Foreign exchange students at Bullard High embrace culture | For Subscribers Only

BULLARD — Foreign exchange students at Bullard High School are gaining new experiences and forming friendships that enrich their time in East Texas. Their diverse backgrounds bring fresh perspectives to the classroom, creating a vibrant learning environment.

By sharing their unique stories and traditions, these students not only enhance their educational journeys but also encourage local students to explore different cultures.

Foreign exchange programs generally involve students studying at a foreign institution for a specified period, which can range from a few weeks to an entire academic year. According to the International Student blog, these programs typically include academic tuition, accommodation, and transferable credit. Many are organized by the student’s home school or university, while others may be arranged individually. Participants usually attend classes, live with a local family, and engage in cultural activities.

At Bullard, the district emphasizes that exchange programs operate independently with host families, with its role limited to enrolling students just as it would for any new enrollee.

Among the exchange students making a notable impact is Edson Mendes do Prado, a junior from Brazil. Hailing from a city of about 70,000, Edson appreciates the accessibility of amenities in Bullard compared to his hometown, where reaching larger areas often requires lengthy travel.

“I like the high school… but I do like going into Tyler for restaurants and shopping,” he said. “There’s not a whole lot to do here in Bullard.”

Edson has observed significant differences in education; in Brazil, the school year runs from February to December. He finds the U.S. curriculum easier, having already studied many subjects, and values the freedom to choose classes, a welcome change from juggling 14 subjects back home.

“I like the classes here that you can choose,” Edson said. “It’s the best thing for me because in Brazil, I have 14 different classes — not in a day, but on different days. It’s not … great.”

He mentioned the mental load of managing so many subjects, which include math, Portuguese, English, literature, geography, history, philosophy, sociology, psychology, biology, chemistry, and physics. Ultimately, Edson finds the more focused schedule at Bullard High to be much more beneficial.

Edson recently experienced a trip to the Tyler Forensic Science lab and noted the friendly competition to find the best fast food spots, such as Raising Cane’s and Chick-fil-A.

“My friends all have their favorites, but I have to decide which one I like best,” he said. “Since I’m trying all these places, the drive-thrus make it really convenient… we don’t have those. Even the drive-up ATMs at the bank.”

Alice Zocchi, a senior from Italy, enriches the school community with her passion for Italian art and cuisine. She came to the U.S. through a program that placed her in various states and ended up in Bullard with a hosting family. Alice loves the small-town atmosphere and appreciates being close to Tyler for shopping and dining.

“Everything here is bigger,” Alice said. “I like how the restaurants’ dishes have way bigger portions. And the roads are way bigger than in Italy. Like for me, a normal road here would be a highway in Italy for how big it is.”

Alice also notes the differences in education; in Italy, students stay in the same classroom with the same classmates for five years, with limited class selection.

“I love being able to study what I love and not what I have to do,” she said. “The fact that I could choose my classes when I came here was a really nice thing.”

Alice has made 10 close friends and enjoys exploring American culture with them, including trying new foods and attending events like homecoming. She hopes to return to Italy with improved English skills and lasting memories from experiences like football games and American cuisine.

Martina Prim, a sophomore from A Coruña, Spain, shares her unique perspective, highlighting the warmth and vibrancy of Spanish culture. Initially, she thought classes would be challenging and that she would struggle with English, but she has found both manageable. Socializing has been relatively easy, thanks to welcoming classmates, though she still misses her friends and family back home.

“Being here in the states is not quite what I expected, based on what I’ve seen in films,” Martina said. “It’s different.”

She was relieved to discover that her initial misconceptions about American schools — believing she would struggle — were far from accurate.

“I thought that I wasn’t gonna be able to understand a lot of things or a lot of classes, and that’s not true,” she said. “And the host family, I thought that they were gonna be more weird, but they’re not. They are the best.”

Martina has made several friends and recently participated in homecoming activities. Academically, she said American education emphasizes teamwork and sports more than in Spain, where the focus is primarily on studying and exams. She enjoys her theater class and the atmosphere of her English class.

“… The most memorable parts for me are things like my first football game and my first time hanging out with my host family and my friends. I want to take all of those memories with me. I’d love to take my friends back with me too, but I can’t!” she said.

Exchange students often broaden horizons for their peers. Through participation in clubs, sports, and classroom discussions, they contribute new ideas and insights, enhancing the overall learning experience.

The students also help clarify misconceptions their peers have about their countries.

“I don’t know why, but everybody thinks that in Italy we drive on the opposite side of the road,” Alice said. “But it’s not like that. Only in the UK do they drive on the opposite side.”

The students appreciate being able to connect with American students and experiencing everyday conveniences. Despite their appreciation for local fare, nothing resonates quite like the familiar dishes from their homelands.

“The food in Italy is the best,” Alice said. “I miss it so much! I definitely recommend people try real, homemade Italian pasta.”

Martina said, “I want to bring a cookbook to my host mom so we can make some Spanish foods. I miss the omelets and the soups!”

Maddy Graham, a junior from Australia, and Isaak Alm-Kruse, a senior from Oslo, Norway, have also been part of this enriching experience at Bullard.

Alm-Kruse says he really likes the people in Bullard and the “southern hospitality.” He enjoys spending time on the weekends doing fun things with the new people he meets.

Graham is excited about the differences between Bullard High School and her school in Australia.

“It’s quite different than my school back home, but I feel like it’s more fun,” she said.

These differences include what she calls “free dress,” or not wearing uniforms, carrying backpacks, or just the classes in general. She can’t wait to experience pep rallies soon.

“It has been really fun getting to know our exchange students this year,” said Laura Hunter, Bullard High School counselor. “They are embracing our school culture well and are really becoming involved by building friendships and sharing their cultures with our students.”