“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Philadelphia International Airport. Local time is 10:00 a.m. and the temperature is 79 degrees Fahrenheit.” After a nearly eight hour long flight from Spain to the United States, ten Spanish exchange students arrive in the United States on Sept. 15 carrying their luggage and full of excitement for a new experience. Ten days later, seven German exchange students come to JC, ready to explore the United States.

During the months of September and October, JC welcomed the two groups of students from Madrid, Spain and Hildesheim, Germany to participate in our exchange programs. The exchange students were paired with students and became a part of their families for the duration of their stay here in the United States.

As a part of the exchange program, the foreign students visited many popular tourist spots within a few hours of JC. They explored the Amish farms in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and they visited Washington, D.C. They also went to Annapolis to see the Maryland State House. Some exchange students went on additional trips with their host families to places like Philadelphia, Ocean City, and New York.

In addition to allowing the students to explore the United States, the exchange program gives the students an opportunity to experience a different culture and learn about their lifestyles. Many of the Spanish exchange students explained that their lives back in Madrid are very different and that it was challenging to adapt to their host students’ lifestyles.

Spanish student Javi Lillo had many comments on the routine of the JC students. “Here I wake up at 6:45 a.m., and in Spain I wake up at 9:00 a.m.” The time at which meals are eaten and the amount of food served are different too. “We eat a lot to have lunch, here [you do not]. You [eat] dinner a lot and we don’t [eat] dinner too much. We [eat] dinner later, like 8:00 or 9:00 p.m. We go to bed at 12:00 a.m. and here I go to bed at 10:00 p.m. because I am very tired,” Lillo said.

The German students shared that the schools have many differences, including the size and the location of their classes. “Here the students go to the room. In Germany, the [grade levels] have their own room and the teachers come to their room. A little class here is a big class in Germany,” German student Leandar Wildschütte said.

The Madrileños, as the students are called in Spain, commented that the JC students and the students back home have extremely different personalities. “You are more quiet and you study a lot. We are more social,” Spanish student Rober Alonso said.

Lillo agreed with Alonso, commenting that JC students do not speak out during class like the students in Madrid. “You are very quiet in class, you don’t shout. We shout all the time,” Lillo said.

To contrast the personalities of the Madrileños, sophomore Helen Lortie talks about her German exchange student and how the Germans, as a group, are more behaved than the student from both JC and Spain. “[The Germans] were very nice and their English was impressive. They were more mature than [many] Americans,” Lortie said.

After asking about their overall experience in the United States, the Madrileños all said that they had a lot of fun and enjoyed getting know their host families.  Many said that they were extremely sad to go home. “I would do this again. I like being with my friends in another country and being with other families because you have more experiences. I am comfortable here,” Spanish student Dani Bravo said.

The JC host students also relayed positive opinions about the exchange. “[My exchange student] enjoys it here and has made friends. I have enjoyed hosting a student. It’s fun taking him on trips and showing him new things,” senior Maddie Fraiji said.

Senior Kacey Newman said that her positive experience put her out of her comfort zone. “At first it was weird having someone live in my house that doesn’t speak English, but her English is actually very good. I was a little nervous that I would have to talk [in] Spanish to her, but I would host a student again,” Newman said.

In June, the JC students will travel to Spain and Germany to live with their exchange student’s family for two weeks. They will be immersed in a new culture and hopefully have the same positive experience that their exchange students did. “I would do it again. It was such an eye-opening experience,” Purdie said.

Olivia Collins is a Community Editor and Matthew Foulk is a Sports Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.