This school year, Santa Barbara High School welcomes a handful of new foreign exchange students to campus. Some of those students include Matilda Vonroos from Germany, Viola Forti from Italy, and Mel Barbosa from Brazil. Vonroos and Forti both chose to come to Santa Barbara because they had connections with people here, and Barbosa moved with her whole family for Santa Barbara’s beauty and beaches.

Forti explained that to be a foreign exchange student you have to submit an application describing who you are, where you came from, and choose which city you want to be in and submit it to your program provider. It’s different for everyone how assigning a family works; if you know a family you can stay with them, but if not you don’t get to choose where you’ll end up within the city. Vonroos added that if you have an American passport it is more similar to switching schools. 

All three shared various culture shocks they experienced since arriving to the west coast. “I think there are so many to choose from because it’s everything pretty much,” Forti commented. The first thing that came to her mind was our strange meal times. She explained how in Italy dinner is commonly eaten at nine, not six. Another thing she mentioned was our huge reliance on cars and the fact that Americans can get their license at only 16. All three agreed it was a big switch to not be in a more walkable/bikeable city. Vonroos also remarked on the sharp increase of strictness in school, saying,  “…with the school, your parents know about everything. I mean, especially if you came one minute late or something, that they get alerted right away.” Barbosa stated how the food was very different, and far worse. 

All three remarked how the one thing they miss the most is their friends. Vonroos elaborated, “Here I really don’t have any person I’m as close as with my friends…I’ve known them for a lot of years, and here I’ve known people only for a month.” Forti said, “You miss the most, maybe not the people itself, but…the bond you have with people. You were born in that city, you grew up in that city. So you have a very strong bond with your family and your friends, and here it’s just a little bit different.” Vonroos says, “It’s the same with how you interact with people. In your own language, it’s easier.” All three agreed immediately that they are funnier in their native language. They’ve all enjoyed going to the football games and the amount of free activities at school. Looking forward, Forti is most excited to keep going to school events, explaining, “..many things are organized by the school. It’s not the same for my high school in Italy. I think for me the most exciting thing is just saying yes to everything that comes up to me. Even if it’s embarrassing or I will probably go there alone, I just say yes for the experience.” And what an experience American high school can be!

Pictured left to right: Viola Forti, Matilda Vonroos, Mel Barbosa [Image Credit Clara Watson]