High School, Baseball and Welding

The Magill farmstead, nestled among the trees along the South Touchet River, is the current home of foreign exchange students Pedro Barbosa of Patos De Minas, Brazil and Thammanoon (T-Noon) Amorchaiyapitak of Bangkok, Thailand. Valarie and Dan Magill, whose bustling household includes their daughter, son-in-law, three young grandchildren, and a bevy of animals, are vet- eran exchange hosts, having opened their home to 12 students since 2006. Vala- rie, Regional Director for Face the World exchange programs, says, "I just enjoy the kids."

Pedro and T-Noon both experienced some concern when they learned their stay would be in a rural area, but now appreciate their small town experience. Pedro, whose hometown is roughly the size of Spokane, recalls thinking, "Oh my gosh! It's such a little place," when he read about Dayton. "But now I think it was good be- cause it's so different and I really like it."

T-Noon, whose home- town of Bangkok has a population of roughly nine million, enjoys spending time in the farm shop and, under the tutelage of hostdad Dan, has learned to weld, an experience he wouldn't have had in a larger city. "I like the small town. It is less crowded and there is more space. I didn't think I would like it, but I do," said T-Noon.

Both boys cite a desire to share in the "American high school experience", as seen on television shows and movies; playing sports; and improving their English, as reasons for visiting the U.S. While school is different than what they'd seen por- trayed, Pedro and T-Noon are enjoying their time at Dayton High, where both are active in sports. Pedro played soccer, basketball and baseball while T-Noon, who arrived later in the year, is playing baseball. Soccer is the sport of choice in both Brazil and Thailand. Pedro played on soccer, basketball and handball clubs in Patos De Minas while T-Noon played soccer and golf at home in Bangkok. Pedro was forced to develop patience playing U.S. soccer, which is signif- icantly less competitive than in Brazil, saying, "It was hard to play just for fun." The boys hold different views of U.S. academics; T-Noon finds school harder here while Pedro finds it easier. In Bangkok, T-Noon attends an all-boy, private school of 6,000 students, in grades one through 12. He does feel schools in Bang- kok, where even the public schools require uniforms, are stricter than the U.S. "In Thailand we can't choose our classes," said T-Noon, a junior who will return home in June and complete his senior year in Bangkok.

Pedro, a senior, attends a private high school of ap- proximately 300 students in Brazil, where he finds academics "much harder". "Here, the feeling is more for sports," said Pedro. "At home everyone wor- ries more about studies." Pedro's school year began in January, allowing him to complete part of his senior year in Brazil and the rest here. At home, Pedro carried 18 courses his senior year. When he returns, in July, he will attend an after-school type program through November, in preparation for his university acceptance exams in December.

The boys explained that, in both home countries, the best universities are free, though competition for acceptance is fierce. Students work diligently to get ac- cepted to a good school that doesn't charge tuition. T-Noon plans to go to uni- versity for business, while Pedro is looking at a career in mechanical engineering. When asked what they felt they gained from their U.S. experience T-Noon said, "New friends, new family, and new relation- ships."

"It was a good experi- ence to learn to rebuild everything again: school, family, and friends," said Pedro. "It was hard work, but good. I advise everyone to take part in an exchange if they have the maturity to accept differences and deal with new experiences." Pedro notes seeing snow for the first time as one of his trip highlights.

Host mom Valarie summed up the experi- ence by saying, "Exchange students get out of it what they put into it. Pedro and T-Noon are both very dif- ferent, so they experienced different things, even living in the same home. Pedro focuses more on sports while T-Noon has learned about farming and working in the shop."

Both boys consider the exchange positive and are grateful for the experience.