By Delaney Dine

Students from Thomas Jefferson STEM School in Concepciòn, Chile, arrived October 26 for a two week visit to Bellbrook High School. While here, they got to experience our culture and also shared some of theirs. They provided a quick presentation on their country, area, school, and customs.

“I have nine students at this school, and sometimes the [American] students don’t know anything about us or our country,” Chilean teacher Marta Sandoval said, “That’s why we’re preparing this presentation with the most important things about our school, Chile, and they dance. It’s a way to show you guys who we are.”

“The English teacher helped them prepare [the presentation] in Chile, and then when we got here, we practiced with them,” Sandoval said. “They usually incorporate a bit of their own experience in their section.”

The presentation included background information on Chile, their school, but also things that they do on the daily, cultural norms, and even foods they like.

“We were a bit nervous, the auditorium is bigger than ours and you have a lot more students,” Maria Ignacia Cretier, one of the exchange students, said.

“We needed to flow with the presentation. No one had a script for their part. We had to improvise a bit,” Ignacia Pozo, another exchange student, said.

The students also performed a traditional dance at the beginning before the powerpoint.

“It went really well though, thankfully,” Beatriz Rodriguez, also another exchange student, said.

The size of the school isn’t only one of the new things they get to experience while they were here.

“It’s very different here but it’s exciting, I’m excited for the social stuff, like the football games!” Cretier said.

“I get to meet new people, to meet new cultures, and get to know that though we are in different parts of the world, everyone lives kind of the same,” Sandoval said.