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Clara Ann Bagnoli

FIRESIDE FUN. Spanish exchange student Irene Salinero and host student Melina Kannankutty roast marshmallows in front of a firepit.

Junior Adele Gjerde signed up to host an exchange student through her Spanish class. She first heard about the program when US Spanish teacher Rolando Castellanos came and spoke with her class last spring. Gjerde decided to join the program after talking with her mom, who lived in the area of Spain where Colegio Malvar is located, the school she will eventually attend as an exchange student through this same program.

“…I know she’s always wanted me to go,” Gjerde said.

Similarly, senior Melina Kannankutty’s family was supportive of her decision to host an exchange student. Although Kannankutty will not be able to travel to Spain in June due to its proximity to graduation, she is happy to be able to take part in the program.

“I think my family was just really excited to be a part of [the exchange],” she said.

For junior Isidor Valdez, the chance to make a connection across countries was a major plus.

“The Spanish exchange is a great way to continue learning a new language while getting to know someone,” he said.
At the beginning of the program, participants received a digital letter from their exchange student, detailing fun facts as a personal introduction.

Outside of their letters, some students have been able to communicate via school email or social media platforms, however, not everyone has been so lucky.

In Minnesota, the exchange students will attend classes for two days, with the rest of the time embarking on outings and participating in activities set up by the school.

“They take [the exchange students] to multiple malls, the zoo, all of these things,” Kannankutty said. Host families will also have the opportunity to choose some of their own activities, especially on weekends.

Anticipating the second part of the exchange, students will say goodbye to their exchange partners until June, when after graduation they will attend their host school during finals week. Due to COVID, the exchange program has been on hiatus, but has been partially revived this year with the hopes of forming new cross-cultural connections.