Foreign exchange students talk Thanksgiving and the American

Nov. 24—American’s do things bigger. That’s the main takeaway of the United States had by visiting foreign exchange students Ariadna “Ari” Codinach Gilaberte of Spain, Alexander Ruf of Germany, Niklas Grueter of Switzerland, and Lisa Schmidt-Wahl of Germany.

The group of 16-year-old international travelers are currently living in Richmond and enrolled as seniors at Madison Central High School through the EF Exchange Year program. They held a certain enthusiasm for and insights about the U.S. that can only be had by someone seeing it for the first time.

Ari Cordinach Gilberte heard about the program from some of her friends who had taken part in it before. Her original plan had been to take the program with a friend, but in the end, she ended up making the trip alone. So far, it’s been a memorable experience.

“It’s been really good. I’m in a nice family, and I also really like the school. We’re trying to visit some places around here and I’m really excited about that,” Gilberte said.

This is a sentiment that’s shared by Gilberte’s friends in the program. They’re all having the time of their lives. Everything from fast-food to American Football has been an exciting experience for the kids.

“It’s great here. I really like the football games and all the school spirit. It’s just a great experience. But it’s very different,” said Schmidt-Wahl.

Sports in particular have been a source of fun for the group. As they’ve embraced the competitive and energetic spirit found at a high-school football game, face-paint and all.

“I really like it. I liked homecoming and all of the football games because of all the energy. Everyone is so hyped,” said Grueter.

While there are fast-food restaurants in other countries, the U.S. has many more in terms of variety and sheer quantity as well. Taco Bell is their favorite, with Cookout, Zaxby’s, Raising Cane’s, and others standing out as well.

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As the world is still in the midst of a global pandemic, the exchange students have come to study abroad at an unconventional time for the United States. While life still isn’t close to being back to normal here, according to the kids — all of whom are fully vaccinated — COVID-19 regulations are much more lax in the U.S. than they are in Spain, Switzerland, or Germany.

“When I came here it seemed like COVID didn’t exist anymore compared to Spain. We wear our masks for everything,” Gilberte said.

The current stance on masking was a surprise for the other students as well.

“I was really surprised that we only had to wear masks in school. I know it’s different that Germany has more rules about the masks, that we have to wear them everywhere, but I don’t feel unsafe or anything,” said Schmidt-Wahl, who’s place in exchange program was cancelled last year because of the pandemic.

Planning for this trip began for the students several years ago. Like the rest of the world, they didn’t expect a global pandemic.

The last three months of the year sees Americans go into a state of…