Last week, FUHS welcomed six foreign exchange students from China. Each student was partnered with a “buddy” in ASB to better acclimate to our school. For the entire week, the students shadowed their partner from class to class, learning about our culture along the way.

Most of them found the classroom structure drastically different from their own. “Here you can work with partners and you can talk to each other but in China school is very serious,” said George, a 16 year old student from East China. “In China we can’t talk, eat, or use the mobile phone.”

In addition to the school system, the foreign exchange students found the weather and atmosphere of California different from China. 16 year old James, said that, “America isn’t as crowded. There aren’t as many people in the same place.” While George said, “We don’t have as many trees or as much grass. I prefer the trees.” All six students seemed to be in awe of California’s nature and the stark contrast between The Golden State and their home.

The ASB students with an exchange student “buddy” were lucky enough to learn about an entirely different culture, as well as explain their own. “I can only imagine how much work [the exchange students] have to put in to speak enough English to be understood, let alone be allowed to come on this trip,”  said junior Jessica Fuentes said. Fuentes was paired with Tom and, “taught him mainly about our food and what we are accustomed to eating… when he first tried pizza, he loved it and was amazed by our portions,” said Fuentes.  

Junior Claire Wright, was paired with James and took him to her classes last week. Wright insured that James was involved in the classroom. “In APES [James] helped with the lab,” Wright said.  James said of the APES lab, “We learned about the rising of the mud. It was very interesting.”

After visiting FUHS for the week, the six students continued to travel throughout the United States, making stops in San Francisco, Boston, and New York.