For many years, Milford High School has had the honor of hosting a foreign exchange program, allowing many students from across the world to experience American high school culture in our small town of Milford. These students get to see the different arts, food, classes, education, and activities, often expressing how much they enjoy their time spent in the United States.
This incredible opportunity allows them to live in the Milford area for a year, becoming active in our community. Itziaar Urraca, a former foreign exchange student from Spain, misses the activities the most, “Our community offers so many opportunities that we don’t get at home,” she stated. “Choir and theater were so much fun and were valued in America.”
There are four current exchange students at MHS, including Dea Damova, who came from Bulgaria. She is also a part of the Milford Theater organization and expresses how much she enjoys theater and the atmosphere it brings.
However, along with these great experiences, there are also challenges. Among the various reasons why they love Milford High School, many talked about the new cultures and lifestyles they encounter. Damova shared her thoughts, stating, “My least favorite part is waking up at 5:00 in the morning,” adding later, “The earliest I’ll start is at 8:15.”
While sleep was one problem, food was another. Urraca said “The food was a big change and challenge for me.” She later explained that in America, many food places add ingredients and chemicals to food that were harmful. She later said that in Spain their food is a lot more organic, which was the biggest challenge for her.
Both Damova and Urraca, mentioned the intense pressure surrounding education in their home countries. They talked about the extensive hours of studying required, which leaves little time for sports or extracurricular activities.
“The school isn’t focused on academics as much as my school, but in a good way,” Damova noted. “At my school, it’s school, club, homework, sleep, homework. You guys get to have a life.”
Urraca added as well, “Teachers have a lot more power at my home, too much phone usage could lead to you getting kicked out of school.”
They both said Milford’s focus on extracurriculars and athletics was enjoyable and they loved the school spirit, which differed tremendously from their country.
Milford has welcomed these students with open arms, as they bring unique perspectives that enrich our community. Sometimes even little things about the school differ tremendously by country. “The thing I’ll miss most is the vending machines,” Damova said.
This highlights how even small differences can significantly impact our experiences. It has been an honor to meet so many wonderful people who share a vastly different lifestyles with us at Milford High School.
