From Spain to the States: Montes’ year living abroad

Manteca High senior Paola Montes, a foreign exchange student from Spain, smiles while posing for her portrait photo on Oct. 18, 2024, at Manteca High School. (Maggie Rivera/The Tower)

By VIANEY CASTRO-PEREZ and SIMAR MANN 
The Tower  

When imagining where she would like to spend her next year abroad, Paola Montes was hooked at the thought of a senior year in the United States. After a thorough and stress-inducing application process, interviews, and an English exam, Montes was finally admitted into the foreign exchange system. 

Upon her arrival in California after a 12-hour flight, Montes was elated by the idea of living with the Martinez family and experiencing all things American. When she heard of Martinez’s old ranch, she jumped with exhilaration. During her visit to Martinez’s old house, her eyes travelled over the rustic ranch, wooden stables, and the grassy pastures.

She fell in love.  

Back in Spain, horse riding was a significant part of her life, so it brings her a feeling of comfort knowing she doesn’t have leave all aspects of home behind, 

Manteca High senior Paola Montes rides a horse at the ranch owned by host and Manteca High teacher Amanda Martinez. Horseback riding is a familiar activity for Montes, who rides horses back home in Spain. (Maggie Rivera/The Tower)

“Yes, I would ride horses back home,” she said, “and I’ve been able to continue it here.” 

Although the first day of school may have been rough as a transfer student, it didn’t take long for Montes to begin mingling with her peers as she quickly became known for her bubbly and humorous personality across campus. 

Host and AG department teacher, Amanda Martinez believes Montes has many great qualities.

“She’s very helpful, funny, and tells a lot of jokes,” Martinez said. “She doesn’t mind helping when we’re doing things around the house, and I noticed she’s always up for a good adventure.” 

Montes seems to have made a smooth transition into the beginning of the year. The only subject she struggles with is the adjustment of speaking Spanish to mainly English. Expressing herself has been the biggest culture shock.

“One of the biggest cultural clashes I've ever had has been my way of expressing myself,” she said. “I'm very sincere and open. In Spain, we use our hands a lot to talk; we make gestures. Here it is the opposite, because of my way of expressing myself, I have met people who thought I was arguing with them when it was not true.”

It may not have been easy, but her foreign exchange student agency helped guide her throughout the entire process. Despite tiny bumps along the road, Montes has been making the most of her time here as she works towards her goal of pursuing a career in psychology.  

After graduation, she plans to return to Spain and take the PAU “University Access Test.” The results of this exam will decide if she is to be accepted into her dream school — the University of Salamanca. Montes mentions that many of the necessary courses involving a career in psychology are offered here in America. 

“I want to enter the field of psychology and that is why I am studying in America because many of the required classes for transferring are only available here,” she said. “It's not an easy process, but in this case my agency has helped me a lot.”  

Manteca High senior Paola Montes concentrates in her anatomy and physiology class on Oct. 18, 2024, at Manteca High School. (Maggie Rivera/The Tower)

She intends to make her best effort every step of the way, considering that every exam she takes brings her one step closer to finishing this school year, and therefore closer to her goal. 

Montes reveals that she had taken a leap of faith when deciding to become a foreign exchange student. The idea of living a life one would only imagine in a high school movie was the first thing that reeled her in.  

“To be honest, it doesn’t have many benefits, but you get the opportunity of meeting a lot of new people,” she said. “You get to learn a new language and culture from the country you visit, and just the experience overall.” 

There are significant cultural differences in the education system. She’s had to become a visual learner.

“Here, in America they have a system where it’s less focused on memorization and more on visual learning contrary to Spain, so overall you tend to learn better,” she said. “Also, in Spain there is no such thing as high school, it is just secondary school.” 

During her downtime, Montes enjoys listening to Latin music, allowing herself to connect with her Spanish roots. Alongside Latin music, she also enjoys popular American artists and genres.

“I honestly listen to English music, too. Apart from differentiating themselves in the language, they have different rhythms,” she said. “Spanish music could be included in the Latin genre, and I love Latin music, but the artists I usually listen to the most are The Weekend, Drake, and Adele.” 

Coming to America, Montes is presented with a new world of food and flavor. 

“The food here has many calories,” she said. “There are plenty of more fast-food restaurants as well, but I’m not eating unhealthily. I’m simply eating new dishes that I might never have had the chance of trying in Spain.”  

Montes will return to Spain in the spring. Although she has grown to love American culture and her welcoming host family, the friends and family she left back at home have been calling to her. She won’t rule out a return to America, but for now, she plans to return home after graduation and reconnect with her country and clique.

“I can most definitely envision myself working here in the future,” she said, “but I miss my country, and I think the part I miss most are my loved ones.”