Mafar Peleaz

Duration of stay: 8 weeks

What do you think of Blake so far/what are your first impressions?

I think Blake is a very challenging school, exhausting, but I’m liking it a lot. I’m really enjoying my time here.

What is the name of your school back home?

Colegio InterAmericano. It’s an American school, so I only take like four classes in spanish.

What are some differences from Blake and your school back in Guatemala?

Blake I think has more options. [It] gives you more options for you to choose which one you like the most. And homework in Blake, everything is due the next day. Normally, in Guatemala they leave you more time.

What do you miss the most about Guatemala?

The weather and sometimes my family…sometimes.

Do you have any siblings?

I’m a twin. I have a twin brother.

What do you like to do in your freetime/what are your hobbies?

I like help this organization called Best Buddies for kids with Down Syndrome. So I spend a lot of time with them. And then hanging out with friends.

What is your favorite subject in school?

I’m liking drawing and painting a lot.

Who is your host family?

The Chases. [Emily Chase ‘17 and Annabel Chase ’19]

What is the program that you came here through?

Faces in our Cultures. A friend of mine went last year and she told me it was like super cool and then I wanted to come experience how it’s like studying outside my comfort zone.

What’s the biggest cultural difference that you’ve noticed?

It’s very different how to know how to interact with people because it’s very different. For example, it’s very different too because we normally do everything together, and in school it’s very common for people to just walk and for a friend of yours, like a guy to just hug you.

What do you think of the way that Spanish classes are taught at Blake?

I think they are really good. You read the stuff we normally read in a normal spanish class. For example, I was told that because I was coming to Blake- to the U.S. and I wasn’t taking a spanish class in here that I was supposed to do a work, like a big project and send work to Guatemala for my Spanish class. But then when I came here they said like that the content of Blake’s Spanish classes and my school excepted it. So I guess it’s like a good level.

Would you recommend studying abroad to other students and why?

Yeah because it shows you the many options you have besides not only what you have at home. It changes you, like I swear it changes you in a big way. You become more independent, you value more your country, your family, and I highly recommend it.

Is there anything else you want to add?

Blake is great. I love it!

Miguel Turcios Flores

Duration of stay: 8 weeks

What do you think of Blake so far and what have been your first impressions?

I think it’s a really great school and I really like it. It’s all clean. The building is all new and it sparkles. It’s really different from my school in Guatemala. My experience has been really great, like all the teachers have been really good and they help me. I think the class where I can talk the most about my culture and Guatemala in Spanish with J.J. Kahle.

What do you think of the way they teach Spanish classes here at Blake?

It’s really nice how they teach it. I think it’s okay. Maybe the books they are using and the Spanish they use is old and the books are from ancient Spanish and they use words that we don’t use. But the teacher also explains a lot and is awesome.

What is the name of your school back home?

Colegio Internacional Montessori

What are some differences between your school in Guatemala and Blake?

My school is really different. Like in Guatemala, my school year is from January to October. So right now I’m on summer vacation. So all the classes I’m taking here don’t count in the academic curriculum– I’m just here. And well in my school In Guatemala it’s different because the classes are outside. Like, it’s a really open space because in Guatemala we don’t really have snow and the weather is always the same.

What do you miss most about Guatemala?

I think my family. Oh, and also the food.

Do you have any siblings?

I have one brother. He is younger. He’s twelve years old.

What do you like to do in your free time/what are your hobbies?

In Guatemala I like to play badminton. I’m in the national rankings. Below eighteen years old, I’m in like the best twenty or something. I also like to run with my family. And here I was on the cross country running and now I’m in Nordic skiing.

What is your favorite subject in school?

Probably animation with Mr. Trockman.

Who is your host family?

Borvric family. All my host brothers and sisters are in middle school.

What is the program that you came here through?

Faces in our cultures.

Would you recommend studying abroad to other students and why?

Yeah I would recommend. It’s a really good experience. Like, you learn a lot. School here is really different. Like the classes and schedules and everything is different. And also you learn to deal with the changes about school and the schedules, and also in the house. For example, my host family goes to sleep really late. Like I usually go to sleep at like nine but they go to sleep at eleven. So I think it’s a really good experience to take the risk. Those people who are staying for one year though, that’s a lot.

Are there any social or cultural changes that you’ve noticed?

They (my host family) go to hunt in Iowa. And that’s not allowed in Guatemala, so that’s a big change.