Global Ambassadors is giving French and Italian high school students the opportunity to immerse themselves in new culture through a nine day exchange program this upcoming spring. Global Ambassadors hopes this program will foster interest in continuing global communication and help students have a greater cultural understanding of both America and the European countries.
Families that sign up to become hosts will volunteer to provide for these students by opening up their homes and giving the visitors a place to get the full American experience. Over the course of the week and a half of the exchange program, the host students’ job will be to show the exchange students around their school and local community. \
“My favorite part of helping her adjust to life in Ashburn is definitely showing her to school,” Sophomore Aida Embert said. “We made a lot of good memories, just exploring Ashburn and trying new places.”
In addition to helping the exchange students gain experience of the local lifestyle, this opportunity will benefit all Stone Bridge students by teaching them about foreign culture and language. The program offers the chance to meet new people, which will help to create long-lasting friendships and global connections. The spread of cultural understanding will be beneficial to all of the students, both foreign and local.
“The students that did [the exchange program] last time, have all retained those friendships,” Mrs. Rizley said. “Several have gone over to Italy and France to visit the families of the students, and you would have a connection with someone in the world.”
This exchange program has been loved by both the European and American students. Students who have participated were not only able to experience a different way of life, but this program helped with language skills and fostered cross-cultural understanding among the participating schools. Students and teachers alike hope that this year’s program will be just as big of a success and that Stone Bridge will continue to offer this program for years to come.
“The impact of being able to share your culture with someone else but also learn about their culture at the same time really promotes the idea that we are all connected and that were all much more similar than we are different,” Mrs.Rizley said. “I think because our world is so interconnected globally, any steps we can take to promote that understanding really does make immense change.”
To apply to be a host and participate in the exchange program, students must fill out a google form, found by scanning the QR code found on the school TVs or on the Global Ambassadors Instagram page.
