During the 2012-2013 school year, Jacksonville High School is home to two new foreign exchange students.
Jacinta Montalua, a 16 year old from Santiago, Chile, is a senior this year. She is staying with the Hackett family, and while she enjoys America, she misses her friends and family back home. While there are many things to love about America, Jacinta merely couldn’t pick just one. When asked her favorite food she’s tried here, she settled on corn dogs, a staple food of the Illinois State Fair. Jacinta said she wanted to take this opportunity to come to America, so she could improve her English and make new friends. While she is here, she hopes to do just that as well as try lots of different foods. Jacksonville High School and her school in Chile are very different. For example, boys and girls are separated, and they get recess during the day. She also said the weirdest thing she’s seen here has been our school lunches.
Mariana Campos, a 17 year old from Santa Cruz, Bolivia, is also a senior this year. She is staying with the Wahl family, and she too wanted to venture to America to improve her English. When asked the differences between Jacksonville High School and her school in Bolivia, she says the students don’t change classes during the day. Their school day is also a lot longer. The most interesting thing she has seen here in America is how people dress. Since she has been here, the best thing she has had to eat has been pancakes, a classic American breakfast food. Mariana says she doesn’t miss much back home yet, and she thinks that America is awesome because everything here is new to her.
If you see Jacinta or Mariana in the hallway at school, stop and introduce yourself. We want to make them feel comfortable and welcome at JHS.