By: Jillian Dlouhy –

Back Row (L to R): Ana Gerginov, Demey Zonnebelt, Paula Llabres Catala, Emma Hallqvist

Front Row (L to R): Michela Sanois, Dario Scarano, Chiara Nienebuck, Alvaro Manrique Robledo

Sweden, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, and Serbia. This semester, there are eight foreign exchange students at Southeast from these varying parts of the globe. They’ve been open to and enjoyed a variety of new experiences, such as prom and football games, tried many new things, and have learned much about a different culture throughout the year.

“The first period [is] really hard,” said Italian Michela Sanois.“You really have to just focus your mind to do your best here, and just don’t think about Italy and your family and friends [there].” It took awhile for Michela to convince her parents to let her take this trip. She had decided to try the program a few years ago, but her parents weren’t as optimistic about the idea at first. “It has been a long process…I kept asking them and trying to tell them good things about this experience…and I convinced them.”

Alvaro Manrique Robledo, one of the two exchange students from Spain, is glad that he has gotten the opportunity to go on this trip as well, and after the shock of the first few months wore off, he has enjoyed many things with his new set of friends. “You get to learn about [another] culture, and it seems like it’s not that different but it is. But that’s a good thing because you get to see how people get to do things in a different way, and [that] your way is not the only one. Which is really cool,” said Alvaro.

Compared to the schools that many of the exchange students attended back home, Southeast is a pretty large school. For them, the first few months here were difficult because they were getting used to a new social and cultural environment, with new customs and new people.

“It’s a big school, and I don’t feel like people are really interested in exchange students. For example I have other friends in a different state who go to a smaller school, and everyone knows them, and everyone wants to be their friends. It’s just a big school but I [still] love it,” said Paula Llabres Catala who is from a different part of Spain.  She has many close friends that she made this year, but recalled having a tough time at first. But Paula is eager to have some of her friends visit her in Spain, and is already making plans to travel back here at a later date.

Another thing that many of the exchange students mentioned was that school in the United States is easier than it was back in other countries. “[School] is definitely easier [here]. But I also feel like I am learning much more here than in Spain, where it’s tougher, but I don’t really get to learn the things, I get to put them in an exam and go on,” said Alvaro. There are definitely pros and cons to both systems of learning, but they both take a little getting used to.

Coming to a new country the exchange students knew there would be some tough times but for them, there have also been many amazing memories created here. Many of the exchange students enjoyed the Southeast football season including Emma Hallqvist, who is from Sweden. She loved watching the team compete earlier in the school year. “Football season. That was the best, to just stand in the front row and cheering Southeast…that was incredible,” said Emma. Among other reasons, that was also how she met her boyfriend, who plays on the Southeast football team.

As the year is coming to an end, many of the exchange students are sad to leave but also excited to go back home. “I really like it [here] because everything is different and new things are always exciting. I just love it. I don’t want to go back,” said Paula, “Time [has went] so fast.”

“Live your experience and be open, approach everything, try everything, and be happy with what you have. Be thankful,” said Michela who recalls the past year.

Alvaro also encourages students to take a similar trip. “Do it because it’s an experience that if you [don’t do] you will regret it later. You definitely learn things that will change your life and your perspective.”

It has been a year filled with many great experiences, many new friendships, and much learning for these eight students. Coming here, they brought along part of their culture as well, as they worked hard to experience ours. It will be hard to imagine next year without them, but we wish them the best and hope that they’ll remember Southeast and the footprint they’ve made on it, and the people here.

Meet the Foreign Exchange students: