The Pack - Vol. 21, Issue 6

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.