“My goal [when coming to America] was [to have] friends. I was so scared of not having friends […].”

Stepping off a plane into Columbia, Mo. Marta Pezuela, who had never been to America before, was ready to spend a whole year in the states with a new family, new friends, new school and a new life as a foreign exchange student. 

• Q: What has your experience been like as a foreign exchange student, overall? How would you describe [it]?

A: “It was really good. I really like it here, and I [have made] so many friends. I don’t want to go back [to Spain], like not at all. [My experience was] really good.”

• Q: Can you describe the process of becoming a foreign exchange student?

A: “Okay, first, you need to have good grades. You cannot leave [for] a whole year without having good grades. Then you need to send an application to this agency, and they look [to see] if you’re [a] good [student] and stuff like that. They make you a visa, and they put you in a program so a family can pick you. [Finally,] a family picks you, and you go [to live with them].”

• Q: Describe what it was like when you arrived in America.

A: “When I [first got off the plane in America], I was really excited. I was [thinking], ‘Oh my gosh, I’m in America, that’s crazy.’ But then I got to the other plane because I needed to take two planes. First to Texas and then from Texas to Columbia. I fell asleep [on the] second [plane], so I don’t really remember [the trip], but I was really excited.”

• Q: Has it been hard being away from your family? [If so] why?

A: “Not really because I did another exchange year in Ireland and [in addition ever] since I was little, I’ve been to a lot of camps. I obviously miss [my family] but [I’ve gotten used to it].”

• Q: Do you feel like there was ever a language barrier at times or [has] speaking English always [been] natural?

A: “Well, when I was little and I was learning English, it was really difficult for me. So my parents put me in extra classes. [From there], it was just natural.”

• Q: How has life in general in America been different from life in Spain?

A: “[American schooling] is really different [compared] to the schools [in Spain]. Here, I feel like [you have more free time]. You have [no] time to do sports in Spain, [or] at least [at] my school, it was really difficult. I [felt like I] needed to be studying. Now I have an AUT, [a free period]. It’s crazy.”

• Q: Do you want to come back to America after you return to Spain? And if so, what for?

A: “Obviously, I want to come here [for] college. Because I feel like in Spain it’s the same. You need to study in college. I [visited] Mizzou, and it was […] really cool. It’s really different from Spain.”

• Q: What is the thing that you will miss most about America?

A: “Obviously my friends and the food. [Whether it’s] Chick-fil-A [or] Cane’s, I’m going to miss [the food] so much. But [I will] mostly [miss] my friends. [I’ll also miss events] like homecoming [and] courtwarming. We don’t have dances in Spain, and it’s going to feel weird [without them]. [… I’ll also miss] football games too [along with] basketball games. Those I’m going to miss a lot.”

• Q: What activities or sports do you participate in? Which one is your favorite? Why?

A: “I [have] participated in cheer [and] badminton, [but] now I do stunt and soccer. I was [also] in Spanish Club. […] Soccer [was my favorite] 100% […] because there’s people there, and I really like soccer, so it’s really fun. [I like the non-home games] when the game is [at] another school [and] the food that they [serve at games].”

• Q: What has been the hardest adjustment that you’ve had to make?

A: “I think maybe living with another family that is not your family [was the hardest adjustment]. It’s a little bit weird at first, but then you get used to it.”

• Q: What’s the hardest part about [living with another family]?

A: “It’s just weird. At first [it feels like] you cannot express yourself because maybe they’ll think, ‘Who are we hosting?’ But then when they get to know [you], it’s […] better. ”

• Q: What is the first thing you want to do when you go back to Spain?

A: “Eat Spanish food 100% or [interact with] my friends [and] of course my family. But eating Spanish food [is my priority.]”

• Q: Would you recommend being a foreign exchange student?

A: “It depends on the place that you go. I wouldn’t recommend going to Ireland. But to the U.S., 100% yes. [I would recommend becoming a foreign exchange student].”

• Q: What is one thing you learned about yourself while coming here?

A: “I learned how to appreciate the smaller things. When I got here, I realized I didn’t appreciate some [of the things] that my family did for me and how my host family wouldn’t do [those things].”