BY NATE NGUYEN
[email protected]

Foreign exchange student presence on campus inspired Roseville High School students to pursue programs outside of RHS’ boundaries in order to explore other cultures.

RHS junior Shoana Hunt, motivated to voyage outside of her comfort zone, will travel to France this fall as a part of the Youth For Understanding program.

Shoana’s interest in other cultures increased after seeing RHS exchange students’ success in adapting to Roseville.

“Seeing the [exchange students] come here and make friends so easily, and not be the center of attention, and doing well in [their] classes, and the teachers and students all like them makes me feel like I won’t be alone when I go,” Shoana said. “It gives me a confidence boost for when I go [to France].”

Shoana is disappointed to have to resort to a program outside of the school rather than have an accessible program through RHS or Roseville Joint Union High School District to experience such an enriching cultural and education experience.

“It’s unfortunate that the school doesn’t have that kind of program,” Shona said. “But it’s not something as popular as it used to be.”

According to principal David Byrd, although he knows little about the specifics of foreign exchange, he feels the experience is extremely valuable to students, staff and the whole atmosphere of the school.

“Getting to know somebody from another country, their culture, their history, their way of life and their perspective of what it’s like to be in America is valuable for any student,” Byrd said. “I think it adds another dimension to this school and helps us as a school build bridges to other people, other countries and other cultures. I don’t think you could ever get enough of it.”

Shoana’s French teacher, Susan Hoffman encouraged Shoana to look into a foreign exchange program.

“I always thought [foreign exchange] was cool [but] I never thought that it was something that I’d be able to do,” Shoana said. “It was Madame Hoffman who mentioned [to me] that there were programs out there that allow people in this area to go.”

Roseville High School junior and fellow travel enthusiast Kamri Hunt believes travel is a valuable escapade and would jump on the opportunity to partake in a foreign exchange program.

“I would love to do foreign exchange and learn about different cultures because I think traveling is really beneficial,” Kamri said. “And when it comes to traveling, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t.”

According to Kamri, the only way to truly experience the world is to push past your comfort zone and immerse yourself in a new environment and exotic culture.

“There’s so many opportunities out there [and] I think sometimes it’s difficult to leave this box we live in and push yourself past that,” Kamri said. “It’s just being able to learn about another person’s culture, in their culture.”

Kamri has had experience traveling to foreign countries from a young age and developed an outlook on life, travel and culture. She believes that the only way to truly learn about somewhere is to genuinely engage with a culture and its people.

According to Kamri, reading about a place in a textbook, fails in comparison to functioning and living in a culture and its society.

“It’s full immersion in a totally new environment and it’s a lot more authentic,” Kamri said. “You can imagine what [somewhere] is like but you’ll never know how it really is until you actually go and actually experience it for yourself.”

According to Kamri, the lack of knowledge and support RHS provides for potential outgoing foreign exchange programs isn’t fair for potential candidates like herself and Shoana.

“I think [foreign exchange] should be more publicized,” Kamri said. “I wish we knew more about it because I’d really love to do it.”

One of RHS’ foreign exchange students Linda Kruspo likes that she’s an inspiration to others on campus.

“It’s definitely worth it because you learn so much and you get new experiences. I think anyone who has a chance to do exchange should definitely go,” Kruspo said.

Kruspo’s journey and experience at RHS kindled an interest in the possibilities of foreign exchange for her friend, junior Jessica Morgan.

“She’s always meeting new people, and I like meeting new people too,” Morgan said. “She makes it seem like so fun and interesting. Foreign exchange is something I’d want to do.”

Senior exchange student Erik Arellano came from Ecuador to experience a different country’s schooling system.

“I’d like to go to college here and to finish high school, that’s the goal,” Arellano said.