Thursday, March 15, Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School welcomed 21 exchange students from Barcelona, Spain. To celebrate their arrival, SALSA, the spanish club of SPFHS, organized a breakfast for the students and their American hosts. The decorated the cafeteria and welcomed the exchange students after their late arrival of 3 a.m. the night before.
The spanish exchange is an annual program available to sophomores, juniors and seniors studying spanish at SPFHS. Students get the opportunity to visit Spain for a week and a half, staying in the home of a spanish student. Additionally, when the students arrive in the United States, they stay with their American exchange student. While some choose to both travel to Spain and host a student in the same year, others host a student one year and travel the following. However the students decide to participate, say that the exchange is a wonderful experience that allows high schoolers to connect from across the globe. This year is no different.
During period 3-4, the students gathered in the freshmen cafeteria, where several student musicians were providing entertainment. A wide array of breakfast foods and desserts were also provided. While eating, the students watched a slideshow of the American students’ prior trip to Spain, and they listened to speeches from various SPFHS students. The American penpals gave their Spaniard penpals a gift as well during the ceremony to show their excitement and appreciation that they are visiting.
Senior Phoebe Collins and junior Tori O’Connor led the informal ceremony, sharing words of welcome in Spanish and English respectively. They also took the opportunity to thank those involved in the organization of the exchange, specifically Señora Calamusa, Señora Concepcion, Señora Guarnuccio, Señora Kudron and Señor Tropeano.
Those that already traveled to Spain through the program last month were excited to rekindle their friendships. Students only hosting this year were enjoying the chance to get to know their new friends.
The spanish exchange students will be in New Jersey from March 15 to Sunday, March 25.