Javier Sánchez Ramos, a 16-year-old boy from Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain, is one of Yamhill Carlton’s exchange students this year. As a junior in American high school, this experience is much different than his normal life in Spain.
Stepping outside the airport and driving home, Sánchez’s first impression of America was noticing the differences in stores and cities compared to his home. The roads were different, and he wasn’t used to the farmhouse lifestyle of his host family.
“It wasn’t bad because I knew where I was going,” Sánchez said. “I had looked here online so I knew what to expect.”
Sánchez said that he wanted to try the exchange program because he wanted to see what the school atmosphere and sports were like in America. His older siblings, a 21-year-old sister and a 22-year-old brother, participated in the same program and after hearing their stories about America, Sánchez decided it was his turn.
On his first day of school, Sánchez thought YC looked particularly small, and he reflects on his first meeting with the three other exchange students.
“We had to take a math test, me and the other exchange students, and it was fun. We were there for an hour doing that test and we met the math teachers,” Sánchez said. Sánchez also said that the people, humor, and academics in America are much different than in Spain.
Only just getting started on the school year, Sánchez says that so far, his favorite part about the exchange experience is playing sports. “Soccer has been fun, I like to score, but I hope to also play football,” Sánchez said.
Sánchez is currently in his soccer season and is considering trying a winter or spring sport like basketball or rugby. Sánchez enjoys going to school to see all of the new faces and is excited to hang out with new friends and attend school events like football and baseball games.
Sánchez will finish the school year at YC before saying his goodbyes and leaving in June 2024. Upon returning home to Spain, Sánchez plans to continue his schooling and study to either work in marketing or become a commercial pilot.
