Across borders: Redwoods Foreign Exchange Students Venture Visalia

By: Isabel Barycki and Donya Hassanshahi

Foreign exchange students, Mattia Bianchi, ’24, and Ilari Makiranta, ’24, speak about the interesting differences between their home countries from America and Visalia, California, and their unique experiences here.

Underneath Redwood’s proud and loud pride and culture, students’ individual and personal culture can be found. Specifically, students who have traveled far from their home country to get a taste of American education. Although America’s culture may have given these students a unique taste, Its opportunities and experiences have made it fun and exciting.

Originally from Northern Italy near Lake Como, Mattia Bianchi ’24 is a senior here at Redwood. Inspired by his sister, Bianchi came to America for the experience. He says, “I just only want to do a new experience that would give all the things that everybody in Europe and Italy thinks are true.” 

As of now, Bianchi has been in Visalia for four months. He arrived in August and may stay until June, possibly July. To arrive here, Bianchi took a plane from Milan where he then changed planes after more than ten hours of flight in Chicago. Then, from Chicago, he flew to Fresno. Bianchi says, “The whole travel was like a day”

Back in Italy, Bianchi left behind his family and friends, which he says he misses most. Regarding his family and his younger sister, he says, ‘I don’t think that my little sister is going to do the year experience.”

Here in Visalia Bianchi has two host parents. “One is retired, and the other one is an athletic director,” he says. He also says, “I’m going to change my host families at least two times, maybe three, I’m not sure.”

High school in Italy has many differences from high school in America. Bianchi points out differences such as school days, he says, “In Italy, most of the people go to school six days a week.” In the classroom, Bianchi says, “You have your class for the whole year and it would probably be the same class for the other years.” and “You have your own class and your teacher changes the classes.” While inside the classroom some American students eat while they learn however Bianchi says, “Another big thing, you can not use your phone, you can not eat during lessons, you can not drink, you cannot brush your hair.” 

Bianchi says, “It is very stressful, the school in Italy. You have to study a lot, we have a lot of subjects. Because every day you have different subjects. 

At Redwood, multiple buildings are used for classrooms. However, Bianchi says in Italy, “We only have one big building where we spend all of our time.”

One main difference between American schools and schools in Italy is the sports. While at Redwood sports are offered by the school, in Italy Bianchi says, “We don’t have sports at school If you want to do sports you have to go to a private place, with another association” In Italy, Bianchi says, “I did soccer since I was six” At Redwood Bianchi participates in activities such as Link Crew and Redwoods cross country team

Outside of school, Bianchi still sees many differences in America’s culture from Italy. Luckily, all good things. He says, “The people here are more friendly” and, “You have short conversations with people that you don’t know.”

In the future, Bianchi can see himself potentially coming back to America for college. He says, “Depends on if I can find something here, maybe I can come back.” However, he says, “Probably I’ll stay in Italy but I’m not sure.” 

Ilari Makiranta, ’24 embarked on a 26-hour flight from his home country, Finland, and entered California from Helsinki, Finland to Fresno, California. He arrived on August 4th and will be staying until July.

This unique journey was inspired by the stories he’s heard about the USA. Makiranta says, “I have heard stories about the USA, and one of my family members went to Oregon as an exchange student, like in the seventies or something, like a really long time ago so, I wanted to experience it as well.”

Generally, the school in America seems to be a lot easier however Makiranta says, “but it is also more strict” specifically because, “The teachers have more power, authority” he says.

Luckily, small talk and American people’s openness seems to be a positive and distinct factor within American culture. Makiranta says, “People are a lot more open, and people are nicer’’

One thing California is known for is its blazing hot weather which Makiranta points out. He says, “It’s hot here it’s cold in Finland.” To prepare for this weather he says, “I bought shorts, I bought T-shirts, I never used shorts in Finland”

Outside of Visalia, Makiranta went to Florida in 2017 for two weeks making that his first time in America. This year Makiranta says, “During my year here so far I’ve been to San Fransisco and I’ve been to Santa Clara and Sequoia National Park”

America’s public bathrooms and school bathrooms in general aren’t always the most pleasing. Makiranta says he misses his home countries, “Public bathrooms, they’re better”

Makiranta is associated with the Rotary program also known as The Rotary Foundation, an organization that helps with international exchanges and more. When choosing to do an international exchange Makiranta says, “It’s a long process.”

Typically this process begins with finding a club and telling them you want to go do an international exchange. Makiranta says, “And then you choose four countries where you would like to go, and then basically they try to let you where you want to go but it always doesn’t happen. For me it did for some it doesn’t.”

When choosing to do an international exchange Makiranta says, “We can’t choose the state or anything.”

At home in Finland Makiranta has two siblings, a brother who is 14 and a sister who is 9. “Of course I miss them,” says Makiranta

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