Showcase Exeter Diversity: Latin America

Kisses on the cheek when greeting someone, the warm scent of delectable empanadas, or the balmy breeze of never ending summer. No matter where you look, it is clear that life in the mountainous Andes, lush rainforests, or even sprawling cities of South America is not the same as in the quaint town of Exeter, New Hampshire; and for South American Exonians, the clash of cultures can be felt every day.Among the Exeter student body, a handful hail from the South American continent. One Argentinian, two Chileans, two Brazilians and one Mexican all attend the Academy and bring to the campus different customs and habits that add to the melting pot of the Exeter lifestyle.“When I came to Exeter it was really hard. Having to write my first paper, I spoke English but I had never written an essay with the expectations that Exeter has, and it was also tough to survive in Harkness because my speech was not perfect,” senior Marco Alvarez, who came into Exeter as a new upper from Mexico, said. “But Exeter gives a lot of help to international students. There is the International Student Advisory Board and they tell you everything that we need in early September.”Although international students arrive on campus from all over the world, the unaccustomed Exonians can forge friendships through similar experiences.“Before everyone else even comes to campus international students are here and they are meeting and bonding,” Alvarez said. “But it is hard, since the others do not have the same cultural heritage. At least all of the international students have this in common.”The incoming international Exonians all take time getting used to various characteristics of the boarding school life, whether it be the food or greetings, and the range of adjustments that these students have to make is just as diverse as all their countries.“The hardest aspect was getting used to everything being in English,” senior Anisha Nawalrai from Chile said. “I never went to international school, and although I spoke English pretty well, it was hard having to learn everything in English and getting used to speaking English more often than Spanish.”One of the most common shocks that arriving international students face is the ruthless, unsteady New Hampshire weather that contrasts considerably the summery temperature and frequent sun of South America.“I have never realized how much I enjoyed living a life of constant summer (interrupted by seasonal rain showers) in my home country,” Antonio Guanaes, a new lower from Brazil said. “Snow gets old fast, and after a reasonable period of not shaving and feeling miserable, I realized why New England was so prolific in producing melancholic poetry.”Alvarez shared a similar outlook on the long months of winter term.“There is this culture that everyone is used to it but there is still that change in attitude that permeates during the winter months which you do not see in Mexico,” he said. “In Mexico it is always warm and always celebration time and when you come here during the winter you go from this super warm place to freezing to death. It was not a good experience, but you get used to it.”Yet for every South American student there are a range of distinctions that can be made between home and Exeter.“Normally people greet each other with a kiss on the cheek. We eat a lot of avocado in Chile, which is barely seen here. In America, ice cream is very popular, while in Chile it is not,” lower Chilean Rohan Nawalrai said. “One of the best things about Chile is the passion for football (soccer).”Whatever the contrasts may be, Exeter is a place for all students, international or American, to come together and learn from one another.“Exeter is extraordinary at accepting different people and different cultures and ways of life,” Alvarez said. “After some months you become an Exonian, whether you are Mexican or Chinese. You now have this way of life that is similar to everyone else: dining in the same places and talking about the same things.”Nawalrai added, “Looking back, the transition into Exeter and American culture was pretty easy. I feel accepted in this school because there are a lot of other people with different cultures and backgrounds.”Guanaes found it very interesting adapting to America since there was such an extreme contrast between the metropolis where he grew up and the little town of Exeter.“I come from a sprawling metropolis home to 18 million people, carved into the southeast of Brazil. Consequently, I had a very interesting time adapting to living in a small town like Exeter. Nonetheless it wasn’t difficult in this sense as much as it was peculiar.”Guanaes loves his home country despite its flaws. “We still have rampant social class inequality, a ‘will we’ or ‘won’t we’ relationship with democracy and the burden of decades long high economic expectations. Nonetheless, despite these shortcomings, Brazilians always carry a mischievous grin, because deep inside we know we live in paradise and we probably don’t deserve it.”Even if Exeter is a place where nationalities fade away, South Americans still hold their countries and traditions dear to heart.“Its an honor to be representing my country at such a prestigious school,” Alvarez said. “And as I continue my education in the United States, I am always going to be conscious of where I come from and all my roots. It is important to share it with the community so not only can I actually talk to someone about where I come from but also enrich the cultural of diversity of wherever I go.”