Čau Gundega Paberze! After working with the AFS Intercultural Program and traveling approximately 5,800 miles from Daugavpils, Latvia, Paberze is easing her way into Paso Robles High School where she is learning what it is like to be an American student living in California.
The decision to become an exchange student came to Paberze easily after she had seen other students on the internet living their lives in a country hours from home. Upon this decision, Paberze had no worries or fears. She had a lot of time to prepare herself for this trip while her parents, younger sister Emili, and two dogs Rika and Lote supported her every step of the way.
“My family was and still is super supportive of my decision to be an exchange student. They always support all my decisions,” Paberze said.Although she has become homesick after being so far away from her family, Paberze is still glad that she got to be involved with such an amazing program.
“If you have an opportunity to become an exchange student, you 100% should take it. It’s an amazing experience. I feel like I’m stepping out of my comfort zone every day because I’m always talking to new people and trying new things,” Paberze said.
Prior to landing in America, Paberze had already learned the English language. The schools in Paberze’s hometown offer the curriculum of English to their students, however she decided to take matters into her own hands and learn English entirely on her own, at her own pace. The process took about a year and she is happy that she has the ability to communicate and connect with her peers?
Paberze has continued to make friends and try as many new things and experiences as she possibly can in the 10 months that she has in her temporary home, Paso Robles.
“I really like it here. I find it really comfortable, and I have found some friends that help me enjoy my time here,” Paberze said.
Paberze said she is glad that she chose to be an exchange student in America, even if some of the American customs are a crazy sight to see, such as the insane price tags in U.S. retail stores.
“Everything is crazy expensive here, and I thought I was going to buy so many clothes— but no,” Paberze said.
California prices were one shock, but the usage of shoes indoors was another because in Latvia, shoes are not worn inside the house.
“That’s crazy for me. Back home, you can’t wear shoes inside. If you wear shoes inside, —you will get yelled at.” Paberze said. Despite having some minor disappointments, Paberze feels as though American culture is a huge mix of cultures all around the world and she is enjoying every second of it.
During her trip to the U.S, Paberze set a goal for herself stating that, “[she wants] to say yes to any kind of opportunity.” Now that she has made it to America, Paberze is open to anything and everything that comes her way. She thanks her Business Communications teacher Breanne Overton and her Spanish teacher, Kiley Wilson for making her feel comfortable throughout this transition in her life, and she appreciates the kindness that everybody around school has given her.
Paberze plans to leave America on June 16th but hopes to return to the USA at a later date so that she can reconnect with her host family and all of her friends that she has made throughout this journey.
Ciao to our new Italian Bearcat Luca Gobbi. Gobbi has traveled roughly 6,000 miles from his hometown, San Mauro Pascoli, Italy, and is excited to start his journey as a foreign exchange student living in Paso Robles, California.
Gobbi has worked with the Education First Program to become an exchange student. He says that this idea came from his desire to learn the English language and experience life in America. Gobbi voiced that
English was a useful language to understand, and he is happy to be learning more each and every day. He left Italy back in July, to which he arrived with his host family.
After living in the U.S for approximately three months, Gobbi has noticed that, “America is very different from Italy, but it’s cool to see because it’s another type of lifestyle.”Gobbi is excited to see where this newfound adventure takes him and is
especially anticipating the upcoming soccer season starting this October. Back in Italy, Gobbi also played soccer so he’s familiar with the ways of the game. His knowledge comes from having seven years of experience where he has been taught how to be competitive and work with the many different skills that soccer players need to have.
“My host family is very similar to my Italian family,” Gobbi said. His move to America was a smooth transition, and because of this Gobbi has been more comfortable throughout his trip. He has been welcomed with open arms by his host family and explained that he has felt no real difference between his home in America versus in Italy. Gobbi appreciates all the teachers that he has encountered so far and values all their kindness towards him as well.
“I think the teachers are very nice, and they treat you like a friend. It’s very different from the teachers who teach in Italy. They are more strict.” Even though Gobbi is happy to have met so many new faces, he still prefers life in Italy.
The average age of graduation in Italy is 19 years old, unlike the U.S, where the average age of graduation is 18 years old, so when Gobbi returns back home in the summer, he is still expecting an additional year of school. Despite this Gobbi is, “very excited because when I finish I want to go to Australia to work there with my friends.”
After he has obtained his diploma from Paso Robles High School, Gobbi will return back to San Mauro Pascoli in June so that he can continue to live in an Italian summer with his family back home.
