Saratoga to play host to students from Cuernavaca

Next month, 10 students from Cuernavaca, Mexico will be staying in Saratoga for the first time. For 30 years, students from the school have been traveling to Cuernavaca to study, and now the students from Cuernavaca are finally making the trip here.

According to Spanish teacher Arnaldo Rodriguex, the Saratoga students will be hosting the Mexican students throughout their stay here.

Senior Joanne Sturge appreciates the idea of returning the favor to the students from Cuernavaca.

“I think it's really cool to be able to have friends in other countries,” Sturge said. “And the fact that the roles have reversed and I get to teach her about my lifestyle is really rewarding.”

Rodriguex said one of the benefits of this trip, which will be from Nov. 10-26 is that it will give the students a chance to break stereotypical barriers between students of different countries.

Rodriguex also said that since some of the students aren’t from a wealthy background, the trip will likely be eye-opening for them.

Rodriguex also said that having the students from a different culture in Saratoga classes will help expand students’ knowledge.

“They speak Spanish and represent culture, and just having those students participate in our classes and talk to our students will be a great tool,” Rodriguex said. “It’s kind of nice to talk to people from other countries your age and [say], ‘This is what I do here and this is what I do there.’ Many, many times it’s very similar.”

Junior Stephen Cho said he looks forward to meeting the student he will be hosting and the overall experience because it is something he has never done before.

Ultimately, Sturge hopes that the students will have fun in California.

“I not only hope that they have an awesome time while in Saratoga, but I also hope that they see California as a place they would come back and visit again, the way I did when I stayed in Cuernavaca,” Sturge said.