Around this time of year, the Placer High School campus is like a temporary home for exchange students.

A group of Japanese exchange students were visiting Placer and being hosted by students at the school. They got to experience how it is to be a teenager in America for two weeks, and learn our culture. They were able to see how different things are here compared to things in Japan as well.

“Having an exchange student was cool because I learned about Rumi’s culture and I took her to Saidies. So she got to experience our culture. It’s weird because our families are similar. Our parents are the same age and we are the same age. She also has an older brother who is the same age as mine and a younger sister who is too” said sophomore Makayla Ratcliff.

After them being here for two weeks some of the hosts are considering going and being an exchange student in another country as well and experience a great opportunity similar to the Japanese students’ adventure.

“I would love to be an exchange student. My family and I were talking about it and for my senior trip we are going to go visit Rumi in Japan” Ratcliff stated.

While the students were visiting they had many opportunities to do things that we do every day that may not be available to do in Japan.
“We went to the Foresthill Bridge, hiked in the canyon and to Lake Clementine. We also took [my exchange student] to Sums and he really liked it” commented junior Dakota Hecker.

When they were here they enjoyed themselves. They had a good time experiencing something completely new and will not forget what they did and what they learned while in America.

“He really enjoyed it here. His favorite part was watching videos with me and my dad. We got him addicted to Iron Maiden” continued Hecker

Having the Japanese exchange students on campus was a great thing because we need to go out of our comfort zone and get to know new people and learn from them. We can also learn about them and their culture as well.