By Sarah Henderson, Regional Director, Greenheart Exchange
From Montana to Chile!
When I was 16 years old, growing up in small rural Townsend, Montana, my mom wanted me to study abroad. As a typical teenager, I was hesitant—especially because it meant missing prom! How far behind would I be on the social scene if I missed a full year of school? Classic teenage girl problems. But mother knows best, and she knew it was something I needed to do, so I decided to apply anyway, and I ended up being placed with a family in Coyhaique, Chile, a town at the same latitude south as my home state was north.
Navigating Cultural Differences
At first, I was shocked upon arriving in this small town, but the landscape felt oddly familiar. I was in a valley surrounded by mountains, just like my hometown, which gave me some comfort. Aside from that, everything was different. The food, people, customs, pace of life, everything! I thought that my two years of Spanish would help me get by, but I was very wrong. I had no idea what anyone was saying to me. Luckily, my host brother spoke English well and helped me get by at home, while at school, students studying English loved to help me fumble through my studies. As a know-it-all teenager, that level of vulnerability was extremely humbling.
Fitting into a New School
School quickly became my happy place because, for the first time in my life, I was accepted. Growing up, I was bullied in my hometown, but in Chile, I was suddenly the most popular girl in class. Everyone wanted to know about my life in the United States, and this helped me build strong friendships. In Chile, we had classes of about 40 students who stayed in the same room while teachers rotated. This meant we spent all day together, took breaks together, and hung out after school in the plaza. I joked that I felt like I was at Hogwarts because attending a Catholic school meant I had to wear a school uniform. Some days, I wore a skirt, but being in southern Chile, I more often opted for my sweater and long pants and looked forward to Fridays when we got to wear our goofy gym sweatsuits.
Staying Active in a New and Different Country
Teens need to stay busy, and I jumped at the opportunity to participate in extracurriculars. Despite being terrible at volleyball, they let me on the team anyway, and we traveled to play in tournaments. When I left, my team made a beautiful collage of pictures from our travels and framed it for me. The frame didn’t survive the journey home, but I still have the pictures! A highlight was playing indoor soccer—soccer is my sport. Though there wasn’t a team, the school held a week-long tournament called the “Las Olimpiadas,” and I felt on top of the world as I carried the girls’ team to the championship. In the final game, my classmates all signed a Chilean flag with notes about our time together, which hung on every classroom wall I taught in as a Spanish teacher years later. When I scored goals, they sang, “No Se Va, Sarah, No Se Va,” which means “Don’t go, Sarah, don’t go.” Of course, I cried—it was my last week in Chile.
Advocating for the Environment on a Cultural Exchange
I also had my first taste of environmental activism. My mom wasn’t thrilled when she found out I was almost pepper-sprayed while protesting against dam construction in the Aysén region. We even staged a school walkout, made signs, and chanted in the streets. It was one of the most liberating feelings of my life, especially since I had NEVER skipped school! (Disclaimer: I am not condoning skipping school).
Overcoming Challenges for a Memorable Exchange Experience
Family life came with some challenges. My first host family and I weren’t the best personality fit, and I eventually moved in with my best friend from school. During the transition, my amazing local coordinator took me in, and I fondly remember making lemon meringue pie with his sweet wife. My second host family was incredible. Andrea, my host sister, was obsessed with the Jonas Brothers (I thought they were kind of lame), but we deeply bonded over Harry Potter. We both collected sticker books leading up to the release of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.” When we went to the grocery store, we’d buy surprise sticker packs to fill our books. We finally saw the movie during our trip to Argentina—in Spanish, of course, but by that time, I was dreaming in Spanish and was able to keep up.
That trip to Argentina was unforgettable. It was winter, and we visited the beautiful ski town of Bariloche. Though we didn’t get to ski, I stuffed my face with delicious alfajores, a shortbread cookie sandwich filled with dulce de leche, often covered in chocolate. I gained 40 pounds during my time abroad. It was well worth it.
The Bittersweet Goodbye!
Leaving my host family was incredibly hard. We had grown so close that we would all pile onto my host parents’ bed at night and watch “Criminal Minds” together. My host father, Sergio, teased me relentlessly about my inability to roll my Spanish R’s—just like my own dad back home. My host mother, Eugenia, was the sweetest and most nurturing person.
Staying in Touch with my Host Family in Chile
We’re still in touch on Facebook, but I have yet to make a trip back to Chile. Coming home was difficult because I felt like I had lived an entirely different life that none of my peers could relate to. I didn’t want to be “that girl” who constantly said, “Well, when I was in Chile…” So, in many ways, it felt like a dream.
The Transformational Power of my Exchange
But that dream shaped me in immeasurable ways. Putting myself out there, learning a new language, acclimating to a new culture, making new friends, and stepping completely out of my comfort zone gave me confidence, independence, and the ability to embrace change beyond many of my peers. It prepared me for college and gave me the strength to be vulnerable and ask questions, the ability to adapt and problem solve, and made me the curious person I am today. It also led me to pursue a degree in Spanish and spend over half a decade in education.
The Benefits of Cultural Exchange to Students
That is what exchange does for teens. It doesn’t just equip them with skills for adulthood—it often inspires a career path. Our exchange students go on to be global leaders, educators, and advocates, bringing back a broader worldview to share with their communities at home. Whether you’re considering studying abroad yourself or thinking about hosting, know this: cultural exchange is a profound, life-changing experience for all involved.
As I start my new career at Greenheart, I find myself looking back on my time as an exchange student often. In sharing about my experience, I hope to inspire others to take part in this rewarding program and to help connect people and the planet.
Think you’d be a good Local Coordinator? Apply today at PlacewithGreenheart.org.
Interested in hosting an exchange student? Visit HostwithGreenheart.org