Imagine leaving your home, traveling to a new country and being immersed in a new school, language and culture for a year. Moorhead High School exchange student Ana Dias-Nespoli shares her experiences and culture shock with being in America.
“I am from Espirito Santo in Brazil,” Dias-Nespoli said. “I’ve been in America for not very long, since the beginning of September.”
Dias-Nespoli has been to America one other time. “Two years ago, I visited Disneyland with family,” she said.
Dias-Nespoli is living with a younger host brother and two host parents. She also is living with another exchange student from Vietnam.
While in America, Dias-Nespoli has experienced many differences.
“There are no lockers at my school in Brazil, whereas here there are lockers,” she said. “School also starts at seven o’clock a.m. and goes until twelve o’clock p.m. in Brazil. I could spend the whole day talking about the differences between America and Brazil.”
In America people typically greet each other with a handshake, but in Brazil, it’s different.
“Brazilians have a different way to welcome you. We are more outgoing and welcoming. And here you give handshakes or do nothing at all. We give hugs and kisses as a welcome back home,” Dias-Nespoli said.
Language has been hard for Dias-Nespoli while being here in America.
“Reading and translating is very difficult. And talking with people is hard,” she said. “Everything is close together and in walking distance back in Brazil, whereas here everything is very spread apart.”
While living in Brazil, Dias-Nespoli played tennis and had a passion for playing. She hoped to play on the tennis team at Moorhead High, but the season was close to an end when she arrived.
Dias-Nespoli has been to many other countries, and she loves to travel.
“I have been to Uruguay, Chile and Argentina. I also have my citizenship in Italy so I can live there even though I have never been there,” Dias-Nespoli said.
While being an exchange student here in America, Dias-Nespoli is determined to finish her stay and program.
“I like to finish something when I start it,” she said. Dias-Nespoli has a dream to move to London and open a coffee shop one day.
