Exchange Note

Youth Exchange News By Rita Galvin

For the next few months, we will feature one of our 2011 Youth Exchange. We will start with Linsay Lloyd, a Senior at Amador Valley High School. We have included a couple photos of her visit to Tulancingo. We are still planning to meet with all of the exchange youth to view their photos and place some on the PTSCA website. Enjoy reading Linsay's testimonial below.

When I first found out I was accepted for the Pleasanton Tulancingo Sister City Youth Exchange program I was so excited. We found out way before we were going to actually meet our siblings back in March, so it was a long wait until Summer. My biggest fear was that I would not get along with my “soon to be brother” while we were in California. And my biggest concern about being in Tulancingo was the communication. The night my brother, Diego, arrived in California was amazing. He did not say much. He told me that he knew how to speak English well, but he just didn’t know what to say. As I look back on the month in Pleasanton, we had so much fun while he was here. I love him so much. I am very glad that the Tulancingo youth come here first.

As the days passed and our trip approached I became nervous. The night we left for the airport was hard because I knew I would be away for a month. I sent my last texts to my friends and cried on the way to the airport. Diego told me that I could not cry because if I did, then he would start, too. Once we arrived in Tulancingo I was still nervous and now exhausted. Tulancingo is different than Pleasanton. The laws are different. The speed limits are slower. Simple things I noticed made me think of my life in California and of American food.

I lived with Aranza Islas Gonzalez, her two siblings and Parents. Her Parents were very nice, even though they did not speak much English. Her two siblings spoke enough to communicate with me. When the Tulancingo youth were in California during June, we spoke alot of English with the Mexican students, but in Mexico we had to depend on our Spanish speaking skills much of the time. I believe a big difference is they have been learning English almost all their lives while we only started learning Spanish 2 or maybe 3 years ago. The families are very understanding and tried to speak English. They all want to learn English, too.

The Youth Exchange Program was the most amazing experience I have ever had. It is not a walk in the park, though. Being somewhere where they do not speak your language, eat the same foods or do not have the same customs is a big change. With that said, though, I came through with flying colors and would have not changed my decision about being in the exchange program. The people you meet and the things you do will change your life forever. When offered once in a lifetime chances, make a once in a lifetime decision and take it! You will not regret it. I promise.

-Linsay Lloyd