SLAYTON AREA FAMILIES HOST FIVE FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS

This school year, there are five foreign exchange students attending Murray County Central. Two students hail from Italy, two come from Spain and one is from Austria.

Shannon Rhodes, the Local International Exchange Coordinator for Education First High School Exchange Year (EF HSEY), assists host families in selecting a student and supports them during the exchange time. Rhodes has served in this role for three years and is grateful to the administration and staff at MCC for their embrace of the exchange program.

“So many students have been blessed to have attended MCC,” said Rhodes, of Slayton. “The students are always impressed with the teachers and their care and concern for students.” For a student to become an exchange student, there is a lengthy application process that includes an in-person gap year before going to college, live the American dream, improve their English by being immersed in an English-speaking environment or to include as professional development on a resume.

To become a host family or parent, one must pass a background check, be able to provide a nurturing home life, offer meals and have reasonable transportation. A host parent must also be a minimum of 25 years of age. Exchange students also cannot have the same native language as the host. “Hosts are expected to treat their student as a family member with the same expectations they would have for their own children, whether they have children currently in their home or not,” said Rhodes, who is currently hosting two exchange students. “Host families are unique as they come in all different ways. It can be families with teens, families with young children, families that have not yet had their own children, families that are empty nester’s, unmarried couples, same-gender couples or single people.” Rhodes believes that by hosting, individuals can build a relationship with someone from across the world and it builds families globally. “Learning from them and sharing your life together has been an amazing experience for our family. Just like in life, it’s the simple things that matter,” said Rhodes, who wanted to wait until her children were older teens before hosting. “I regret not hosting when my children were in elementary school as I see the bond that young students make with exchange students and it’s precious. If you’re considering hosting, don’t wait.”

This year’s exchange students include Giancarlo Vetrano of Samarate (VA - located in the province of Varese), Italy, Beatrice Sargentini of Perugia, Italy, Gonzalo Peña Fernández of Burgos, Spain, Janna Sorribes Macias of Barcelona, Spain, and Zita Wallisch of Vienna, Austria.

Giancarlo Ventrano - Italy Giancarlo Ventrano has always been attracted to living in a foreign country and as soon as he found out about the exchange program, he was determined to participate. “Becoming an exchange student shapes your life forever,” said Ventrano, who has also visited Great Britain. “As a foreign exchange student, you must be ready to accept every problem, differences and adversities that you face. It’s a decision that you have to make.”

Ventrano arrived in America on July 31 and will return to Italy this summer. Ventrano is the son of Gaetano Ventrano and Luana Baragliu. He has a sister, Stefania. His host parent is Christine Gergen, of Slayton.

As a senior at MCC, Ventrano views the biggest difference between his hometown in Italy and Slayton as the everyday differences. “Everything here is spread out in miles and miles. Back in Italy, everything is closer and accessible by walking,” said Ventrano. “In Italy, I’m used to hanging out with friends and going to clubs during the weekend.”

While he already tried skiing in Italy, Ventrano said it has been a favorite part of being in America. He also enjoyed visiting Mt. Rushmore. As a senior at MCC, he hopes to participate in knowledge bowl. “For now, I’ve already had experiences that I would have never expected to do in my whole life,” said Ventrano. “Whatever comes, I take it and appreciate it.”

The seventeen-year-old has found value in his exchange opportunity and believes he has improved his English during his time in America.

Beatrice Sargentini - Italy Beatrice Sargentini traveled to many countries prior to being an exchange student. Along with many European countries, Canada and the United Arab Emirates, she also visited America with her family prior to this experience. “I see America with different eyes. I’m learning new things about the culture and the American lifestyle,” said Sargentini. “The exchange year is the experience that will change your life. A year abroad is not just a geographical journey, it’s a chance to learn about yourself, the world, and discover opportunities you might not have had otherwise.”

Sargentini believes that the exchange year is an experience full of sacrifices, good and bad moments. In the end, she also views it as an experience that will teach her not to give up. “Getting out of your comfort zone is not easy. Courage and strength are needed, but it will lead me to personal growth,” said the seventeen-year-old. “It’s the experience of your life.”

While Sargentini had been to America before, she had never experienced Minnesota before. “I love the nature of this place. I visited gorgeous places, especially lakes and falls in the North,” said Sargentini. “Something that has struck me is the climate. In my city in Italy, I don’t have snow so for me, the climate is a very big difference.” Another difference for Sargentini is the school. “Italian school is very difficult. We have five years of high school,” said Sargentini. “We don’t have lunch at school, but we eat at 2 p.m. when we get home after school. When we go home after school, we study all afternoon, sometimes also in the night.”

