To come to a whole different country to learn is a huge leap for anyone. Liberty’s new exchange students – Sara Borg and Leane Chaudy – are settling in with their new host families.

The foreign exchange student program isn’t through the school. It’s through a program called Council for Educational Travel, USA (CETUSA). Borg, who is from Sweden, began her process a year ago.

Many things in Sweden are in English.

“The music is in English and all the social media too,” said Sara Borg.

In Sweden, it is mandatory to learn English starting at a young age. Borg began learning the language in second grade.

Countries are different in their own ways. Instead of having a variety of students in each class, students in Sweden are in a class with their own age group and they move throughout the day with the same class.

Another difference between Sweden and America is when learning how to drive, Borg said that Swedish students are taught how to be more economical and drive in ways that are better for the environment. Borg mentions how people in the United States aren’t as aware of how much cars affect the environment and don’t take any time discussing or learning about it.

Borg isn’t the only exchange student at Liberty.  On Aug. 15th, junior Leane Chaudy came to the United States. She is from Paris, France.

“The high schools are so different,” Chaudy said.   

Chaudy didn’t originally plan on coming to Missouri and had applied to go to California. She wanted to come to the United States to explore the country.

Chaudy also began learning English 7 years ago. Most European countries begin learning English early on.

Both Borg and Chaudy live with host families.

“I got really lucky with mine. They’re so nice,” Borg said.  

To live across the world from your family is a huge step of maturity and responsibility for these high school students to take.