Miami Palmetto Senior High’s student population is made up of extremely unique characteristics, whether it would be artists, dancers or star athletes. Yet, one group goes unnoticed. These are the students new to Miami, or better yet, the U.S.: MPSH’s very own foreign exchange students.

Making up just four of 3,000 students at MPSH this year, foreign exchange students come here to live the true American high school experience, including football games, pep rallies, homecoming and many more school activities unknown to them. 

Martina Causin:

Senior Martina Causin is here on an Academic Year Foreign Exchange Program from Italy. She was born and raised in a small town in Milan and was inspired to come to America on a program because of her father, who also participated in an exchange program as a teen, as well as her older brother. 

“I have a big brother and he wanted to do this [foreign exchange program] but he couldn’t do it because of COVID,” Causin said. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2021-2022, study abroad participation coming into the U.S. declined by over 100,000 enrollments, whereas the year previous was almost double the enrollments. 

“Right when COVID hit, all students had the option of either staying to do virtual school from home or they could leave and…go back to their country, they could do virtual school to continue with Miami Dade County Public Schools,” International Cultural Exchange Services Local Coordinator Jackie Willock said. 

Causin remembers watching YouTube videos of other foreign exchange students when she was younger, and when her friends left on their exchange programs, Causin decided she wanted to come to America. 

“[I came here to] start over again. Trying new cultures, new things. My life was perfect in Italy, [it] just needed that one thing, one change,” Causin said. 

Causin notes how difficult the transition from Italy to Miami has been for her, having to make new friends and adjust to the climate and lifestyle. 

“I mean, I came here with the wrong idea of everybody being so social and coming to talk to me, not to me like to everybody. But here I feel like everybody, especially seniors, they all have their friends. So it’s a bit difficult,” Causin said. 

Aside from the social challenges, one of the biggest challenges that exchange students face throughout their program is the immense feeling of homesickness. 

“[The program] is going to make me much more mature… I’m learning to stay a bit alone and to be more independent. Because…my parents are not here I have to do it all by myself,” Causin said. 

Following discussions with each of the students, the majority felt the same, believing that this experience was going to mature them further than any of their classmates and give them that once-in-a-lifetime experience.

While Causin describes the obstacles that come with being in a new environment, some feel completely the opposite, like Emily Zimmer, an exchange student from Germany. 

Emily Zimmer:

Sophomore Emily Zimmer is here on an Academic Semester Foreign Exchange Program from Germany. 

“It’s hard without my family, and to know nobody here, but I have another exchange student from Germany. And we met on the first day, so I think that was good. Here, the people talk to you more…In Germany, I think everybody hates everybody,” Zimmer said. 

While some students felt that one of the biggest challenges of coming to the U.S. was meeting new people, Zimmer says she was met with friendly faces and welcoming smiles. 

One of Zimmer’s friends came on another exchange program to Florida, and after seeing a photo of what some refer to as a beach paradise, she quickly realized she would love to do an exchange program here. Like Causin, Zimmer agrees that this program will change who she is as a person.  

“I was never alone in Germany in my school, and now I learned to be alone. I think that’s very important,” Zimmer said. 

One of the biggest things that exchange students look forward to is the movie-like American high school experience, and that seems to be the case for some of them. 

Claudia Senso:

Freshman Claudia Senso is here on an Academic Semester Foreign Exchange Program from Madrid, Spain. 

“I like [school activities]…it’s very fun and nice to see. That’s because it’s different…It’s like the movies,” Senso said. 

Willock recalls one of her most memorable exchange students, Paloma, who at first seemed hesitant about jumping headfirst into the American lifestyle, yet later on she joined RTOC along with her exchange sister.

“…In the beginning [of the program], most of them are shy. Although they are enthusiastic about participating in our group events. You can see that…they’re a little shy, but by the time we [are in our] second or third month, they’re more outgoing…talking to others,” Willock said. 

Claudia, however, is not a rookie to the Miami lifestyle. Senso’s father has lived here for her entire life, so her Winter Breaks were defined by the flight to Miami in the tropical paradise of December.

“…[I wanted to come] this year so I can spend more time with my dad and sister,” Senso said. 

Not only do foreign exchange students experience significant cultural and social change, but they also experience a significant difference in the classroom.

Antonia Miether:

Meet sophomore Antonia Miether, here on an Academic Semester Exchange Program from Germany. 

Miether, like Causin, also followed the YouTube trend and was inspired to come to America after watching social media vlogs from previous exchange students. 

“You basically have to choose for yourself. How much education you get, that’s your own choice, and I feel like that’s a little complicated,” Miether said. 

Being able to choose which six classes you are going to take seemed like a foreign idea to Miether. 

“Most of [foreign exchange students] come from countries where education is very, very high standard. So when they come here, they feel that the classes are super easy,” Willock said. 

Miether was shocked at the class dynamic, and how easygoing most of the teachers were. 

“What I found was true, that a lot of people aren’t really educated about much outside of the U.S.…And one girl asked me why I speak so good English since I just came in. I told her we learn that in Europe and she couldn’t believe me,” Miether said. 

The University of Buffalo’s research states that millions of Americans are uneducated on international and world affairs. 

When asked about what American stereotypes she found true or false, Miether explained her own experience. 

“[It is] untrue that everyone is really open and welcoming. That’s not what I experienced… people are nice, but they don’t really care for you. Like everyone’s kind of minding their own business, and that’s okay, but that’s just not what people tell you about Americans,” Miether said. 

No matter how challenging it can feel, Miether feels that your exchange program is what you make of it.

“I think it’s mainly about stepping out of your comfort zone.  It’s a good practice for later because you always have to do that in life and then probably just become…more confident and…learn how to talk to new people,” Miether said.