Foreign exchange students adapting

Gaffney High School has an international look this year with the additions of foreign exchange students Marc Hagenschulte, Paulo Fuganti, Luiza Aranha and Jakob Groenvoll. Cheers erupted in the stands last Thursday when Paulo Fuganti made his first extra point in an American football game.

Fuganti is used to playing a different type of football at home in Joinville, Brazil, where soccer is the country's national sport. The foreign exchange student couldn't pass up the opportunity to try out for a spot as a place kicker on the Gaffney High junior varsity football team. He made his first successful kick in last week's game against T.L. Hanna.

"It is really cool to play American football," Fuganti said. "I am having a lot of fun. I have already made a lot of new friends."

Fuganti is one of four foreign exchange students attending school at Gaffney High this fall. He is attending the twelfth grade with Luiza Aranha of San Paulo, Brazil; Marc Hagenschulte of Bremen, Germany; and Jakob Groenvoll of Frederickstad, Norway.

The students are enrolled in the 12th grade so they can enjoy many fun activities from the senior year, including the prom, senior pictures, and homecoming. They were placed in Gaffney with host families through the Aspect Foundation, an organization that arranges foreign exchange experiences for students overseas.

Aranha is staying with Gaffney resident Jessica Pall for six months. The other foreign exchange students are here for the entire school year.

"I have studied English since the third grade," Aranha said. "I wanted to come to America so I could learn about a new culture."

Hagenschulte and Groenvoll are staying with Gaffney resident Barry Morgan. Fuganti is staying in the home of Limestone College Chaplain Rev. Ron Singleton.

"I have seen how America is in the movies," Hagenschulte said. "I wanted to see it in real life by going to school, watching American football and learning about another culture."

The students have already noticed several differences between their country's schools and attending an American high school.

For one thing, many Gaffney High students drive to school in cars.

"I am used to taking a taxi when I want to go somewhere in Brazil," Aranha said.

Class changes is another new concept.

Gaffney High students have the same class schedule every day. In their countries, the foreign exchange students have different classes each day and are grouped with the same students for lessons.

"If you sleep or miss a class at my school in Norway, you have to work twice as hard to catch up because nobody will wait for you," Groenvoll said.

In Germany, high school students are only in regular school in the mornings. Their afternoons are used for outside lessons in English and other academic subjects.

There is time for students to play for club soccer teams and get involved in community activities.

"School in Germany is really hard," Hagenschulte said. "I will have to repeat my 11th grade year so I can take all the lessons I need for the next grade."

The students hope to do some traveling while in the U.S.

A trip to the Biltmore House, New York City and visits to see relatives in Florida and California are among their future travel destinations.

Mainly, the students are enjoying going to high school and experiencing life in America.

"Being a foreign exchange student is a lot like being a celebrity, everybody knows who you are," Groenvoll said.

Hagenschulte and Groenvoll plan to attend the Clemson Maryland football game Saturday. In the spring, they hope to join Fuganti on the Gaffney High soccer team.

"I think we could be a lethal trio," Groenvoll said.