You walk into a new school, looking around aimlessly. No one looks like you, no one sounds familiar, and the schedule in your hand details classes that are unknown to you. Everyone you see is a potential friend, but luckily, you’ve already made one.

For 34 years, Ankeny High School (AHS) has welcomed students from Copán Prep in Mexico. Students, parents, and staff open their homes, providing our exchange students with a place to sleep and a friendly face to go home to. Coming to Ankeny opens a whole new world of opportunities for our Copán students.

“We tried to give them experiences and show them things they usually wouldn’t do. Going to football games, seeing seasons change, and going to a new grocery store,” Copán coordinator and AHS Spanish teacher Rosana Brewer said. “The lifestyle that we have here is such a good mix with theirs, as both sides will learn new things, and it will have a great impact.”

Brewer and fellow Spanish teacher Elizabeth Dentlinger have recently taken on the task of running and monitoring the Copán program at AHS and Ankeny Centennial High School (ACHS). They find host families and show appreciation for the culture and education that all groups are exposed to.

“We are trying to get the kids outside and involved in agriculture, highlighting what fall is like in Iowa,” Dentlinger expressed. “We are trying to bring a ‘what makes Ankeny special’ feeling. Even if it’s a negative thing or a boring place, it’s different for the children. It’s a different aspect of culture, and they still find a way to be entertained.”

While school is one way to teach exchange students about the culture and agriculture of Iowa, spending time with a host family provides a different type of education. Something as simple as having a typical American dinner or playing in the snow can be a new and interesting experience.

Usually, exchange students come for two weeks in January, but they expressed interest in visiting Ankeny in the fall. Some Copán students come with lists of everything they would like to do, including things they have seen on social media or read about in books.

AHS junior Evy Allison hosted an exchange student for two weeks during her sophomore year. Even though she does not take a Spanish class, her family signed up.

“I thought I wasn’t going to like it, having to do everything with someone for two weeks, but I really loved it,” Allison said. “It made me happy to see him happy, like when he saw snow for the first time. I took him out to eat almost every night he was here to try restaurants he dreamed of trying.”

Kristi Allison, an Ankeny resident and Evy Allison’s mother, also shared her experience of hosting.

“I think I assumed it would’ve been harder than it was. It was actually very easy. He fell in sync with the family,” Kristi Allison detailed. “He was very patient, and he spoke very good English. We were fortunate.”

American families relish the opportunity to show their culture and the uniqueness of their families, reports the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) from a study conducted in Feb. of 2024.

During their stay, Copán prep students will attend school for a few days to get an idea of what a school day looks like. AHS students will get to be a part of class with them, interacting and learning together. Exposure to other cultures enhances global awareness and fosters a deeper understanding of diverse traditions. It can also challenge previous stereotypes and assumptions.

“I think the students who choose to host or go are extremely interested in people and other cultures in general,” Brewer said. “Hosting allows our students to see and experience a human connection, and this is the gateway to doing longer experiences or trying new experiences in other cultures or countries.”

The ECA also reports that all participants affected by the exchange gain greater cultural competency and worldliness, which helps with personal growth.

“I never took Spanish, so I never knew about Mexican culture,”  Evy Allison said. “I learned there are different ways of doing things. I learned about their schooling system, and their opportunities are so much different than ours. He showed me pictures of his house and his family, and I even got to learn how his school day goes.”

Ankeny also collaborates with other schools in various countries to facilitate students’ exchange programs. Students and teachers reported that hosting an exchange student inspires others to travel another country, whether it is for two weeks or a full school year.

“I think it’s a great experience for the country’s students coming and the students going,” Brewer said. “They develop more skills by learning how to survive with different people and cultures. Every school should create a program like this. And from this, some students are inspired to study abroad for longer periods of time.”

This year, AHS welcomes exchange students in October, and the program is still actively looking for host families. They want to offer the experience to any student interested.

“We have 21 students, and so far, we have 15 students definitely placed. We need another six. I think it’s a great experience, and we have good kids here. They need a family who wants to host someone,” Brewer said. “It can be any student who is willing to do it, not just a student taking a Spanish class.”

Hosting seemingly has benefits for the exchange students and the students at AHS. Whether it is learning new things about Iowan culture or taking an exchange student out to a new restaurant, two weeks of hosting can be a life-changing experience.

They are still looking for host families for the 2025 exchange. If any students and families find themselves interested, leap and sign up.

“I would definitely recommend it. It didn’t seem long enough. If you’re on the fence, it would be a great opportunity to give it a try,” Kristi Allison said. “They’re only there for a couple of weeks. We asked him what he wanted to do, and we tried to fit it all in. It was interesting, the things on his list. Go all in with it, enjoy it. Just go all in.”

You can apply to host here!