Students from Valencia, Spain, stayed with local families for two weeks last month during a summer exchange program that brought together new and old faces.
The Moorestown-Valencia exchange program started a few years ago with the help of township residents Maggie and Dan Ladik. They were inspired by a colleague who participated in a similar program, and after three years of planning and two years interrupted by COVID, the Ladiks connected with coordinators Mayte and Emilio Requena to make the exchange happen.
Five of the 12 students who came to visit this year were repeats from last summer. Hosts for 2024 were the Keenan, Pazienza, Petriello, Oeltjen, Rothenberg, Malinowski, Wilson, Russell, LeGrazie, Chalbert, Tarangelo, Carroll and Ladik families.
Mayor Nicole Gillespie hosted Mayte and Emilio. While the Malinowskis had previously participated in the program, 2024 was the first year for the Tarangelos. Yet the experience felt the same to both families.
“I would say the experience of having a foreign student makes you appreciate much more about the culture, the language itself, because you pick up all of these small things that you would otherwise not pick up if you’re just learning a language,” said Ed Malinowski.
“Academically, it’s the textbook, it’s not the nuances for how a family eats paella (Spanish cuisine) at their home table …” he added. “And then sort of a little side benefit was that we got to know a lot of families in our town who we otherwise would never socialize with, and (it) just kind of expanded our horizons.”
This year’s program was like years past, with games of Wiffle ball, soccer and basketball, a tubing excursion, a tour of Moorestown High School and trips to the beach. But before the Valencia students came to the U.S., six of the host families traveled to Spain to meet their exchange students’ relatives.
“There was a boat cruise along the coast of Valencia that we (the Tarangelos and the Malinowskis) both participated in,” recalled Jim Tarangelo. “There was a tour of a castle in Peniscola (a coastal town located on the Costa del Azahar in the Valencia region), which is a castle from the Roman times, and we all walked through outside Valencia
” … We had a few meals with the local families in Valencia as well, and we actually toured (an) old city with one of the … families as well and had lunch with them.”
There are 10 reasons to host an exchange student, according to International Experience, a nonprofit exchange organization, include gaining a new family member, cultivating life-long friendships, learning about the world from a new perspective, communication skills and learning a new language.
As important as the exchange experience is for a U.S. host, it is equally so for both the visiting students and students in the families who take them in.
Visiting students and their host families went tubing on July 19. They were with Moorestown families for two weeks.
“I’ve been to the U.S. a couple of times, so obviously the first difference, I think, it’s the food here … Also, the houses, they’re constructed a different way, and I like them a lot here,” said exchange student Melinda. “And my first impression was very good. My family is amazing, and also the people around us.”
“It’s my first time here in the U.S., and I think the first thing I thought is everything here is huge: the food, the cars, the buildings – everything,” noted visiting student Marco.
“Last night, we had a friend come over, and so we cooked my family (the Carrolls) some paella,” remembered visiting student Sonia. “I talked to them … and I explained what we do in this tradition celebration back in Valencia, and so I feel like that was really interesting. And I shared pictures with them …
“I also told them, like every time I saw something that shocked me, that I felt was really different, I didn’t hesitate to tell them,” she added, “and so I think we learned from each other.”
“It’s a nice experience to have somebody your age who lives somewhere else and has grown up differently spend two weeks with you,” said first-time host Lily Carroll.
“I think it was beneficial for both me and (their exchange student) Diego because I got to learn how he lives and he got to learn how we live in the U.S.,” observed first-time host Dylan Rothenberg.
“I’ve loved the students that I’ve had,” repeat host Leo Ladik said. “If you put in the effort to really create a relationship with them, I think it becomes really worthwhile. Then it’s kind of like you have a brother overseas, or sister.”
“I think it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said repeat host Jack Keenan. “People not from this country are coming to meet you and you have such little time with them, so make the most of it. The connection is the best part because, you know when they leave, they could be gone forever.
“You don’t know, but when you get in contact and keep in touch with them, it’s such a special bond.”
The visitors left Moorestown on July 30 to head to New York City for four days. While it was a quick two weeks here, the host families are on board for next year’s adventure.
“I think it’s a great way for families and kids to get some international experience,” Tarangelo offered, “exposure to other cultures, more experience in foreign languages, (and) it’s a lot of fun.”
