Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Nevada School Invaded

There's nothing unusual about foreign exchange students coming to the area to study and to learn how people here live. However, nine at a time is a bit out of the ordinary.

This is what happened at Nevada High School, as nine foreign exchange students are currently studying there. They come from four different countries. The nations represented are Germany, Colombia, Brazil and Italy.

Eva Jean Morehead, the International Student Exchange coordinator, lives in Bodcaw and recommended the students attend NHS. She worked to find host families for them.

Naomi Butler, NHS counselor, said the district has four or five foreign exchange students each year, but this is the largest group it's ever had at one time.

To be in the program students must be able to speak English and be good pupils.

The group expanded from seven to nine at semester, as two transferred in from other districts. One came from Fouke, while another had been in the Monticello district.

Most, though, had been at NHS since the start of school.

Overall, these young people have had problems dealing with the Arkansas weather, especially thunderstorms and the threat of tornadoes.

The ice storm affected some, but not others, especially the two from Germany.

When they get together as a group, the room gets noisy in a hurry as nine teenagers talk at once.

Two of the students, Hannah Vetter, from Baunatal, Germany, and Luiz Henrique Consoni (called Ricky), from Sao Paulo, Brazil, are staying with the same host family. Vetter considers Consoni to be her younger brother, though both are seniors at NHS.

All nine admitted gaining weight since coming to the county, saying there's little to do but eat. When asked what they like to eat, fast food was at the top of the list.

As it is with American teens, these also enjoy music, but find country music dumb. They prefer rock or classical music instead, and all have their favorites.

They also share many of the same hobbies in their native countries, such as art, music, movies, television and sports.

Their reasons for coming to America were much the same: All wanted to improve their English as well as wanting to learn about American culture and the American mentality.

However, southern terms have left them confused at times, as the South has its own dialect apart from the rest of the U.S.

The students laughed at the term "y'all" and were confused by "y'onto", which, as southerners know, means "do you want to."

Vetter has picked up a slang southern term as a favorite expression  ain't. Ain't, she said, is easier to say than trying to remember is not or are not in the proper text.

Carla Farais is a junior from Brasilia, Brazil. She's staying with Cynthia Barr in Bodcaw.

She enjoys arts and crafts, baseball, biking, bowling, computers, history, jogging, movies, music, picnics and shopping.

She said being in the U.S. has helped her appreciate her own family even more.

Mark Minius, from Worms, Germany, is a junior at NHS and is staying with Julie Allen of Cale.

In Germany he's a disc jockey, plays the piano, enjoys computers, body building, swimming, dancing and singing. Minius has put on 25 pounds while here, all in the upper body.

He became an exchange student to help become more independent and learn about the American way of life, along with accumulating more knowledge about the people and language of the U.S.

Consoni, is staying with Steve and Denise Love in Cale. He likes baseball, basketball, camping, computers, fishing, movies, picnics, shopping, photography and music.

His reasons for becoming an exchange student were to get a better job, learn English and the American culture.Vetter, also staying with the Loves, is interested in arts and crafts, squash, snow sports, movies, acting, dancing, playing pool, swimming, cooking and baking.

She became an exchange student to learn American mentality, culture and make new friends.

Nathalie Becerro, a senior at NHS, is staying with Lyle and Frankina Fitzhugh at Rosston. She hails from Chia, Columbia.

Her interests include bowling, camping, computers, cooking, gardening, jogging, movies, museums, movies, photography, picnics and shopping.

Becerro's reasons for being an exchange student are to learn English and have experiences in different cultures with different families.

Next on the list is Laura Albertini from Rome, Italy. She's staying with Frank and Lera Bradley of Cale.

She likes art and painting, baseball, basketball, hiking, bowling, camping, computers, cooking, fishing reading, sailing, snow sports, watching TV and walking.

Anna Braga, a senior from Taguatinga, Brazil, is staying with Billy and Kelly Hardin of Willisville.

She enjoys biking, camping, fishing, jogging, movies, music, picnics, reading, horses, shopping, swimming, theater, travel and TV.

Braga wanted to improve her English and to learn the American culture, its people and customs as her reason for becoming an exchange student.

Talita Marinho, a senior from Recipe, Brazil, is living with Eva and Gary Morehead of Bodcaw while here.

She likes basketball, computers, jobbing, movies, music, picnics, animals, racquetball, reading, shopping, swimming, tennis, theater, walking, writing and TV.

Marinho is an exchange student because she wanted an unforgettable experience and to learn wonderful things.