Francesca Cacchione pictured on the left and Louise Chery on the right

Lincoln High School Foreign Exchange Students Tell All

By Lola Bills and Isabelle Ibay

June 2, 2023

Lincoln High School has two foreign exchange students this year; Francesca Cacchione from Italy and Louise Chery from France.

We talked to them briefly about what school was like in their home countries versus Lincoln High.

“Here, school is way easier and I love the spirit. We don’t have that or high school sports”, said Louise. “Back home there is no sport, no spirit.”

Other than changes in schools, Francesca highlights the similarities and differences between Lincoln and Italy as a town altogether.

“Population wise, it's really similar. My city is probably like 60000 people, but the city is actually really different”, said Francesca. “My city is more walkable and in Lincoln you have to drive everywhere.”

School sports teams and our zebra pride have especially stood out to these students.

“For me it's really fun because school in Italy, my home country, is really different and I think it's not really fun because we don't have sports so for me school is really fun”, said Francesca.

While experiencing a new way of life, the girls decided to take advantage of different opportunities.

“The fact that I was able to learn both English and Spanish and then also the fact that I was able to join the stunt team was really fun for me, it was something i've never done”, said Francesca.

Not only are school dynamics different between countries, but the actual hours and rigor vary greatly.

“School is from 8 AM-6PM everyday and we have a lot more exams that are way harder”, said Louise.

In Italy, the focus is solely on academics.

“We cannot choose our classes and we do not have sports teams, or clubs, or anything and we just go to school. We don’t even have lunch. It's literally just school,” said Francesca.

After seeing what the US has to offer, the decision to stay is a big one.

“I want to come here for college”, said Louise. “I went to Berkeley and saw the campus, but I want to go more towards southern California.”

Coming to the states through the foreign exchange student program has been really beneficial, but there is one major downside to spending a year here. This year that the students spend here will not be counted back home. Either way the girls pretty much feel indifferent about this.

“I don't really mind losing a year because i'm not really losing it and especially because I want to go to college here so it's good”, said Louise.

Both students are staying with two different Zebra families just for this academic school year. Louise is staying with the Vandeveers and Francesca is staying with Mr. Hankins’s family.

“I have a couple friends that are also exchange students. One of them is in Texas and another is in Arkansas” said Francesca.

As the school year ends and goodbyes are exchanged, both girls plan on keeping in touch with the friends made here.