From opposite sides of the globe, both Senior Marie Storlien, from Norway, and Junior Brenno Squiera, from Brazil, are loving school at St. Francis High School so far.

Both students chose to come to America to further their education and make new experiences. Marie and Brenno spoke with The Crier about their journeys and what they’re looking forward to in America.

“You’re not exactly chosen to come to America, but I chose that I wanted to be an exchange student. Then you have to do a series of tests, and if you can speak enough English you can go,” said Storlien.

Strolien is excited to be an exchange student and learn about the culture, and so is Squiera.The school each of them went to back home is much different than St. Francis High School.

Squiera said his school in Brazil is very small and every kid has the same class.

“We don’t have that many electives and we can’t choose between that many classes,” Storlien said. “It’s like divided into different schools, and the whole school system is really different.”

Though these students come from different parts of the world, they can both agree that going to a public school with multiple classes to choose from is different and exciting for them. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be an exchange student, and there’s a lot of time, energy and emotion put into the process.

“First, I missed my family, friends, my dog…everyone,” said Squiera. He lives with with the Sanow family, and Marie lives with the Johnson family. While staying here, they’re excited to experience things outside of school, too.

“I want to go to an NFL game,” said Squiera, “and I want to go to go to an NBA game.”

The process of picking an exchange student was very exciting for the Johnson family. They have hosted exchange students before, so they’re familiar with how it works, but this year it was a little different.

“Once you are approved with the agency, you then pick through the kids. They have letters written about themselves, basic questions, pictures, and information about themselves. We chose Marie as a family. Sharon, Kyle, and Alyssa went to Norway this summer and met Marie for an evening,” said host mom Ann Johnson.

Meeting a student before she came to America was different for them, but they enjoyed it. They also emailed and skyped her over the summer.

“We feel it’s a great experience for our family by getting to know other people, and cultures,” said Johnson. “They are not just in your home for one year; it is a lifetime relationship because they become your family.”