Elsa Lang Lively

Hopefully many of you have been able to familiarize yourselves with four of our current exchange students, Enrique, Loïc, Andréanne, and Andreas, after reading the most recent compilation of exchange student interviews in Redeeming Pandora.  Due to the incredible success of the first article, we thought it necessary to do some more hard-hitting interviews so you can get to know two more of your fellow students this year, James and Emilia.

Won Chul James Lee is a native of Seoul, South Korea, where he lives with his parents and younger brother.  Back home, he enjoys spending time with his friends and playing soccer and baseball.  He describes his daily life back in South Korea as a student as being very long, with the school day starting early in the morning and ending around ten o’clock at night.  Living in the capital city of Seoul, he has grown up in a highly-populated area with lots to do.  If he had to describe himself in three words, he would say “Korean, shy, and precise.”

He shared he has always wanted to come to America to improve his English.  When the opportunity arose for him to spend an academic year in the States, he stopped high school in Seoul, obtained a student visa, and took an English placement test to see if he qualified to participate in the exchange student program, which he passed.  Unlike the experiences of other exchange students at Summit, the process for him to be placed in a program in America only lasted about three to four months.  Before attending Summit, he was first placed in a private school in Houston but was transferred to Virginia in hopes of having a more positive experience here.

Since arriving at Summit in September, he described his experience thus far as being both enjoyable yet difficult.  He said he has made some really good friends at Summit, but he also misses his friends and family back home as well as his everyday life back in South Korea.  During his down time, he enjoys spending time with friends, watching Korean TV shows, and playing baseball.  His favorite memory of being in America so far was road tripping to New York City with some friends.  He has also visited famous American cities such as Houston, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C., and hopes to spend time in Miami, Boston, and Seattle in the near future.

When asked about stereotypes Koreans have about America or Americans, he answered they think Americans are fat, which is similar to what our European exchange students answered during previous interviews.  He also said there are stereotypes about American high schools because of popular movies that take place at extravagant and enormous high schools in the States.  If he could change one thing about America, he would change the public transportation system.  In Seoul, he explained, there is no pressing need for cars because the transportation system covers large areas of the city and as well as surrounding areas.  He would also change the curfew of midnight for minors here in Virginia, because he is not accustomed to needing to be home at specific time of the night.

Upon finishing the academic year up at Summit, he plans on returning home to South Korea to see his family and friends and renewing his student visa. This coming school year, he hopes to study social science at a university in California.  He plans on pursuing a career in America or with an international organization, which would require a high level of English.  Overall, he sees his year here at Summit as being a good opportunity to learn how to speak and communicate English fluently and to prepare him for a higher education in the States in the future.

Emilia Rizzi calls Castiglione delle Stiviere, Italy home, where she lives with her parents and older sister, who is currently studying law.  She shared all her immediate relatives live in the same town, where they all attend church together every week.  One of her favorite memories from growing up in Italy was going to the seaside with her family ever year, where they would all stay in the same hotel and enjoy down time together.  If she had to describe herself in three words, she would say “nice, adventurous, and Italian.”  Her interests include playing sports such as basketball, volleyball, and soccer, and improving her guitar and bass guitar skills.

Her main motivation for coming to America was to improve her English while meeting people from other cultures.  Attending school in the States appealed to her because she has always enjoyed watching American movies and reading books by American authors.  Although she originally wanted to be placed in England, she realized America would be a better fit because the program in the United Kingdom is extremely expensive and requires a very high level of English to attend school there.  She first applied for the exchange program back in November of 2011 and was placed in a program here at Summit over a year later after a host family was found for her.

Since arriving here at the beginning of second semester, Emilia said the first few weeks of school and living in America were really exciting at first because everything was new and different, but the reality of schoolwork and grades set in soon after.  She shared attending an English-speaking school is difficult and can put a lot of pressure on her because the grades she receives at Summit count on her Italian transcripts for her high school.  Once she finishes the academic year here, she has one more year of high school in Italy before continuing on to college.

So far, she is enjoying playing soccer for the first time on an organized girls’ league and spending time with her new friends and host family.  She says back in Italy, very few girls play soccer, as it is considered a men’s sport.  Now she looks forward to being able to play with her dad on his recreational league when she returns home this summer.  Another cultural difference she noticed immediately upon arriving at Summit was the stark contrast between the public school she attends in Italy and Summit, being a private, Christian school.  She enjoys the intimate aspect of attending a smaller school where she can get to know the students and teachers better.  She also appreciates the fact religion and worldview can be discussed in school, as public school in Italy is very secular.

Upon finishing her last year of high school in her hometown next year, she hopes to study Hispanic Studies in either England or Scotland, where will learn how to speak Spanish and Portuguese.  Her interest in learning languages has led her to pursue a future career as either an interpreter or as a person who helps to immerse immigrants into a new culture.  She explained it is vital to speak English well if you want to pursue an international career.  She said if you do not have an adequate knowledge of English, you are cut out of the international world.

Her favorite American memory so far is going to homecoming and having a sleepover with some of the senior girls after the big game.  If she had to change something about the American lifestyle or culture, she would change the food.  She explained it is very difficult to eat healthy food here with the high popularity of eating quickly on the go.  Despite having a positive experience in Virginia so far, she also misses spending time with her family and friends back home.  One favorite tradition of hers is going out with her friends for pizza in her hometown.  All in all, however, she is enjoying her time at Summit and in the States and looks forward to attending Soirée and seeing more of the States before she heads back to Italy.

As fourth quarter rapidly approaches and we prepare for the winding down of the school year, keep in mind these last few months of school will be the last we share with these foreign exchange students.  All of these students have displayed great willpower and courage, opening themselves to living away from their families and the familiar ways of their home countries to have a new kind of cultural experience.  Continue to get to know these students, as they all have unique thoughts and opinions to share.  Be open to learning about and appreciating their cultures, just as they have done for our own culture.  And most importantly, remember to encourage them in their efforts while representing America well!