LT is continuing its tradition of welcoming foreign exchange students to NC this fall. The 2022-2023 school year marks the second consecutive year of hosting international students since the pandemic began. Six students are currently enrolled in various classes from France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Sweden. 

“I was interested in becoming a foreign exchange student in order to explore other cultures, to make new friends, and to learn English,” Italian exchange student Lara Barone ‘24 said. “I am very excited to experience all the school activities such as football games and the school dances.”

Fanny Vaucher ‘24, Pietro Brignoli ‘24, Samuel Ala Naziri ‘24, Clara Pena Millan ‘24, and Lucia Landmann ‘24 are the other five international students attending LT. Vaucher is from France, Brignoli is from Italy, Ala Naziri’s home is in Sweden, Pena Millan is from Spain, and Landmann is from Germany.

“The first few days were difficult, being on my own, facing different things that were coming at me from every direction but it’s getting better by the day,” Brignoli said. “It’s a great school with many different classes and opportunities, [and] everyone has been very nice and helpful.”

Associate Principal Kevin Brown is heavily involved in the foreign exchange program. He has emphasized the importance of utilizing specific exchange organizations to safeguard and support incoming exchange students. 

“We don’t want to get connected with shady companies that are victimizing and taking money from families, and then not caring about the children that are running through this exchange,” Brown said. “We only work with reputable agencies that have been approved to host students by the Council on Standards for International Education Travel (CSIET).”

CSIET, a non-profit organization, aims to provide guidance and support for international exchange students in order to ensure that they have a safe and enjoyable cultural experience, Brown said. LT strives to guarantee that the exchange students receive the best care and derive every benefit from the programs and the opportunities for enrichment that they provide.

“We want to protect them, and make sure [that] they get placed with good families in safe homes,” Brown said. “You have to be responsible for them.” 

Additionally, Brown noted that it is crucial to promote cultural knowledge among the students. 

“We want to expand our compassion as a school because, despite the fact that language may be a barrier, we are more alike than we realize,” Brown said. “I hope for a future where [the next] generation does a better job of fostering equality. We are all living in a small world, and what unites us is much greater than those that divide us.”