Lost in Translation

A Hopeful Hello // Cheung

“I hope I will be happier than in Hong Kong,” I said with tears. When I arrived at the Seattle Airport, the only feeling was nervousness. I am going to explore the world and the U.S. for one year.

I am an exchange student from Hong Kong. After taking a 15 hour flight from Hong Kong to San Francisco, a three hour flight from San Francisco to Seattle and eight hours driving to Eugene, I felt absolutely exhausted. I met some other exchange students from different countries: Japan, Italy, Germany, Russia and Thailand. We all felt relaxed after meeting the others. During the orientation camp in Eugene, we played games in order to know more about America. I had no idea what I would face so I felt really worried.

Blue sky, America, trees, AFS staff! I am now in a foreign country for the following year. Therefore, I know I need to be more mature and independent. I am not a young girl anymore. “Hello! Momoko. Welcome to be one of our family members!” Karen, my host mom, said smiling. And I have my first smile here too. I hope I will have a wonderful life here.

A Cheerleader is Born // Moradei

Before I left Italy, everyone told me: “Clizia, we want you to be a cheerleader! Wouldn’t it be cool?”
“You’re right, it would be really cool, but how could it happen?” I replied jokingly. I didn’t even know much about cheerleading or American football.

The school counselor immediately introduced me to Kenna Johnson and a few minutes later I met Anna Herder, who is now my captain. I called the coach, Lisa Collier and the following week I was trying out with the girls of the team at 6 a.m.

Lisa saw I was a good gymnast and a possible flyer, and she accepted me at once in her five-girl team. My entry on the scene has probably been as exciting for them as for me. The first exchange student cheerleader in the history of NHS. I feel so proud of myself.

The first days have been really hard though: the girls spoke so fast! I felt so embarrassed asking them to repeat again and again, however, I feel I’m getting better.

I think I’ve found the best way to live a 100 percent American life and understand the complicated rules of American football!