Leechburg too 'hilly' plus other observations from LAHS's exchange student Grecia
by Tabatha Ward, Staff Writer
January 24 , 2011
Many people like to vacation far south of Leechburg to get away from the frigid weather during this time of year. However, Grecia Palomo is wintering in Leechburg from Mexico. Actually, Palomo is at LAHS for the whole school year as an exchange student. In the following interview, Palomo discusses the life she is used to in Mexico and the life she is adapting to in the United States.
Q: What is your full name?
A: Grecia Monserrat Palomo Martinez
Q: Where in Mexico are you from?
A: I'm from Coahuila. This state is in the northeast of Mexico.
Q: What was the name of your home town and school?
A: Monclova, Coahuila, and my school name is CBTis 36.
Q: How big was your school compared to Leechburg?
A: I think it is bigger.
Q: How big was your town compared to Leechburg?
A: It is bigger.
Q: How big is your family?
A: I have 2 brothers and my parents.
Q: What were you expecting America and Leechburg to be like? Do your expectations and the reality match?
A: I think I had a lot of things in my head at that time. I didn't have expectations about Leechburg, but my mother Googled it and told me that it was a small town.
Q: What do you like most about America so far?
A: That the people treat me really nice.
Q: What was your first impression of Leechburg?
A: Too many hills!
Q: What clubs, activities and hobbies were you involved in at your home school during previous years?
A: I used to be a cheerleader but like three years ago.
Q: What activities are you involved in here or plan to be involved in here?
A: I would love to be part of the Art Club, I'm in the Spanish Club and I would like to be a cheerleader.
Q: What classes are you taking here that are most difficult for you and why?
A: It was biology and I dropped it because I couldn't understand anything.
Q: What are some of the similarities and differences between your Mexican high school and this American high school?
A: I don't think that there are similarities. Some differences are that [in Mexico] we're always in the room. The teacher is the one that walks room to room. I used to be in the afternoon shift. Our uniform was a polo shirt and jeans. We're in the high school three years with the same classmates, so after the first semester we start to see them as a family.
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Q: What are some of the similarities and differences between Mexican high school students and Leechburg’s high school students?
A: Both have a great sense of humor. I feel that Mexicans take friendship more seriously.
Q: What has been the hardest thing for you to adjust to?
A: It is not easy to live without family and go to a school without friends and even this will sound weird: it is not easy for me to make friends. So I had to adjust to be alone sometimes, to resolve the problems by myself and just enjoy the experience.
Q: What don’t you understand about Americans? About people in Leechburg? About students in Leechburg?
A: I think that Americans have everything to be someone successful in life and some persons, I’m not saying everyone, don't take advantage of it.
Q: If you could, what would you change about Leechburg and why?
A: I wish it had a mall or a place where we can go and don't have to travel that much.
Q: Before you leave the United States, what do you want to make sure you see and do?
A: I want to go to New York and to a Taylor Swift concert.
Q: What one thing would you change in America to be more like Mexico?
A: I have to say that I would like to make Americans know that Mexicans are not like the old movies. We don't wear sombreros or have “burros.” We are the same as they are. We have the same technology, music, clothes, etc. So maybe this will help how Americans think about Mexicans and make a better relationship.
Q: What one thing would you change in Mexico to be more like America?
A: I won't change anything because it is part of the culture and if I changed it, it won't be the same. But I would change the government. I think that's what is making Mexico have all the problems.
Q: What do you miss most about your hometown and your school?
A: My family and friends and all the freedom that I used to have in my school.
Q: From information and questions that students have told and asked you, what do you think most people know and don’t know about Mexico?
A: Some persons just know what [stereotypes] they see on the TV and they don't know that we are like them, but we just talk another language.
Q: What do you think students would be most surprised to know about Mexico?
A: That sometimes your parents trust you that much that you just behave and don't do bad things.
Q: How do you celebrate holidays in Mexico? What are some holidays celebrated in Mexico that we do not celebrate in America?
A: Halloween is not that big in Mexico, some kids dress up and go trick or treating but just a few persons give candy to them. We don't celebrate Thanksgiving. Christmas depends on your family, but in my family we are Catholic and on the 24th we go to mass and then to my grandparents’ house around 9 p.m. We eat, dance, sing karaoke or just talk. Everyone is doing something different, and we wait until midnight. When it's midnight, we hug each other and wish merry Christmas. And on the 25th we go to our grandparents’ house again to eat the food that we didn't eat the last night. New Year’s is the same as Christmas but in this day we dress up and older people drink, and sometimes our uncles buy us fireworks. At midnight we light them. On Valentine’s Day, if you have boyfriend or girlfriend, you will have to gift them something and make plans for that day. But if you don't, maybe you just hang out with your friends. Or sometimes we don't do anything in this day. Easter depends on your religion, but, like I said before, I’m Catholic so this is a really important week. We have two weeks of break of school and we go to the church to celebrate all the things that happen in these days.
Q: What do you miss most about your family and friends?
A: I miss my mommy's food and my daddy's spoiling me, my brothers always fighting with me, my nephew always messing in my room, my dog, and I miss the days in school with my friends all the things that we used to do together.
Q: How do you keep in contact with your friends and family?
A: Emails and my parents made a Facebook so they can look at my pictures. I called them on Christmas and New Year’s.
Q: Was this your first Christmas away from your friends and family?
A: Yes it was, and the holidays were like I expected but better! I miss my family and on New Year’s I got really homesick because I remembered my grandma. She passed away in November.
Q: What food from Mexico do you miss most and why?
A: I miss my mom's food, even the food that I always used to tell her that I didn’t like. I would pay to eat that right now.
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Q: What is your favorite American food so far?
A: My host grandma's food – everything that she makes is good.
Q: Compare cafeteria food in Mexico and here at Leechburg.
A: In Mexico you can choose between junky food like Fritos, pop, cookies, candy and ice cream and healthy food like fruit, water and complete meals like the ones that we have in the cafeteria. Every time that a period ends, we have a 10-minute break so if you want, you can go and buy something in that time. But in Leechburg you have to eat in lunch time and the food that is on the lunch menu. At least you can pack your own lunch.
Q: What is the difference between real Mexican food and Mexican food in America such as the food served at Taco Bell?
A: There is a huge difference. I've never been in Taco Bell, but I've watched the commercials on TV and that food doesn't even look Mexican at all.
Q: Why did you want to be an exchange student?
A: Because I always liked the English language. I also wanted to know how it is to live in a different culture. The most important reason is because I know that knowing another language will help me in my future.
Q: What exchange student program are you here through?
A: It is called PEACE, Pro-American Educational and Cultural Exchange
Q: What are some of the program’s rules you must follow because you are an exchange student?
A: I'm not allowed to visit Mexico. I have to have good grades in school. Don't drink or smoke and that kind of stuff.
Q: What goals did you set for yourself for this year in America?
A: Don't fail any classes, try to make a lot of friends or a few real friends and try to be open-minded to the new things that the experience will bring.
Q: What will happen when you go home?
A: The first thing I’m going to do is visit my friends at my old high school. They still will be in classes. And I will have to take my senior year again, so I will graduate again.
Q: What are your career and personal goals for your future?
A: I want to go to college but I'm not sure what I want to study. I want to have a good job and buy a nice apartment then get married someday and have a house near my parents’ house. I don't really want to be away from them anymore.
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