Halloween at a Home Away From Home
There are two foreign exchange students at the high school this year, and for the first time in their life, celebrating Halloween with their host families and friends.
Lanie Weikert, '23
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In August of this year, two students from two different countries traveled to the small town of Muscatine to begin their foreign exchange year at Muscatine High School. Coming in August gave them the opportunity to adjust to the climate and environment of the United States, before stepping into the busy halls of Muscatine High School.
The high school experience in America is nothing like the movie High School Musical, but the spirit within American high schools is something that differs from European schools. The year has brought difficulties for the both of them, however, they came to the consensus that they wouldn’t change the experience for the world.
Madalena Gomes, one of the foreign exchange students from Portugal said, “My favorite part about the United States so far has been the cross country team. From team dinners to meets, the environment that has been created is something that I have never been a part of before.”
On the other hand, another exchange student, Anna Finiuc from Moldova, has not had the opportunity to compete in a high school sport yet, so she has spent her time adjusting to the American lifestyle and channeling her inner Muskie spirit.
She said, “Everyone is very friendly or at least tries, I like the school spirit and how all of the students come together to support the football team.”
Not only do the schools in their home countries not have school sports, but they have never experienced Halloween in the way we celebrate in America.
Anna said, “We don’t celebrate Halloween in Moldova. Many people think it is an evil holiday so they try to stay away from it as much as possible and not pressure kids into celebrating it either.”
However, her home country’s beliefs will not stop her from participating in some Halloween activities this year with her host family.
“I'm going to a corn maze in Des Moines with other foreign exchange students and Americans,” Anna continued, “then I am going to Wisconsin to trick or treat with my host grandparents.”
Anna Finuic, Senior (left), pictured with Madalena Gomes, Senior (right), with flags from their home countries of Moldova and Portugal.
In Madalena’s home country of Portugal, the Portuguese don’t take Halloween as seriously as Americans tend to. They hold off their celebration till the spring for Carnaval, right before lent. The annual event includes music, food, and parties, kind of like Mardi Gras in the United States.
This Halloween, Madalena has her eyes set on the sweets.
“I'm thinking about going trick or treating, I really want Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups,” she said.
Within the past few months in the United States, Anna and Madalena have spent their time transitioning from European to American culture.
Madalena said, “I think the weirdest thing I have had to adjust to so far has been the dinner time. Back home we usually eat around 8 o’clock, or even later. But here I am eating dinner around 5:00, or sometimes earlier.”
In Portugal, most restaurants don’t even open until 7:00 pm for dinner. Also, tipping the waiter is not a part of the culture, a shared trait throughout Europe.
Madalena added, “I get super nervous when I go to restaurants and have to tip, because we don’t have a tipping system in Portugal. Not because I am nervous about tipping people, I am just not used to it.”
Being an exchange student can be difficult because some people have a pre-biased opinion already. In other words, some think they know them before they have even met them.
Anna said, “I struggle with introducing myself to new people, because there are people at the high school who have been friends for years already, so I can feel behind and I get shy.”
Adjusting to the American lifestyle hasn’t been sunshine and rainbows for the two, but they seem to be finding their places in the school and fitting right in. Even though they have not celebrated the holiday before, Anna and Madalena are embracing Halloween while maybe even creating their own traditions at the same time.
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