it was so much worth it. I grew up faster than I ever have and opened my mind to a lot of new perspectives. One of the things I loved the most about attending school in Whitewater is the diversity of the classes, most of them do not exist in France like Criminal Justice or Psychology which were my favorite here. I also really enjoyed the fact that we can communicate and debate with teachers. They helped us find what we like and which way we want to go after high school. One thing I will never forget is the friendships I made here. I was lost at the beginning and they helped me through this year. They were always here when I needed them and the memories we made together are unforgettable. My plans for the future include graduating high school in France and then going to college to study movie production but I don’t know in which country yet. I hope my new friends will remember the good times we had together and keep in touch with me. They promised to come to visit us in Europe in some years and I will come back as well to see them. I also want to thank my host family for everything they have done for me this year and given me the opportunity of living this incredible experience.
Jaime Garcia Quintanilla from Spain
Some of the things I really enjoyed this year were making friends and the soccer season & track season which were really fun. One of the things I loved the most about attending school in Whitewater is all the different classes you can choose from and how fun they were. One thing I will never forget about this year was the Soccer Season at Whitewater High School. It was really fun and it was what helped me to make a lot of friends. My plans for the future are to complete one more year of high school in Spain and then I want to go to the General Military Academy where I will be for the next 5 years to get trained to be in the Spanish Air Force. This year I made some good friends. I’m going to try to come here to visit them every year and they will try to come to Spain.
Zuzana Pastorova from Slovakia
Some of the things I really enjoyed this year were playing football, meeting new friends, and hanging out with people. There were small moments that I loved and enjoyed but there were too many of them to share with you. One of the things I loved the most was my personal growth. It might sound a little selfish but every person I met and every moment I lived showed me a new direction I can grow as a person. One thing I will never forget was my birthday. I spent it with my friends in Chicago at the Model UN conference. We got lunch and explored Chicago by ourselves. My plans for the future include playing water polo, traveling, finishing high school, and hopefully attending college in the US with a Physical Therapy or Kinesiology major. My big dream is definitely to attend UCLA as it is one of the best colleges with water polo. I hope my new friends and people who I met this year will always remember me, keep in touch, and then one day see each other again. And this does not only apply to my friends but also to my host family. I am thankful for this year which I spent in the US and I really enjoyed it.
Paula Luisa Wilms from Germany
Some of the things I really enjoyed this year were finding new friends, learning a language like my second mother language, growing up a lot, and, overall, having a second home on the other side of the world. One of the things I loved the most about attending school in Whitewater is participating in different sports and spending a lot of time with my teammates. One thing I will never forget is our trip to Chicago with Model UN. We were allowed to explore the city on our own and we had a lot of fun. My plans for the future include traveling after I finish high school and then studying at a university and maybe going into the medical field. I hope my new friends will never forget the memories we made together and will visit me in Europe.