The Exchange Experience

By Ready WA Storyteller Alice B.

It all started 3 years ago. 

I was planning for my high school classes as I prepared to become a freshman, and I decided to take Spanish for my world language credit. I had been encouraged by my dad to take it, and it interested me, but I wasn’t sure how much I would actually enjoy it. 

Much to my relief, I loved it! It was one of my favorite classes during the first two years of high school, and so I wanted to keep the momentum going. Taking Spanish made me feel like learning a new language didn’t have to be hard. It could be fun, and a good way to build my future job credentials. 

But, last year, when I tried to take Spanish 3, I was told that the class wouldn’t be offered. They had too many students who needed to take the lower levels of Spanish. Undeterred, I decided to take it online. 

Weeks prior to this, one of my older friends gave a presentation about an exchange program through Partners of the Americas. This program connects residents of Washington and Oregon, with students in the country of Costa Rica. She talked about traveling over the summer with the program; how she had a lot of fun and how much it helped improve her Spanish. I was intrigued. 

I reached out to see if I could go that summer but due to conflicts, it didn’t work out. In the meantime, they said, I could host a tico/a (a colloquial nickname for a Costa Rican) during the winter, before I could try again next year. 

Excited for the experience, I agreed, and I’m glad I did. In the program, host students are called host siblings. I was a host sibling last January. My tico, Julián, stayed with us for a month; coming to school, going on trips with my family, etc. We quickly fell into the roles of true siblings, teasing each other, playing games together, and shoving snow down the back of the other’s coat. Ah, yes. Those good old days. 

We also compared cultures and talked about our interests and hobbies. I didn’t know as much about Costa Rica as he knew about the United States, so I would often ask him what it was like. He also helped me with my Spanish a little bit, practicing with me and encouraging me to try and speak with him in Spanish. Compared to his English, my Spanish was far inferior, but he was always willing to help me or teach me something new. It was refreshing. 

After he left in February, it was time for me to start preparing my application for the trip to Costa Rica. I applied, went through the interview process, and got accepted as a south-bound traveler for this summer! Although nervous, I am looking forward to improving my Spanish skills. Hopefully, being immersed will help strengthen my weaker areas. 

Looking ahead, I think this trip will be very beneficial for me, not just by making me a more worldly traveler, but also by improving my prospects in future jobs. I didn’t grow up with two languages in my house, but being bilingual provides you with such a huge advantage throughout life. No matter what you decide to do, being able to communicate in more than one language increases the likelihood that a potential employer will hire you over an equally qualified but slightly less language-versed candidate. 

Even if you don’t want to take a language class or go on an educational trip, many high schools require it for graduation, and colleges love it if you’ve taken more than the minimum. It shows that you’re willing to try new things, put yourself in challenging situations, and work hard to achieve your goals. 

As my tico said about his experience with the exchange, “Those two months are something truly special. You get to know a lot of new people and places. It helped me to find myself, because everyone told me that I was changed, and I could feel I was not the same person as before.”  

The best way an exchange program can help you in the future is by setting you up for success. In this way, you can learn to tackle whatever life throws at you; whether it be through choosing a college or post-secondary path, or connecting with people a world away, you will be prepared to face any and all obstacles. I could not recommend a better experience.