Senior Camilla Grunauer is one of three foreign exchange students attending York Suburban High School this year.
Grunauer, from Ecuador, plans on being in the United States for a whole year. She is currently staying with the Mears family. Grunauer said she became a part of the foreign exchange program at the high school to “have a big change, and learn another language so that it will help me with school and traveling the world.”
Grunauer said, “everything is such a big change in all aspects, like the food, people, and even seasons.” She said that she likes everything about America because it is a new experience. It seems like the students, faculty, and community of York Suburban High School have given her a warm welcome to the school and America.
The most exciting thing Grunauer said she has done since she has been in America was visiting New York City, she said she enjoyed everything about it there because it was all new.
Something she is most excited for is snow. Since it never snows in Ecuador, she has never seen it. Sometimes living in America causes people to take things as simple as snow for granted. Students here have the luxury of experiencing all of the seasons, compared to Ecuador where the lowest temperature gets to only about 70 degrees.
At home, Grunauer enjoys going to the beach with her friends and taking pictures of them, riding her bike around town, and going to the beach and falling asleep with a good book.
When asked about what she misses the most about home Grunauer said “I miss my family, the food, and all my stuff.”
Imagine leaving everything you know and everything you are comfortable with for an entire year, it would be difficult for anyone. So if you ever see Camilla Grunauer or any of the exchange students in the hallways, welcome them to America.