Hollister
– Entering San Benito High School for the first time from a
foreign country, you might think you’d entered the set of a
Hollywood teen movie.
Hollister – Entering San Benito High School for the first time from a foreign country, you might think you’d entered the set of a Hollywood teen movie.
Anita Zbodakova, 17, who is an exchange student at SBHS from Slovakia, said she almost started crying during her first pep assembly, because the experience felt so surreal. In Slovakia, her school didn’t have a football team or cheerleaders.
“It’s a way bigger school than at home. Here, it’s like an American movie,” Zbodakova said. Currently, Zbodakova is the only exchange student at SBHS.
Since 1994, nearly 70 students from around the world have come to San Benito High School to study through Academic Year in the U.S.A., a San Francisco-based study abroad program. Students have come from countries all around the world: from Norway to Argentina to South Korea. The program offers students a chance to experience firsthand what it’s like to be a student in America. Around two high school students a year leave San Benito County through a similar program to study around the world, although none participated this year.
Ruth Erickson has been the community representative for the San Benito chapter of the study abroad program since 1994. She feels it is important for people to experience other cultures, and hosting a foreign student is a great way to do this.
“Our own community in Hollister is part of a global community,” said Erickson, “This is a wonderful way of experiencing that without leaving home.”
Ginger and Dave Lobeck have hosted students for more than 10 years, both during the school year and summer break. They are currently acting as “host parents” to Zbodakova. Ginger Lobeck explained that it has been a learning experience for their family, discovering both differences and similarities between people.
“We’ve always learned a lot about the student’s culture,” Lobeck said. “One of the things we’ve learned is that people are the same the world over. They have the same needs and desires, even though we may not do things the same way.”
Erickson said all families should consider hosting a student from abroad. Host families are expected to provide a bed and dinner for their student. There is no financial stipend, but families are not expected to pay for additional expenses, as the students come with their own money.
“I would recommend to anybody who’s ever thought about the possibility of hosting a student to go ahead and do it, because it’s such a rewarding experience,” Lobeck said. “This is a wonderful way to get to know another part of the world and make a friend. We have opened a door for us that we would have never been able to have prior to hosting.”
Students traveling to Hollister also learn a lot as well. Zbodakova explained that she has become much more independent since she came to the United States.
“I didn’t know what T-shirt to buy when I first came here; I didn’t know how to make my own decisions,” Zbodakova said. “And now I can.”
Zbodakova said she’ll be sad to leave Hollister, as she really enjoys the community. Most of all she’ll miss her friends, football games, Starbucks and Jerry’s restaurant.
Alice Joy covers education for the Free Lance. You can reach her at 637-5566 ext. 336 or at aj**@fr***********.com.
