Michelle Kim may have been the only Korean exchange student this year, but according to students at Coeur d’Alene High School, she had plenty of personality to make up for it.
“I’ve had Korean exchange students since sixth grade,” Jessica Spinazza, sophomore, said. “Compared to the foreign exchange students in the past, Michelle is definitely more sociable and outgoing.”
The Spinazza family was Kim’s host family. Kim was in Coeur d’Alene for the month of January. According to Spinazza, Michelle fit right in.
“We originally hosted a Korean foreign exchange student because we thought it would be a new experience,” Spinazza said. “Ever since then it just stuck.”
It wasn’t exactly easy for Kim to get the opportunity to be a foreign exchange student in America. According to Kim, she had to take a mandatory English exam, her grades had to be above average, and the final decision was left to her teacher.
According to Kim, it was a big culture shock when she came to Coeur d’Alene High School. She enjoyed not having a mandatory dress code and having boys in the classroom.
“I really like that boys and girls can be in the same classroom,” Kim said. “Girls in Korea get little interaction with the boys in school. It sucks because I think boys make everything more fun.”
According to Spinazza, Michelle had to follow her around everywhere.
“It was harder to find free time,” Spinazza said. “It got easier after Michelle made friends because she wanted to hang out with Sydney Williams [sophomore] and Graham Thompson [sophomore] more.”
When Kim went shopping in America, she said her favorite things to buy were clothes from Forever 21, chocolate, and Kendamas.
“The thing that was at the Spinazza house that I loved was cheese,” Kim said. “American cheese is so delicious!”
Spinazza said that her family’s experience with foreign exchange students is a good one.
“You get good memories,” Spinazza said. “It opens you up to a new aspect of culture.”