Exchange students and their hosts after landing in Iowa. (Photo credits to @CopanOfficial on X)

Bonds beyond borders
Three students from Copán, Mexico share experiences about a recent visit to Ankeny High School.

When a group of foreign exchange students visited Ankeny High School (AHS) this January, it sparked an exciting two weeks of cultural exchange between students.

Teenagers from Copán, Mexico shared riveting experiences, created special bonds, and expanded their understanding of American culture. These 18 exchange students spent two weeks attending school, extracurricular activities, and events, as well as living with their host families in Ankeny, Iowa.

History behind Copán exchange
Students have been traveling between Mexico and Ankeny for decades, but how did this exchange system start?

Rebecca Torres, organizer of the Copán Program, shares that this has been an annual trip since the 1990s. Des Moines is a sister city of Copan, Mexico. The term sister city refers to a long-term relationship between two cities in different countries through which cultural, educational, business, and technical exchanges take place.

After many exchanges, the two sister cities decided to start an exchange program to help students with language acquisition and to broaden their knowledge of the world. The two cities formulated a plan for the exchange program to not only allow students to visit the United States but also allow students from Ankeny to visit Mexico.

“After just two weeks, the bonds students create will be there for years to come,” Torres declares.

Students from Mexico typically visit in early January, and students from Ankeny visit during spring break in March. This two-way exchange has been ongoing for approximately three decades. Ankeny is planning on keeping this process going for reportedly, many more.

Memorable moments
AHS hosted three students from Copán, Mexico in 2025. Rodrigo Alcalá (17), José Luis Salas (17), and Zara Castillo (18).

“It was a whole new experience getting to know the country better,” Alcalá explained. “The food, the weather… it was amazing.”

Upon asking students to recall their favorite memories and experiences of the trip, their responses highlighted the diverse and unique experiences that stood out to each of them.

“The thing I love most is my host and his family,” Alcalá said. “They make me feel at home- I feel like I am part of the family.”

Alcalá’s response highlights the powerful impacts that the trip makes on students, like the connections and friendships that students make while visiting.

“My favorite experience was when I went to Chick-fil-A with my host family,” Salas said.“We had so much fun eating there, and I had a chance to make friends with one of the workers there who let me go into the kid’s zone.”

This lighthearted moment shows how simple, everyday moments can mean a lot from an outside perspective, and acts as an example of another cultural exchange experienced during his trip.

Castillo shares the fun time she had with her host’s friends.

“One of my favorite things was to go with Kyler [AHS student host and senior Kyler Johnson] and her friends snow tubing, and also to play ping pong and pool with them.”

Between the excitement of snow tubing and the friendly competition of household games, Castillo had a great time building relationships with not just her host, but her host’s social circle, expanding this experience beyond just her host family.

Culture shock
One of the biggest challenges these students had to overcome was reportedly the culture shock. Culture shock can be defined as the feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly placed in an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes.

“In Mexico, we are a lot more noisy,” Alcalá explains.

Alcalá shares that when going out to dinner for his host’s birthday, his expectations were not quite met.

“When I gave him his [student host and AHS senior Nick Ambroseccia] gift, I started to applaud. That’s when I realized everybody was silent,” Alcalá said. “Usually when it’s somebody’s birthday in Mexico, we clap and sing for them, even in public.”

Salas reflects on the cultural differences in expressing affection that he observed during the trip, noting a contrast between the customs in Mexico and those in the United States.

“In Mexico, it seems like we show more appreciation for the people we love,” Salas said, “For example, we hug everybody a lot in Mexico just to say hi. It is not the same here”.

In Mexican culture, physical touch is a crucial part of daily interactions, and it is not uncommon for people to greet each other with a hug or a kiss on the cheek. This openness in expressing love and appreciation allows for close-knit communities.

“In Mexico, we show our love a lot more to our close ones, which keeps us closer,” Salas adds.

American culture focuses seemingly on personal space for politeness, especially in public settings. The typical American greeting is often a handshake, a quick smile, or a nod, with less emphasis on physical touch.

“Compared to Mexico, I feel like you guys are so cold to eachother here,” Alcalá comments.

All students were in agreement that this initial culture shock did not hinder their experience, but enriched it by showing them new viewpoints of American culture and the way of life in Ankeny.

All host families and traveling students recommend participating in this program. Whether you are looking to expand the boundaries of language, make new friendships, or become better traveled, this is a valuable experience for both the students hosting and those traveling to Mexico.

“If you’re curious, try it [participating in the exchange],” Torres said. “It will be worth it.”