¡Vamos Tigres!: Everything you need to know about the Spanish exchange program

On Wednesday night, October 18th, amidst spirit week, homecoming, and Halloween season, LHS was joined by a group of new students, all the way from Valladolid, Spain. For two weeks, these exchange students will be immersed in American culture, attending school with their host students and going to school events. Later, in June, LHS Students will travel overseas to Spain to stay with the very same students and do the very same things. Here’s everything you need to know about the exchange program, the exchange students’ experiences at LHS so far, and how you can get involved.

From the fall foliage to American football, the exchange students have been able to experience some of the quintessential New England high school experiences. American football. According to one student, Sara, “it’s like living in a film.” Here are some of their favorite activities:

The Dance

On Saturday night, the exchange students got to take part in Littleton’s annual Homecoming Dance, arguably a right of passage for all American high school students. With its classic 2010’s pop, crowded dance floor, and photo setup, it was a night packed with American culture. 

The Football Game

According to Sara, the football game has been her favorite experience so far “because it was so exciting, with all the people screaming.” She says, while there are sports games in Spain, “the vibes are different.” The LHS Football team won 35-17 against St. Paul’s High School in likely the most well-attended game this year. The LHS superfans section was packed with students, all dressed in pink in support of the Breast Cancer Foundation. The exchange students took part in some of Littleton’s school traditions; the chants, the “rollercoaster” when we scored, pom-pom basketball with the cheerleaders; and even started some of their own. LHS Senior Tyler, hosting Guillermo, says “it was the best football game I’ve ever been to, and I’m glad the Spanish kids got to experience it.”

The People

According to exchange student Elena, “The people are very outgoing. There’s a lot of diversity here.” The exchange students and their host families have formed bonds already during their time here. According to LHS Junior, Olivia, who’s hosting Carla, her favorite part about hosting an exchange student has been “just always being able to be with her.”

While much of adolescence may be a universal experience, some elements of high school here in America have surprised the exchange students, such as:

School Differences

While LHS is a small school in comparison to other schools in Massachusetts, it’s much larger than the exchange students’ school back in Spain. According to Elena, one of the teachers who traveled with the students from Spain, their school has around 900 students, which includes students from pre-school all the way to grade 12. Exchange student Lucas says also, “You have less subjects than us. We have 10 subjects,” to LHS’ 7. There, also, students don’t move from class to class, teachers do. 

There are Flags Everywhere

Student Elena was surprised that, “in every room, you see a flag of the United States.” In Spain, she says, “some people relate our flag with an ideology… your flag, it’s for democrats, for republicans… it’s your flag.”

LHS runs multiple school trips each year, taking students from cities across Europe to the rainforests of Costa Rica. What makes this exchange trip in particular so special, though, is the deep connection that students can make with a new culture and with other young people just like them. Elena, says she hopes her students will “learn a different culture. It’s not only the language, it’s everything.” She says, “Going to a different country with different customs is cool. The coolest.”

To learn more about the exchange trip to Spain in June, see Ms. Gillen or pick up one of the fliers around school.

image from Google Maps