Exchange students at AHS

For the past 17 years, Aurora High School has been hosting exchange students from Costa Rica.

The Costa Rican students come every year and have the opportunity for involvement in the American culture.

Spanish teachers Melissa Foster and Gayle Lewis communicate with the teachers in Costa Rica and setup the exchange student programs here at Aurora to create this great experience.

According to Foster on the connection between Aurora and Costa Rican students, she states, “In 2002, Mrs. Brancazio (Spanish teacher at Harmon Middle School) was at a professional development workshop and found out that students were coming to visit from Costa Rica but their original host school in Ohio cancelled. She got permission from the principals and superintendent to host the visitors.”

Callie Conner was one of the many students to host an exchange student and was able to have a chance to get to know them all pretty well.

Conner states, “It was actually the second year I hosted my tica (costa rican) and so we were already familiar with each other so it was not weird/uncomfortable to live with her as most people think it might be. It was really a lot of fun because I have two younger siblings but they are not close to my age so it was kind of like having a twin or sibling close in age to hang out with- and like I said we were already close since I already hosted her and we kept in touch pretty good over the year we didn't see each other.”

Students are getting the chance to look into new cultures and see how other people live outside their own country. In order for students to host an exchange student they must fill out a form and submit it to the school, which will be reviewed by the teachers.

Foster states, “In order to host a guest, students and guardians fill out an application. Applications are reviewed by Spanish teachers.”

I asked Foster if any of the student frequently come back each year. She said that usually we have a group of new students each year; however, there have been a few students from Costa Rica that have visited more than once. Conner had the same student come to stay at her house two years in a row.

Conner states, “She had been here before and at my house and school before but it was a big adjustment in the way of living because she is an only child and she had to go from that only child lifestyle with a super relaxed schedule to my family with three kids with three different schedules who all always have stuff going on. She and the other ticos were very cold in this weather, a lot of them not having seen snow, but they adjusted adequately well.”

Like the hosts in Aurora the students in Costa Rica also have to be selected to participate in this experience.

Foster states, “Any student in 7th-12th grade from Kamuk can apply to go on the exchange by filling out an application and paying a deposit at their school.”

The Costa Rican students visit for about 3 weeks and they can come in groups from 12 to almost 20 each year. This year there are 12 students visiting this year. They do lost of activities and get to make the most out of their trip before they leave.

Foster states, “Some of the activities are: ice skating, snow tubing, Kalahari, Cavs Game, Monsters Game and AHS athletic events.”

Having exchange students in Aurora helps students experience other cultures and make the world seem like a smaller place.