Diana Ochoa G’mez, 18, said something interesting during an interview at The Clarkston News the other day ? things are different in America, but also the same.
Thanks to her year-long stay in Clarkston, G’mez has decided that although Americans retain different traditions, people are just people.
‘We can be from different countries and traditions, but we are just people. We all have feelings,? said G’mez. ‘Meeting different people is exciting and you learn a lot.?
‘I wanted to come here just for the experience,? G’mez added. ‘I wanted to meet people in a new culture. Learn about American culture.?
G’mez, from Paipa, Colombia came to the United States through the Rotary Youth Exchange program. She was one of 20 students brought to southeast Michigan.
‘We place students where available,? explained Program Counselor Judy Livingston. ‘We only hosted one student in Clarkston. Diana came from a sponsoring club in Paipa.?
Rotary exchange students stay in the country for about 10 months on one-year study visas. Some may stay longer as their visas allow. G’mez arrived in the country at the end of August and will be returning home in a few days.
‘My first experience in the country was awful,? said G’mez. ‘Saying good-bye to everyone was scary, but then coming into the country was nuts.?
Checking through immigration took longer than G’mez expected, and she missed her flight into Michigan because of the delay. Luckily, she was able to find a few Spanish speaking individuals who assisted her in getting another flight.
‘We had a whole group of people there to meet her at the airport,? said Livingston. ‘When the flight attendants and pilots were getting off the plane, we knew there was a problem. We were able to find out what happened to her thanks to the airline workers.?
G’mez lived with three Clarkston families during her stay: Sam and Patti Hoff, Don and Donna Blower, and Henry and Bard Flores. Livingston said the students stay with a variety of families to get a sense of the differences in lifestyles, cultures and religions across the U.S.
While in the country, the students are given the opportunity to take several trips and experience lots of socializing. However, all participants must follow the ‘four D’s:? no drugs, no drinking, no driving and no dating.
G’mez herself traveled to the East coast and brought plenty of lapel pins to trade with other exchange students and people she met throughout the year.
‘The best part of the trip has been the people,? said G’mez. ‘It’s amazing ? your far from home, but you meet people who barely know you and support you.?
So what were some of the many things G’mez worked to become accustomed to? First and foremost, the large portion sizes and dinner being the biggest meal of the day. A close second was not having a maid to help with the household chores and cooking. And following in third was the large size of Clarkston High School, complete with changing classrooms.
‘At home, we don’t change classrooms,? she explained. ‘We have the same classmates all year long. The teachers move classroom to classroom.?
G’mez said she is anxious to return home to her mom and dad, a Rotarian himself, and her three sisters. However, the Clarkston senior is struggling to say good-bye.
‘I’m excited to get to see my niece. She was barely talking when I left and now she is walking and everything,? said G’mez, ‘but now, saying good-bye is so sad. This is worse than coming over here from Colombia.?
‘She’s my seventh exchange student since 1999, and she’s been the best,? said Livingston.
The Clarkston Rotarians are preparing to welcome a student from Madrid this fall. Livingston said the service organization is still looking for host families.
Host families are selected after an application and interview process. For more information, please call either Judy Livingston at 248-625-2343 or Jeff Lichty at 248-625-4244.