2016 KCS International Students

Toward the end of August, seven students from around the world traveled to Keene Central school for a year abroad. This year we have two students from Spain, Sofia and Alvaro; one from England, Henry. Ariane from Austria. One from Russia, Alina. Mook from Thailand and Soya from Japan. The students have shared their unique perspective of American culture and life in the Adirondacks.

The International Students shared some of the changes and what has been the hardest change for them and more.

Alvaro is from Madrid, Spain. He is living with Hannah, Scott, Elaina and Elly Smith.

Q: What is a main part of your life that has changed the most?

A: The type of life and the schedule. I like the schedule here more than the one in Spain.

Q: What was one thing that was surprising to you when you came?

A: The people here are very friendly.

Q: What has been the hardest part of change from Spain to the U.S.?

A: Leaving my family was the hardest part.

Q: What is your favorite american food?

A: Eggs and Bacon.

Sofia is from Madrid, Spain. Sophia is living with Becky, Matt, Lura, Cora, Sophia and Anya.

Q: What is a main part of your life that has changed the most?

A: “Daily routines here are different, in spain I don't have study halls, I only have classes and I go home for lunch at 2:00pm.”

Q: What was one thing that was surprising to you when you came?

A: “Here you have a lot of trees and mountains. The houses are farther apart. There is a lot of Green. The school is like the american schools you see in films.”

Q: What has been the hardest part of the change from your country to the U.S?

A:The language but nothing more because I am very comfortable in different situations

Q: What are your favorite american food?

A: I like american pizza, sandwiches with cheese and also pumpkins. Here you make salads differently, in spain we eat salad with salt, oil and vinegar.

“It's very fun here, because it is like an american film; it feels like I am in American film.”

Mook is from Thailand.

Q: What is a main part of your life that has changed the most?

A:The main change has been not seeing my family everyday.

Q: What was one thing that was surprising to you when you came?

A: You do not lock cars in thailand, also we drive in the other lane.

Q: What has been the hardest part of the change from your country to the U.S?

A: The language has been the hardest part, the food has been also different.

Q: What are your favorite american food?

A: I like pancakes and waffles.

Alina is from St.Petersburg, Russia. Alina is Staying with Sheryl, Caitlin, and Megan Quinn.

Q: What are main parts of your life that has changed the most?

A: The language and food and the schedule. I wake up earlier here than in Russia.

Q:What was one thing that was surprising to you when you came?

A: People here do not usually do not lock their houses. People are also very open minded.

Q:What has been the hardest part of the change from your country to the U.S?

A: The food here in the U.S has more calories.

Q:What are your favorite american foods?

A: Nachos, and barbecue chicken, french fries.

Soya is from Japan. Soya is staying with Mrs. Deyo and Mr. Deyo

Q: What is one main part of your life that has changed the most?

A:The food, I ate rice bread everyday in japan so that is a big change for me.

Q: What was one thing that was surprising to you when you came?

A: The nature, I lived in a big city (Tokyo). There were a lot of buildings and no nature. It is beautiful here.

Q: What has been the hardest part of the change from your country to the U.S?

A: Waking up in the morning, I wake up at 6:40 and that is hard for me, because I usually wake up around 7:30 in Tokyo.

Q: What is your favorite american food?

A: Steak, there is no steak in Tokyo. I had it for the first time in the USA.

Henry is from England. Henry is staying with Mrs. Hough, Mr.Hough and Josie Hough.

Q:What is one main part of your life that has changed the most?

A:The daily routine is busier, getting up earlier and more classes during school.

Q:What was one thing that was surprising to you when you came?

A:How small the town is and how far you have to drive to get places.

Q:What has been the hardest part of the change from your country to the U.S?

A:It's been fairly easy apart from driving everywhere.

Q:What is your favorite american food?

A:Fried chicken at the Baxter mountain tavern.

Ariane is from Austria. Ariane is staying with Noreen Mccarthy.

Q:What is one main part of your life that has changed the most?

A:There is more nature, and school is very different here. We don't get lunch or breakfast at school. Sports are also part of your private life not school.

Q:What was one thing that was surprising to you when you came?

A:How small it is, I did expect it to be a bit bigger.

Q:What has been the hardest part of the change from your country to the U.S?

A:School, we have six periods a day in austria and school ends at 1:10.

Q:What is your favorite american food?

A:Pancakes!

“I really like it here”