South American exchange students enjoy stay in Pierz

(Pictured are Maria “Ale” Narvaez and Natalia “Naty” Rubio, exchange students from South America at Pierz Healy High School. Staff photo by Lorae Vardas)

The two 17-year-olds are attending Pierz Healy High School as exchange students with the Youth For Understanding (YFU) program. Both live in coastal cities of about a million population in temperate regions of South America. Naty resides in a fashionable seaside resort area about two hours from Santiago in the shadows of the Andes Mountains. Ale’s hometown is east of Caracas, Venezuela’s capitol. The lush Latin American country boasts the world’s steepest waterfalls. At 3,212 feet, Angel Falls is 20 times higher than Niagara Falls.

Since their arrival this summer in Morrison County, Ale and Naty have become close friends. They first met at Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport after a long flight via Miami and Chicago. From there, they drove to Staples where they were picked up by their host families. Ale is staying with Mike and Sharon Menden in Pierz. Kathi and Tate Tetrick are host parents to Naty at their country home.

“People are really warm and nice to us. It’s easy to make friends,” observed Ale, who has relatives in Arkansas and Louisiana. Naty agreed, saying the people here want to know and like them. While the driving age in Chili is 16, students in Venezuela aren’t issued licenses until 18. Anyway, YFU rules prevent them from driving while here.

Like Ale, Naty has previously visited the United States with family and friends, so there were few surprises. “We have mountains, but it’s not as cold,” she said of the climate. “It’s very sunny during the day; people ski in shirts and shorts. The summers are hot and the winters are fresh. The whole country is coastal.” The ski slopes are only a couple hours away, a sport she loves.

Both girls admitted they should have brought along warmer clothes. “Everybody tells us it isn’t cold yet,” said Ale, shivering at the thought of below zero weather.

At school the personable and vivacious teens have made lots of friends. They find it unusual that students can pick many of their own classes. At home, teachers make up the schedules. There are more extracurricular activities here. Both graduated from private Catholic high schools and wore uniforms.

Naty attended Maria Auxiliadora, a co-ed school of about 3,400 students in Grades K-12. There was seldom homework because the school day ran from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The dress code required gray pleated skirts, white shirts, ties and green blazers. While almost everybody attends private elementary and secondary school, the universities are public.

Ale graduated from Pio XII, a high school with about 1,200 students. The dress code was more lenient with blue jeans and beige sweatshirts the standard. Classes began at 7 a.m. and ended at 1 p.m. leaving plenty time for homework. She’s fortunate to have a classmate at another rural Minnesota town on the exchange program.

The visitors experienced several difficult weeks upon their arrival earlier this year. While the September 11 terroristic attack was frightening, the death of classmate Mark Tschida on September 17 affected them personally. “We were really good friends. It was the first time I lost a friend in a car accident,” said Naty, with a hint of sadness in her voice.

Fortunately, faculty and their host families helped them through the unsettling times. Today they feel very much at home. Although Ale had a chance to study in Belgium, she changed her mind at the last minute and came here. Both speak fluent English.

“We wouldn’t think of changing families,” they agreed. “We love them so much. We wouldn’t change the experience for anything. It’s the best. We came with the expectation of meeting different people and having new experiences.”

Besides class work, the girls sing in the Healy High choir. Ale is also a member of the dance team and intends to run with the Pioneer track team next spring. What do they miss most about home? The fresh salads and fruits, they said simultaneously, drooling over the mention of sweet, juicy peaches, pineapples and watermelons.

Coming from similar religious backgrounds, Christmas traditions are exactly the same as in Pierz, they found. The Christmas tree is surrounded with piles of gifts. The celebration centers around good things to eat, church services, family dinners and visits to grandma’s house. “It’s very much the same as home, so we don’t feel bad or blue,” said Ale.

No doubt, they will miss their parents and siblings during the festive season. Naty is the daughter of Wendy Wiedman, a shopping mall manager, and Miguel Rubio, a construction manager. She has two brothers, Samuel, 13, and Martin, 15. Ale’s mother Mary Plazas is a journalist and local TV/radio personality. Her father Carlos Narvaez is an electronics engineer. Brother Carlos is 15.

Exploring her career options while here, Ale is considering attending St. Cloud State University in engineering or mass communications. Still undecided about her future college plans, Naty indicated her parents are encouraging her to go to dental school.

Meanwhile, she has become an integral part of the Tetrick family enjoying the company of Teianna, 4, and Tanner, 10. Ale is looking forward to spending an old-fashioned Christmas at the Menden home with her American brother and sisters, Brad, 7, Christy 15, and Amanda, 18. Because of the younger children, Santa still makes house calls, bringing back fond childhood memories for the exchange students.