Swiss Exchange Student in Wakefield Discusses American Experience

A group of Swiss students was invited to live and learn in Wakefield for a several week long span.

The Swiss students are staying in the homes’ of Wakefield students, attending school, going on field trips and immersing themselves in American culture.

“I definitely got to experience the real American culture and a lifestyle that is a lot of fun,” Swiss student Hanna Walker said at a recent school committee meeting. “Visiting school here has been a whole new cultural experience.”

The trip hasn’t been a learning experience just for the Swiss students; Wakefield’s host students said they've enjoyed having the Swiss kids around.

 “It’s been a really great experience,” Wakefield High student Kathleen Pinette, who is hosting Walker, said. “I think I can speak for the whole group, we’ve formed a strong bond between the 30 of us.”

Osi Inglia, an assistant principal in Switzerland who is chaperoning students here, presented the school committee with several gifts from his home country, which included a book on the history of the town he and his students hail from.

Inglia also shared his thoughts on the differences between American and Swiss educational systems and cultures.

“Our school is just a building where you have lessons and classes, then at four or five it’s empty,” he said. “It’s very academic. It’s very sober.”

In the U.S., “the high school is kind of like the cultural center,” he added, referencing large turnouts for high school events in the evenings and on the weekends.

School committee members expressed their approval of the exchange program, which has been ongoing.

“Thank you very much for coming,” School Committee Member Kevin Piskaldo said. “I was here there last time you came and I hope this is a relationship that can go on and on.”