the pack The Student Voice of Monarch High School
AMERICA America IN THE in the Eyes of OF EYES Foreigners FOREIGNERS
329 Campus Dr.│Louisville, Colorado│ 80027 Volume 21 Issue 6 December 2018
What foreign country should you visit? Find out on the back!
The Good The Bad & The Weird About America The Good “It was easy because everyone here is so nice. In Spain we are more rude, but here everyone is so nice.” -Gonzalo Lopez-Abadia Urresti ‘21 “Here you have better lives, more employees and just a few homeless. In Spain we have lots of homeless [people].” -Gonzalo Lopez-Abadia Urresti ‘21
AMERICA IN THE EYES OF FOREIGNE An inside look into what Spanish exchange students think about America By Samantha Sarmiento, Estella Barrett, Lia Farrell, Maya Dorfman and India Turner
The Bad “The food in America is much less healthy than the food in Spain.” -Lucia Llopis ‘20 “The drug problem is worse in America than it is in Spain.” -Lucia Llopis ‘20
The Weird “In Spain we have kindergarten, preschool, middle school and high school all together in one school. So I’ve had my friends since I was two or three. It’s good and it’s bad, because you have very good relationships, but you don’t have many.” -Gonzalo Lopez-Abadia Urresti ‘21 “In Spain we greet someone with a kiss on each cheek and here we don’t do that. I already knew that before I came here, but sometimes I forget and people are very confused.” -Alba de Alegria ‘20
Lucia Llopis ’20 Q: What is the clothing in Spain like? A: I was surprised about that! The clothes in Spain are very similar to those in America. Q: How is school in Spain different from school here? A: There’s only one classroom in which the subject changes instead of different classrooms with all different subjects. Q: What is it like being away from your family? A: It’s easy now, but on holidays like Christmas it will be hard because my whole family will be together in Spain and I’ll be over here with no real family, alone. Q: What do you think about your host family? A: They’re really nice. I’ve only been here for a month so it feels like I’ve just been staying at a friend’s house.
“On holidays like Christmas it will be hard because my whole family will be together in Spain and I’ll be over here with no real family.”
“The first few days, I didn’t understand the teachers, but now I’m used to [it]...It’s easy with everyone except Matt DiCarlo. Mr. DiCarlo speaks so fast!”
ERS
“Everything [here] is huge... In my city we live in apartments and most of them are very old.”
Gonzalo Lopez-Abadia Urresti ’21 “The first few days I didn’t Gonzalo Lopez-Abadia
understand the teachers, but
Alba de Alegria ’20 Alba de Alegria ’20 is a foreign exchange student
Urresti ‘21 is a foreign
now I’m used to understanding
from Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. This is her first time
exchange student from Spain
them. It’s so difficult, like I
coming to the United States. However, Alba says that
that came here to improve his
didn’t know what a radical
it is very different in comparison to where she used to
English. He is staying with his
was. Now, it’s easy with
live.
aunt and uncle at his mother’s
everyone except Matt DiCarlo.
request. “My mom’s English isn’t very
“Everything is huge. And very different, I like it. In
Mr. DiCarlo speaks so fast, but
my city we live in apartments and most of them are
I understand him most of the
very old,” Alba said.
good, and two years ago my
time, so that’s good. They ask
The differences in the architecture, greetings, and a
sister went to Ireland to learn
me if I understand after school
few other things do not seem to have phased Alba too
English, so she [Mom] did the
or after class and they help me
much. Nonetheless, Alba has found that the thing she
same with me, but in America
so much,” Gonzalo said.
misses the most is the food.
because we have family here
He says that it is easy for
“The food is very different. I used to eat vegetables
and my younger sister is
him to fit into the soccer team
and things like that at least two times a day but here
probably going to do the same
because everyone is very nice.
the meals are very different. Also the hours... here
Gonzalo said that he would
lunch is at 11 but in Spain I used to have lunch at 1
thing,” he said Gonzalo is used to visiting
possibly think about living
o’clock... Dinner was 10 PM [in Spain] and here they
Colorado over the summer so
here in the future and even
eat at 7,”Alba said.
his adjustment has been easy.
going to the University of
However, when he first got to
Colorado.
the school he was surprised at how fast the teachers would
“I would like to live my first few years in Spain and when
talk and had a hard time
I’m 25 or 26 move to America
understanding them.
or to another country,” he said.
Despite only being here for a short amount of time Alba is already thinking about attending college at the University of Colorado like Gonzalo. “I’m even thinking about going to [CU] here! I’ll have to think about it but yeah,” Alba said.
WHICH FOREIGNCOUNTRY SHOULDYOU VISIT?
What’s your favorite subject? a
Art
b
History
c
Language Arts
d
Biology
By Lia Farrell
What’s your favorite food?
What’s your style?
a
Churros
a
Trendy and bold
b
Hot dogs
b
Athletic
c
Crepes
c
Sophisticated
d
Ham and cheese roll
d
Fun and floral
What do you do for fun?
Which animal is your favorite?
a
Hang out with friends
a
Bull
b
Ride your bike downtown
b
Dog
c
Go shopping
c
Snail
d
Go swimming
d
Parrot
What’s your favorite kind of weather?
Where do you want to live?
a
Warm and sunny
a
By the ocean
b
Pleasantly cool
b
In the mountains
c
Cool and rainy
c
In the countryside
d
Hot and humid
d
In the rainforest
IF YOU GOT MOSTLY A’s: Spain is the place for you! You have a wide circle of friends, and you’re always setting trends. Cities like Barcelona and Madrid will suit your social personality and love of trying new things. IF YOU GOT MOSTLY B’s: Your dream vacation waits in Germany! You’re adventurous and curious, and Germany’s many natural, historical, and urban attractions will surely catch your attention. Make sure especially to check out some of Germany’s stunning castles. IF YOU GOT MOSTLY C’s: You should visit France! You’re a bit more sophisticated than your peers, but you still know how to let loose and have a little fun. France’s incredible cities and history will ensure your trip is perfect. IF YOU GOT MOSTLY D’s: Your perfect destination is Brazil! You’ve got an outgoing and enthusiastic personality, and Brazil is the perfect place for you to flaunt your fun style and sense of adventure. From the Amazon to the gorgeous beaches, you’ll be sure to make some major memories.