Foreign exchange student comes to America during global pandemic
photo credit: Cali Scott
Learning in a whole new world \\ Watching a video, senior Leal Balkis learns about photo collages in her Photography II class. Balkis is a foreign exchange student and is experiencing her first year of American high school.
February 16, 2021
While previous exchange students get to go to their first football game, she heard about the games the next day at school.
Instead of going to her first choir concert, she filmed one virtually.
While she wanted a normal school year in America, senior Leal Balkis, a foreign exchange student from Germany, experienced a restricted year from COVID-19 the coronavirus.
All foreign exchange students look forward to the American traditions, but COVID-19 got in the way of most of them for Balkis.
“There are some things I had imagined differently. For example, going to a homecoming dance, going with friends to football games, and having in-person choir concerts,” Balkis said.
Even with the restrictions, her friends tried to give her the best American experiences.
“I took her to do common things and taught her traditions that we have here in America,” Carissa Scott said. “We couldn’t watch football games or go to our homecoming dance, and I feel bad because she always talks about how she wanted to watch them.”
However, there is still time for Balkis to get to experience more American culture because she plans to go to college here next fall at the University of Tampa.
“I actually like it so much in the U.S. that I already applied to universities in the U.S., and I even already got accepted to one that I really like,” Balkis said.
Kyndal Nystrom • Mar 15, 2021 at 12:12 pm
As different as this year has been, I do think it’s cool that it’s actually an experience that no other foreign exchange student has had.
Quintin • Mar 15, 2021 at 8:23 am
I hate That her experience here is with covid she doesn’t get to enjoy the finer things of high school & that can be rlly challenging especially for someone’s who is away from home
Kaleb M Riley • Mar 5, 2021 at 5:05 pm
I like that even through Covid she still is here.
Bryanna Turner • Mar 5, 2021 at 10:19 am
It’s already hard enough having to deal with the pandemic. I can’t even begin to imagine how difficult it must be for her to have to deal with that as well as being new and having to find her way around. I’m just glad her friends are helping her out.
Morgan Healey • Mar 5, 2021 at 10:11 am
I’m glad she’s making the most of it even with the situation we’re in!
Piper Deneault • Mar 4, 2021 at 7:14 pm
It is sad that foreign exchange students do not get the same experience this year as many others have in the past. I hope she enjoys her time in America as best as she can.
Taikasar G Powell • Mar 4, 2021 at 2:52 pm
I’m glad she can still make the best of her American experience, even with the help of her friends.
Savannah • Mar 4, 2021 at 1:20 pm
That must be so challenging during the pandemic.
Tonie • Mar 4, 2021 at 10:31 am
I think she will get the full on American experience soon!
Anne • Mar 4, 2021 at 10:08 am
It’s really sad that we can’t have normal high school experiences, but I am glad we can still have foreign exchange students. Hopefully things can turn back to normal soon so everyone can enjoy normal life.