As a senior at MCC, Sargentini said that the gym is her favorite part of the school. “I love going to the games and cheering for the school with all the people,” said Sargentini who was a cheerleader for football. This winter, Sargentini is trying out basketball, which is a sport that is not common for girls to play in Italy. In the spring, she hopes to try track and field which is a sport she does in Italy.

While in Minnesota, she hopes to see a football, basketball or baseball game in a large stadium, and she would like to visit more of the state. So far, her favorite part of the exchange experience has been spending Thanksgiving, a holiday that is not celebrated in Italy, with her host family.

Sargentini arrived in America on August 21 and will end in June. Her host family is the Nate and Suzi Gengler family, of Slayton. Her family in Italy includes her parents and a younger sister.

Gonzalo Peña Fernández Spain Gonzalo Peña Fernández decided to come to Minnesota as an exchange student because he desired to have a new experience in a new country with a different culture and learn more English. His favorite part has been experiencing something new and being on his own, surrounded by unfamiliar people. “It’s a wonderful experience to mature as a person and live a different lifestyle,” said Peña Fernández, who has traveled to Portugal, France, Italy, England and the United States.

While he knew it would be different from his upbringing, when Peña Fernández arrived in America, he realized it was even more different than he had imagined. “Almost everything is different – the type of food, schedules, school, activities, life with friends or family. Everything is super different,” said the seventeen-year-old. “It’s also hard being far away from your friends and family.” Being away from his family has taught Peña Fernández how important his family is to him.

“I miss my mom’s cooking and spending time with my family,” said Peña Fernández. “They are very important to me, and I miss them a lot.” Peña Fernández’s family in Spain consists of his parents, Leticia and Nacho Peña Fernández and a brother, Manuel. His host parents in Slayton are Lisa and Marty Wieskus. He arrived in America on August 11 and will return home in June.

As a senior at MCC, Peña Fernández has been involved in football and basketball. If possible, he would like to be a part of soccer. While in America, he would also like to watch his favorite professional basketball player, Luka Doncic, play a game.

Janna Sorribes Macias Spain Being an exchange student has always been a dream for Janna Sorribes Macias. “It has been my dream since I was little,” said Sorribes Macias, who has also traveled to Italy, France, Andorra, Croatia, Malta, England, Mexico, Greece and Germany. “This is amazing. You have a bunch of new experiences with great people. My favorite part has been the people. I love how they are willing to help you every time. They are so sweet.”

She arrived in America on August 21 and will depart in June. Her parents are Eduardo Soribes and Lorena Macias and her host parents of Tim and Shannon Rhodes, of Slayton.

While she thought the experience would resemble High School Musical, she acknowledged that she has found similarities and differences to her expectations. “I just love it here and I made friendships that I don’t want to lose,” said the seventeen-year-old. “I have learned that some things in American vocabulary are not well taught in Spain and that cultures can be pretty different even though they are also similar in my case.” Like many other exchange students, she cited that public transportation is quite different than her home country. “We have public transport in every city or town, which makes us walk around the town or go to other places, but here it’s just in big cities so we take the car for everything,” said Sorribes Macias. “I miss meeting my friends at different points.”

As a senior at MCC, she was a cheerleader for football, but she would like to try softball in the spring. She also looks forward to traveling and going to prom and winter formal.

Zita Wallisch - Austria

Zita Wallisch is the newest exchange student at MCC. She arrived on December 14 and will depart in June. Her host parents are Tim and Shannon Rhodes, of Slayton.

While she has only been in Minnesota for a short period of time, the MCC junior has been getting to know her host family and started cheerleading for the girls’ basketball team. She hopes to try track and field in the spring and attend a professional basketball game.

Over the years, the sixteenyear-old has traveled throughout much of Europe with her parents and grandparents. “I really love traveling and I am so happy I get to do that,” said Wallisch, who has visited Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Croatia, Bosnia, England, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Montenegro, and Switzerland.

Wallisch wanted to do an exchange year after her cousin spent a year in New Zealand. “I thought it was so cool when I was little, so I decided I also wanted to do that when I was her age,” said Wallisch. “It helps you to open and approach people. No matter how big the differences are, you get used to it. There are also things I really love here that I already know I will miss.”

Wallisch has found the population and public transportation to be very different here compared to her hometown. “It has only been two-and-half weeks, so everything is still very new. There are many things that are very different than in my hometown,” she said. “I am very happy to experience all these different things in the next months.” Even with the differences, Wallisch feels it’s worth it because you get to experience a new culture.

“Don’t be scared. It really is worth it because you get to experience a whole new everyday life,” said Wallisch. “You also get to meet so many nice people.”