St. Petersburg High School 1991 Yearbook (St. Petersburg, FL) - Full Access

How would you feel if one day you woke up in another country? You knew no one, and you didn't know where to get your favorite meal. These are some of the challenges encountered by seven foreign exchange students who attended St. Pete High School this year. "The first thing that I noticed when I stepped off the airplane was how everything was so much like the American movies I had seen in my country," remembered Olof Dhalgren, a junior from Sweden. He loved SPHS but thought that, "the classes are too short to get enough instruction." Sometimes exchange students found it difficult to keep up in classes because of the language barrier. Imagine taking notes in English, then having to translate and rewrite them in your native language in order to study. That is exactly what junior Maki Okada from Japan did every day. Maki sometimes had trouble understanding her teachers, as did Laura Cantabrana, a freshman from Spain. "It has been very difficult because I cannot speak English very well," remarked Laura. On the other hand, Mario Pizzolanti, who has taken English classes in his native country, Uruguay, for eleven years, didn't have a language problem, but did have an adjustment to make . "I am not used to a big school like this. In my country, my high school had a total of 90 students in all four grades." All the exchange students agreed that the weather in Florida was wonderful. They also agreed that almost Left: One-two-three, swing! Maki Okada, Tommi Napari, Olof Dahlgren, and Yasuko Takahashi all demonstrate perfect putting form. everything was less expensive here as compared to their countries. Alexandre Papa stated, "I had come here before and enjoyed it so much that I decided to return. This visit has also given me an opportunity to practice my English." He certainly had an opportunity to practice. The friendly environment appealed to all our exchange students, particularly, Yasuko Takahashi of Japan. "I think Japanese people are much more shy than Americans. In America, guys and girls talk to one another. I think that is very nice ." Tommi Napari from Finland agreed. Before Tommi returns home he hopes to, " ... visit Disney World and meet Minnie and Mickey Mouse . " - Frannee Miller Life • 37