Exchange Students from Across the World
By Kai Neuberger
I had the privilege and honor to get to interview two of nine of our Owasso High School exchange students this year. Sergio Martin Martinez, sophomore, and Kokoa Kudo, junior.
Kokoa comes from Aomori Prefecture, Japan and heads back home June of 2020. When asked about her hometown, she mentioned that they get much more snow there, but it manages to feel colder here in Owasso. She has one younger sister back home in Japan and compared to her host family here, the Livingstons, her family back home feels smaller. Naturally, she misses her family, but they send her ingredients from back home so that she can cook for her family here! The house favorite is her Curry Rice. Her biggest hardship here has definitely been the cultural differences.
The concept of Truth or Dare initially eluded her understanding as well, but with the help of her friends it’s become more entertaining. When asked about what her favorite quality of Owasso is, she said her friends! “They are all just so nice,” she says. She’s even a part of the Girls Basketball team here at Owasso! Be sure to look
Abby and Annabeth Livingston with Kokoa Kudo, Juniors
for her out on the court at the next match. Owasso is so lucky to be able to host and get to know Kokoa Kudo this year!
Kokoa Kudo, Junior
Sergio comes from the big city: Madrid, Spain. Back home, he tells of how many people can be seen in the street, the effective transportation, and just how much bigger it is than our little Owasso town. Even the housing is much different! While we tend to have horizontal homes, the Spanish homes are primarily vertically structured and clustered together. Things there are truly different than they are here in America. While we tend to value family time more important in our society, they rather find time with their friends to be more of the social normality, and thanks to all of their public transportation options, it’s easy.
Sergio Martin Martinez, Sophomore
Things here in Owasso aren’t so bad, though, in fact, his favorite Owasso thing is our very own high school. Sergio was part of our Cross Country team and is preparing for soccer season! He’s also found a love in American classics such as burgers and hotdogs. Since arriving in America, the most difficult part was the language barrier and missing his family, but after the first week, it has gotten to be much easier.
Students, be sure to give all of our brave exchange students a warm welcome and Ram Pride! Owasso is very pleased to have you all with us. Another big thank you to our host families this year as well, this wouldn’t be possible without you. We hope you had a wonderful holiday season!