There are a total of five exchange students here this year. Each one of them brings a unique perspective and culture to Portland from their home country. They’re all excited to be in America and get the full American high school experience!

Benni Gummesen is an exchange student from Norway staying for the year.

Q: Why did you want to be an exchange student?

A: To experience the American culture, and to live the American high school teenage dream.

Q: What food do you want to try while in America?

A: I want to try corn dogs and Dairy Queen blizzards and, I don’t know, maybe some fast food places that we don’t have in Norway.

Q: What class are you enjoying the most and why?

A: Maybe RJ, restorative justice, because it’s like you get to talk a lot and it’s nothing like any classes in Norway.

Q: In what way?

A: The classes in Norway are really educational, and the teachers are more focused on your education than the community of the class. 

Q: What is the biggest difference that you see between the United States and Norway?

A: People are more talkative and there is more, like, a sense of community here in America. In Norway, it’s more individual and people live their separate lives.

Q: What has been a struggle you’ve experienced in America so far?

A: I miss my home, but I don’t know if that’s a struggle. And I miss a lot of Norwegian foods and my friends. And it’s also kind of hard to get into a friend group when everyone has their own cliques.

Q: What is your hope for the year?

A: To make a lot of memories, and to try new things, and get out of my comfort zone, and have no regrets I guess.

Matilde Canegrati is an exchange student from Italy staying for the semester.

Q: Why did you want to be an exchange student?

A: I wanted to be an exchange student because I think it’s an experience of a life, like I will be only once 17, I will be only once a student in Americas. When I was little I always watched American films and so living the American life, going to another school, it has always been a dream.

Q: What food do you want to try while in America?

A: In Italy, you’re famous for the hamburger. When you think of America, you think hamburger. So I think when I go to here I want to try the American hamburger.

Q: What class are you enjoying the most and why?

A: I’m enjoying the business management, and also math is one of my favorite subjects.

Q: What math class are you taking?

A: Pre-calculus. 

Q: What is the biggest difference you see between the United States and Italy?

A: I think the most difference I see it in school, because I spend a lot of time here, in Italy we don’t. And I think a big difference is your life in America seems to be mostly here. At school you have sports at school, all your friends are at school because you spend a lot of time here. In Italy it’s just studying here then you have friendships outside school, and sports you do outside school, we don’t do sports at school. Also parties, stuff like that, we don’t do them in school, it’s always something outside. 

Q: What has been a struggle you’ve experienced in America so far?

A: I think friendship, but I mean I like to think here you are all so kind, all so good, in Italy it is not like that. I mean, it’s not good to say that, but we are a little bit mean, so here you are all so kind, and I like that. But it’s difficult to make friendship because you don’t see the same people everyday, so it’s difficult to start something.

Q: What is your hope for the year?

A: Become more fluent in English, because right now it’s a big problem. I don’t know, I didn’t come here to like the school, to study or something like that. I think it’s more like a life experience, so right now I am not like a goal. I am just thinking of enjoying my experience because it comes only once. And school, I have to attend it for five years, so I don’t think it makes sense to think for six months about school when I have this opportunity.

Salomé Lamotte is an exchange student from Belgium staying for the year.

Q: Why did you want to be an exchange student?

A: I think I’ve always wanted to be an exchange student. It’s like four years ago I chose I want to be. I’ve always dreamed to come here in the United States, and yeah, I just want to experience, meet people, find another culture.

Q: What food do you want to try while in America?

A: Maybe one fast food, like maybe fast food, but just don’t really matter.

Q: What class are you enjoying the most and why?

A: I think criminal justice. It’s really a cool class, the teacher is really, really amazing. I want to find more about justice and everything.

Q: What is the biggest difference you see between the United States and Belgium?

A: I think the school is bigger, everything is bigger. The school system, you have more options here than in Belgium. 

Q: What has been a struggle you’ve experienced in America so far?

A: I think English, and speaking English. I understand almost everything, but just speaking and trying to say things correctly. 

Q: What is your hope for the year?

A: Hmm, I don’t have a hope, this is my dream, so I don’t believe I don’t wait for something special, just I want to make all of the experience. 

Sakina Akolawala is an exchange student from India staying for the year.

Q: Why did you want to be an exchange student?

A: Because my brother had went to an exchange, and when he came back from the exchange, he became a whole other person, and his personality had a major development.

Q: In a good way?

A: In a very good way.

Q: What food do you want to try while in America?

A: I tried it. I wanted to really try the beef burger here because we don’t get beef in India. It’s banned in India, and I’m a Muslim, so I can’t eat beef, so I really want to have a beef burger.

Q: What class are you enjoying the most and why?

A: I think I’m enjoying graphic design and the financial algebra and statistics. It’s interesting, it’s more of learning because in other classes there’s not much of learning right now, the first week is really chill.

Q: What is the biggest difference you see between the United States and India?

A: Again, it’s very liberal and very open to LGBTQ. People are very friendly and open-minded. In India we have a lot culture, so because we have a lot culture, people are really into gods and we are really into prayers and gods, we have a whole other type of culture. The school system is also very different. I think it’s more —not in a rude way — more difficult to study in India.

Q: What has been a struggle you’ve experienced in America so far?

A: I feel homesick a lot. I really, really miss my parents. That’s just one thing. And also the food, because the food here is quite bland, really bland, and I’m just like where is the spices.

Q: How do you overcome your homesickness?

A: I’m just trying not to be in contact with them, which is even making me sadder, but I think I have to not be in contact with them to grow by myself, and if I’m challenging something then just have myself to talk about it.

Q: What is your hope for the year?

A: To make more friends.

Q: Would you say it’s difficult coming in not knowing anyone?

A: I guess so. The thing is many of the students here are quite shy than I thought. Like the adults here are really friendly, super friendly people, and you can easily talk to them. But the overall classmates and all, you have to push them to talk to you.

Emma Favier is an exchange student from France staying for the year.

Q: Why did you want to be an exchange student?

A: Because I saw so many exchange students, and their experience was so cool, and I said, ‘Why not me? I can try!’ And I want to improve my English.

Q: What food do you want to try while in America?

A: I don’t know because most of the American food is all around the world. 

Q: What class are you enjoying the most and why?

A: Hmm, that’s hard. I like the journalism class. The teacher is very nice, she is very friendly. Hmm, maybe the photography class, because it’s so cool and very different from France.

Q: What is the biggest difference you see between the United States and France?

A: First the high school. In France, you can’t choose your classes, like you have some classes you have to do. And school is more longer. The people here are more friendly than in France.

Q: What has been a struggle you’ve experienced in America so far?

A: I don’t know…yeah I don’t know.

Q: Would you say you haven’t really had any struggles?

A: Yeah, no, it’s good.

Q: What is your hope for the year?

A: I hope my English will be better, and I just want a cool experience. 

The five exchange students are excited to take on and experience American high school, as well as everything America has to offer.