Exchange student acclimating to area

Getting kids involved with other cultures and people from different countries is one way many schools benefit in the United States.

Orchard Public Schools is blessed with a second foreign exchange student for the 2019-20 school year.

Silvia Bode-Garcia, an 18-year-old from Margarita Island, Venezuela, joins Madleen Repein, from Germany.

Bode-Garcia will reside with Sam and Barb Schwager during the school year and will be a member of the senior class.

Silvia wanted to become an exchange student for a couple reasons.

"It is a unique experience, and you can learn different things and contribute a bit of your culture to them."

Bode said the climate has been a pretty big change for her.

"It's so cold," she stated.

Venezuela is tropical, with with temperatures ranging in the 70s and large amounts of rainfall possible.

She also said food has been a slight change to what she is used to as well.

Bode-Garcia wanted to become an exchange student to have a great experience, where she could provide a cultural change for her host family.

"I love it, I love it," she responsed when asked how she likes living in Nebraska with the Schwagers.

Typical schooling in Venezuela is free for children ages six to 15. Students there are not allowed to choose their classes like students do in the United States. Also in Venezuela, most kids are literate by age 15.

Since Bode-Garcia was able to understand the English language, she was allowed to become a foreign exchange student.

After Silvia spends a year in Orchard, she will return to Venezuela.

Then she will travel to Germany where she was accepted into a university.

The Orchard school system is fortunate to have the opportunity for students to be able to interact with two foreign exchange students this year.

"My family in Venezuela is so, so happy I am here," said Silvia.