Day in the Life of Miguel Villafruela Gonzalez

MacKenzie Kulp
Staff Writer 
  Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel to a new country and live and experience their culture the way they do every day? Miguel Villafruela Gonzalez is a Spanish exchange student here at Bonneville High School. Gonzalez is originally from Spain’s capital, Madrid, and he chose to come to The United States because he wanted to experience our culture and further his knowledge of the English language. 
  Gonzalez was first inspired to travel and become an exchange student when his brother traveled abroad during a summer program. Instead of a single summer, Gonzalez decided he wanted to experience more and chose to come for a whole year. He enrolled in a foreign exchange program, passed his interview and fluency exam, and became eligible to come to the States. Gonzalez has faced some challenges with joining the school a little late and having to make new friends; however, his host family has made it much more welcoming and easier to be in Idaho. Gonzalez has never been to America before, so everyday involves a new experience for him. He enjoys getting to know as much as he can about the area, such as the vehicles, supermarkets, and weather. When asked about his favorite experiences, he said that he is having a wonderful time encountering new things such as going to Sam's Club and attending the football games. Gonzalez is also adjusting to his new school structure and schedule; at his old school, students would stay in the same room while teachers would rotate classes to come to the students. In Spain, school spanned from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Not only is the structure and schedule different from Spain's, but the grading system varies as well. In the United States, nearly all assignments count towards the final grade, while summative exams make up the majority of grades in Spain.  He is enjoying not having to wear a uniform anymore and having the freedom to leave during lunch. Overall, Miguel Villafruela Gonzalez is looking forward to learning more about our culture and enjoying the American experience. ​