Young Spaniard attends Goddard as exchange student
Rotary Youth Exchanges have been part of the international service club’s projects for more than 50 years, according to Bianca Cheney, the chair of the local Rotary’s District Youth Exchange Committee.
Cheney said the exchanges first began in Europe and took place between countries on that continent before being introduced into the United States.
She said that prior to the pandemic lockdowns, the Rotary Youth Exchange involved more than 9,000 youths visiting the U.S. each year. Among students visiting New Mexico as part of the Rotary Youth Exchange is 16-year old Martín Llanes Padillo, who is from Vigo, a port city in the province of Galicia in northwest Spain.
The youth is hosted by the Roswell Rotary Club, Cheney said, with students in other areas hosted by the local clubs in their respective communities.
Martín said he has been in Roswell since August, and has been attending Goddard High School as a junior. The Spanish exchange student has played on the Goddard High School soccer team, and he said intends to play on the school’s basketball team when it’s season begins.
Cheney explained that schools in Europe don’t typically field sports teams.
“Most European countries don’t have sports in schools, they’re usually community-based or private clubs,” she said. “That makes it unique and special to them (the exchange students).
Martín said he had not played organized soccer prior to coming to Roswell, and in Spain he had been a point guard for a local basketball team. He said he would likely play as a shooting guard or forward for the Rockets.
He plays left wing for the GHS soccer team. Martín said he has made many friends at the high school, including several members of the school’s baseball team.
“At the Artesia soccer game he had a whole baseball team cheering section,” said Karl Shelton, a member of one of Martín’s host families.
Unlike many exchange student programs, Cheney said Rotary Youth Exchange places the students with several different families during their stay in this country.
“We try to put them with three different families to give them a little variety,” she said. “It exposes them to different things.”
She said she likes the multi-family concept because the families and students don’t have to commit to the entire school year together.
“Sometime they just don’t connect, so they know its just for a short period,” Cheney said.
Martín said one thing that surprised him about Roswell is that people here don’t get around by walking, like they do in Europe.
“The people don’t walk on the streets, here everybody drives cars,” he said.
Martín said one thing he likes about school in America is that instead of students being stuck in one classroom the entire day, they move from class to class each period.
“In Spain, you don’t change classmates in every class,” he said.
While in the Land of Enchantment, Martín said he has enjoyed hanging out with his friends, visiting local parks and traveling the region, including trips to Los Alamos, Albuquerque, Ruidoso, Lubbock and El Paso. He said he particularly enjoyed a hike in the mountains near Albuquerque.
Martín explained that it has been easy for him to talk with locals who speak Spanish, as the dialects are not very different. He compared distinctions of local Spanish and the Spanish spoken in his home country to American English versus British English.
He said he is taking physical education, Algebra II, English, engineering and art at Goddard.
“I like to draw,” he said.
His English as been improving, he said, though it is sometimes difficult. After finishing high school in Spain, Martín said he would like to study to be an architect.
He said he sometimes misses his family, but tries to keep his attention focused on being in Roswell.
“I am here,” Martín said, “I am trying to keep my world in the U.S.”
As part of the exchange program, Martín attends Rotary meetings every Thursday. From L to R: Karl Shelton, Bianca Cheney, Martín Llanes Padillo and JP Cheney.
Jason O’Day Photo
Cheney said the Rotary Club is currently seeking local freshmen and sophomores who would like to take part in the club’s exchange program by studying abroad. She said the students must be strong academically, but don’t need to have perfect grades.
Exchange students are required to provide their own documentation and make their own travel arrangements, but once placed with a foreign family, their room and board is provided. She said the students must we willing to learn a new language and be away from home for a year.
“Our basic priority is to make sure the the kids are safe and well taken care of,” Cheney said.
Cheney provided a pamphlet with additional information about the program. Participating foreign countries include Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, The Netherlands, Peru, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Taiwan; but that list is subject to change. Applicants select their top three choices and the program will place them based on availability.
The total estimated cost of sending student abroad is $6,000 to $7,000. Students must be willing to engage in public speaking. For example, last month Martín delivered a speech and PowerPoint presentation about life in Spain and his experience in New Mexico to dozens of Roswell Rotary Club members.
