43
Rotary exchange student enjoying visit in Canfield
Photo
Neighbors | Submitted.Pillar Munilla (left)and Gonzalo Munilla and Pablo Munilla while enjoying a day of siteseeing in the states. His parents flew in from Spain to visit with him and his host family, the Villano's.
By SHAIYLA HAKEEM
Sophomore Gonzalo Munilla has traveled from Spain to Canfield to experience the American culture.
He says the main reason for him coming to the States is to learn English. He studied English six years prior to his trip to America and says being here has helped him tremendously.
“Here in America you don’t know, but all over the world people are trying to learn English,” Munilla explained. “The Internet is in English, important books are English — a lot of stuff.”
Munilla has enjoyed his stay in Canfield, but relocating to the States isn’t anything that he is considering — due to the climate.
“It’s too cold here,” he said.
A major difference between America and Spain, according to Munilla, is the school system structure. The classes there are smaller and don’t provide an opportunity to meet new people or the freedom to select classes.
“In Spain, you don’t move from class to class, a teacher comes to your room. You see the same people and they pick the classes,” he said. “Here, you can choose your classes and change classes and meet different people.”
Munilla’s parents initiated the idea of traveling abroad as an exchange student through the Rotary Club of Canfield. He sent a letter of interest to the Rotary and the rest is history.
This is Jim and Vickie Villano’s first year being a host family for an exchange student. Though they have enjoyed the company of Munilla, they aren’t sure what the future holds in terms of hosting another exchange student.
“I have really enjoyed the experience, I have to wait and see what it’s like once he gets on the plane,” Vickie said.
Munilla says his experience in the States has been a good one and he would recommend traveling to America to his friends. He has been living with his host family since Aug. 20 and is scheduled to go back to his native country June 19.
“I miss Spain a lot — my friends and the food,” Munilla said.