Although most of us Michiganders are sick of the snow, Oxford High School foreign exchange student Rogelio Blanco is loving it.
‘This was my first time with snow,? the 17-year-old junior said. ‘I like it a lot.?
Blanco hails from Culiacan, Mexico, which is northwest of Mexico City.
On the other hand, foreign exchange student Jesperi Kuitunen from Tampere, Finland is ready for warmer weather.
Both students started their school year in Oxford last September through the Youth for Understanding (YFU) exchange program.
Rogelio is living with host family Mark and Linda Moran, while Kuitunen is staying with Nipun and Jaya Shrivastava, both Oxford residents.
Although it wasn’t their first time to the United States, both students had no idea where Michigan was, and didn’t know what to expect when they got here.
‘I knew everything was bigger,? Kuitunen said.
Rogelio was surprised to experience ice storms and even dirt roads.
‘I didn’t know anything about dirt roads in America,? he said. ‘When I talked to my father and said they have a lot of dirt roads here, he didn’t believe me.?
The Moran’s and Shrivastava’s didn’t know what to expect either, being that it was their first time as a host family.
‘Our experience has been wonderful,? Jaya said. ‘While the host family needs to adjust to a sudden new addition to the family, a lot depends on the teen who comes over, too. We have been very lucky to have Jesperi.?
While visiting the Shrivastava’s, Kuitunen has traveled to Toronto, Niagra Falls and Florida, as well as watching Indian movies with the family, cooking food with them and playing XBox with their younger son. ‘We also play Monopoly, but not too often because he beats us hollow,? Jaya joked.
For the Moran family, inviting Rogelio into their home filled their empty nest. The couple has a 22-year-old daughter who is a senior at Eastern Michigan University, so it was nice to have another child in the home.
The Moran’s, who are avid bicycle riders, were happy when they learned Rogelio enjoyed biking too. They’ve made frequent trips to Addison Oaks, Pontiac Lake Recreation Area and Ray’s Indoor Bike Park in Cleveland to bike.
‘It was perfect. It turns out he could be our kid,? Mark joked.
Besides the cars, roads and weather, one big difference the boys noticed when coming to Michigan was the schooling. Rogelio was excited for all of the newer technology at OHS compared to his private school in Mexico. Kuitunen said there were a lot more rules in America and more semesters here than back home.
Other students at OHS have been very welcoming to the boys, who’ve also been a part of various sports teams and attended dances at the school.
Kuitunen was even nominated for Winterfest Court, but wasn’t able to attend because he was in Florida.
Though being away from their families has been tough, Rogelio and Kuitunen liked that they got to experience the holidays in another country.
Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners filled their bellies, and Kuitunen got to experience Halloween for the very first time, even though some residents said he was ‘too old? to trick-or-treat.
Over the last seven months, the Moran’s and the Shrivastava’s have learned oodles of information about the student’s cultures. ‘We learned that not all Mexicans like hot food,? Mark joked.
Shrivastava encourages others to take interest in hosting an exchange student, and advises them to set expectations up front about chores and behavior, but be cognizant of the cultural differences.
‘Be firm about your rules and values, and you will form a mutually enjoyable relationship,? she said.
For more information on becoming a host family, visit www.yfu-usa.org.