It is hard to think of Kirkwood as anything special. It does not come to mind for many when they think of exotic locations, but for 15 Spaniards, that is exactly how they will remember Kirkwood for years to come.
Spanish students stayed with families in Kirkwood June 27-July 24 through the Intercultural Student Experiences (ISE) program, and participated in group activities including attending a Cardinals game and visiting the Gateway Arch.
“It was never boring,” Maggie Dickherber, sophomore, said. “I decided to [host a student] at the last minute, and was totally worth it. Not only was there something to do all the time, I also made a really good friend.”
Dickherber said the exchange also promoted friendships between natives from both countries and helped establish deeper understanding of each other’s cultural similarities and differences.
“Having the exchange students here made America and Spain seem not all that different,” Dickherber said. “[The Spaniards] wore the same kinds of clothes and liked to do the same kinds of activities. The only real difference was they spoke another language.”
KHS students picked their exchange partner based on the interests listed in the profile each Spaniard filled out about him or herself.
“It was really fun, and I got to know my host student really well,” Ellen Hutti, sophomore, said. “We were like sisters by the end of the four weeks. We got along great and had liked a lot of the same things.”
Hutti said although factors like culture shock, jet lag and the language barrier did make getting to know the exchange students a bit difficult, strong friendships were formed through the program.
“The worst part of the exchange was that it only lasted four weeks,” Hutti said. “[The Spaniards] had to leave right when you started becoming really good friends with them.”
For some of the Spaniards and Americans, the end of the exchange was emotional.
“When it came time for my partner to leave, I was at camp and had just made her a friendship bracelet,” Rachel Bisch, senior, said. “She came over to the campgrounds to say goodbye, I gave the bracelet to her, and we both just burst into tears in the middle of the woods.”
However, the end of the ISE exchange did not mark an end to the relations built over the four-week period.
“My partner and I still talk to each other online,” Will Dunn, junior, said. “[We] obviously had a couple of differences, but there were also a lot of similarities, and [he] will always be a friend.”
Dickherber, Hutti, Bisch and Dunn all hope to go to Spain sometime in the future, but said the experience left a large impression on them.
“If I ever get to see [my partner] again, it will not be for a very long time,” Dunn said. “I may go to Spain in the future, but this experience will always be something I will remember for the rest of my life.”
