Keeping up with traditions

Pooja Ravikiran

Senior Stella Ziegler’s family hosts Belgian exchange student as a family tradition

For Constance Linard, Aug. 6, 2010 was the day that she started to live a brand new life. Linard, an 18-year-old Belgian exchange student, traveled to the city of Cupertino from Nassogne, Belgium, her home town. Upon arrival, she was greeted by her adopted family for the next year, which included her soon-to-be very-close friend, senior Stella Ziegler.

Linard came through a student exchange program where she and Ziegler were matched up by the Cupertino Rotary Club.

"It was a long-held tradition in the family [to participate in the student exchange program]," Ziegler said.

As a curious Belgian student, Linard said she wanted to be part of the exchange student program because she wanted to discover and learn about American culture.

Linard did not get to choose where she wanted to study abroad, but she is still glad that she participated.

"[It is] a great experience to be a part of," Linard said.

Senior Stella Ziegler and Belgian exchange student Constance Linard share a meal together on Sept. 16 at the Zieglers’ house. Photo by Kevin Tsukii.

The Zieglers have had many other additions to their family in the past, apart from Linard. Ziegler's father had a student from Sri Lanka stay with his family when he was in high school. Her aunt hosted a girl from Finland. Ziegler's mother, on the other hand, has experienced both sides of the student exchange program. She studied in Switzerland as a foreigner and had a student live with her from Japan. Although they were from three very different countries, they made one family.

Ziegler said that she had the opportunity to be an exchange student but she had conflicting views.

"It was my sophomore year at [MVHS] and I felt comfortable where I was at that time," Ziegler said.

Linard, however, is the first exchange student that Ziegler and her family are hosting together.

Though Linard is a native French speaker, both girls have no difficulty communicating with each other.

"She can understand, most of the time, what I am trying to say," Linard said.

Both Linard and Ziegler say that even though there is somewhat of a language barrier, it does not prevent them from being close friends and having a good relationship.

However, Linard feels that it is easier to make close friends in her home town.

"In Belgium, I share [all] my classes with the same people, [making them] very close," Linard said.

Linard also stated that adjusting to life at MVHS was not hard in terms of finding friends. She said that Ziegler introduced her to Ziegler's own friends, who helped Linard adapt to school. Linard also said that the ice cream social helped her meet new students.

Though Linard's stay here in Cupertino is only for a year, she believes that the experience will remain with her throughout her life. For the Ziegler family, hosting an exchange student from Belgium adds to their list of foreign visitors. It will certainly be another tale to tell around the dinner table.