There are five foreign exchange students spending the school year at Staley High School. Three of them are from Spain, and two are from Germany. 

Claudia Fuertes, 12

Spain

Q: Why did you choose to become an exchange student?

A: I chose to come here because I wanted to live a different year in another country and because I wanted to live a different experience in another country, and I love to travel.

Q: What’s your favorite part about the United States?

A: People are really nice here.

Q: What’s something different between your school and Staley?

A: Staley is huge. We didn’t take sports too seriously and the dances and spirit week.

Q: What do you miss about home?

A: Food definitely, I miss Spanish food so much.

Wim Kupers, 12

Germany

Q: Why did you choose to become an exchange student?

A: I applied for a scholarship after I read an article about a girl out of my region participated in this program.

Q: What’s your favorite part about the United States?

A: I like it over here. I guess I go with the spirit.

Q: What’s something different between your school and Staley?

A: We don’t need hall passes and can leave during our one-hour lunch time.

Q: What do you miss about home?

A: Bread.

Katharina Holterhoff, 12

Germany

Q: Why did you choose to become an exchange student?

A: I wanted to experience another lifestyle, meet new people and improve my English.

Q: What’s your favorite part about the United States?

A: Food and the people I met.

Q: What’s something different between your school and Staley? 

A: Staley is bigger than my school, and we don’t have school spirit, sports and activities in school.

Q: What do you miss about home?

A: My family and friends, bread, chocolate.

Diego Vidales, 12

Spain

Q: Why did you choose to become an exchange student?

A: I like changes and living new experiences.

Q: What’s your favorite part about the United States?

A: The people.

Q: What’s something different between your school and Staley? 

A: Staley has another education system, it’s very different than my school. It has activities like sports or dances for example.

Q: What do you miss about home?

A: My family, my friends, the food.

Ander Laurcricia, 12

Spain

Q: Why did you choose to become an exchange student?

A: To improve my knowledge of English and culture in other places.

Q: What’s your favorite part about the United States?

A: People are really nice to me and make me feel at home.

Q: What’s something different between your school and Staley?

A: Staley has school sports, activities and spirit which is not a thing in Spanish high schools.

Q: What do you miss about home?

A: Family, friends and food.