4,730 miles to the East of America, is Spain, Amaya Garcia’s home country. Garcia will spend a year in Grand Junction attending Grand Junction High School for the learning experience of traveling to a new home.

Although traveling so far from what you’ve known for sixteen years, Garcia is having a great time. “I wanted to go on the exchange because both my brothers did the same,” Garcia said.

Challenges haven’t been a problem for her. The language barrier is minimal, Garcia is fluent in English, and is currently taking French III.

“I haven’t faced a lot of challenges so far. I stay with three host families for the year and the one I’m living with right now is really nice,” Garcia said.

The culture barrier, is a different problem. “The school is different, and the classes. The times that everyone eats at is way different than in Spain.” Said Garcia.

Every year at Grand Junction High School, we have multiple foreign exchange students. The students come from anywhere from Spain, Italy, France and other European countries. Many students from Grand Junction High School also have the opportunity to travel to other countries for a year.