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Exchange students feel right at home
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Five foreign students are spending time in America thanks to the American Field Service. The exchange students are, from left, Nicolas Saldivia-Heinz, from Chile; Dario Scanferlato, from Italy; Valentin Wett, from Austria; Catalina Rojas-Rodriguez, from Chile; and Paticha “Pie” Areepipatkul, from Thailand.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Brad Smith (center) is handling a rare double placement in his home in Boardman. Although current Boardman High School students Dario Scanferlato (left) and Paticha “Pie” Areepipatkul (right) are from very different parts of the world, Smith says that they already get along like siblings.
By SARAH FOOR
Since August, four Mahoning County families have become a little more global by opening up their homes and lives to the students of the American Field Service exchange program.
In the process, communities and schools throughout the Valley have welcomed a cultural exchange with the students that will last a lifetime.
Brad Smith of Boardman is hosting Dario Scanferlato of Italy and Paticha “Pie” Areepipatkul of Thailand, and both students are attending Boardman High School. Nicolas Saldivia-Heinz of Chile will be spending his time with host brother Michael Broderick and mother Marney Broderick in Canfield and attending Heartland Christian School.
Valentin Wett, of Austria, and Catalina Rojas-Rodriguez, of Chile, will attend Springfield High School. Wett is staying with the family of Terri Windsor in Poland, and Rojas-Rodriguez with Bob and Chris Gabrick of Springfield.
Although many of the AFS students hoped coming to America would help sharpen their English skills, the reasons for each journey were as diverse as the students.
“I want to teach as much as I want to learn,” said Areepipatkul. “I hope that by the end of this year, everyone I meet will know where Thailand is on a map. It will be the same at home – everyone will know about Ohio back home Bangkok.”
“I dreamed of unique experiences when I heard I was placed in America. Every opportunity that is going to be in front of me this year, I want to try,” shared Scanferlato.
Although their year has just begun, plans are being laid by each family to give their host students a unique American experience. The students are looking forward to experiencing American holidays and sharing holidays from their cultures. Areepipatkul, who is native to the warm climate of Thailand, is looking forward to seeing snow for the first time.
“I love American music,” explained Saldivia-Heinz. “I think I’d like to play guitar in my school’s Christmas concert.”
The families are planning to thoroughly explore Ohio, as well as cultural centers like New York City, Boston, Chicago and Orlando.
Smith, who is handing the rare double-placement in his home, is a veteran exchange student host. He said the gifts of the exchange never stop giving.
“I’ve always been interested in other people and other cultures. As many students as I’ve hosted, I can tell you, people really are the same all over the world. It’s going to be a great year,” Smith said.