4 of our exchange students featured in local newspaper!

Pictured (L to R) are foreign exchange students Ana Ardila, Kanyaret Benchanuwat, Nicolas Fritz and Beatrice Blanco.

Photo by Jackie Gorski, Times-Union

Posted Friday, May 22, 2026 6:47 pm

By Jackie Gorski, Lifestyles Editor

BOURBON – Four foreign exchange students at Triton School Corporation reflected Monday on their experience in their student exchange program as the school year drew to a close.
Kanyaret Benchanuwat, from Thailand; Ana Ardila and Beatrice Blanco, both from Spain; and Nicolas Fritz, from Germany; attended Triton High School through the Student Ambassador Exchange program.
Ardila said she wanted to be a foreign exchange student to improve her English skills and make new friends, creating bonds in other countries. Fritz said he wanted to come see the United Sates. Benchanuwat said she wanted to learn a new culture.
In order to become foreign exchange students, Ardila said they first had to talk to their parents about it. Benchanuwat talked about finding the right program and deciding which organization was right for them. They all decided to live with host families instead of going to a boarding school. Ardila said foreign exchange students don’t get to choose which school district they go to once they’ve chosen a country.
Blanco said all four students are from bigger cities. The students said the lifestyles are different from what they’re used to. Blanco said teachers are more aware if students are in sports than what she is used to in Spain. Teachers don’t always know if students are in sports or go to their games.
Ardila said the grading system is also different. In Spain and Germany, their grading system is based off numbers, not letters like in the U.S. She also talked about the differences between finals and whether or not they’d be able to use notes.
Fritz also said in his home school, late work would never be accepted, where in the U.S. it could.
Ardila and Blanco are sophomores in Spain, but they are considered seniors at Triton, so they are taking sophomore and senior classes at Triton. They will have two more years of high school in Spain.
Benchanuwat said this year will count towards schooling back home. Fritz said this year at Triton does not count as a school year for him back home. He would currently be a junior back home, so he will have to do that year when he gets back.
Benchanuwat said in Thailand students wear uniforms, while at Triton students don’t.
Ardila said she’s made friends during her year at Triton and she’s learned the culture and improved her English, which was the main reason she came to the U.S., so she thinks she’s fulfilled with the foreign exchange student experience.
Benchanuwat said she thinks the experience changes someone’s mindset a lot due to being by yourself in another country. Ardila also talked about learning to judge people less.
As far as recommending doing a foreign exchange program, Ardila said the person has to have an open mind and be willing to do things they’re not used to. Blanco also said you’re going to have to be aware you’re going to be apart from your family and friends, as well. She said she would recommend studying abroad. Fritz said he thinks studying abroad helps to become more independent.
Apart from school, Fritz said the biggest difference between Germany and the U.S. was food “because I’m used to eating a lot at home, but here I’m eating fast food.”
SAE, in cooperation with public high schools, is looking for local families to host boys and girls ages 15–18 for the next academic year. Students come from all over the world, including Asia, Germany, Spain and Italy; speak English, want to experience high school in the United States, and learn the culture and traditions.
To become a host family, or to find out how to become involved with SAE, call Diedra Connolly at 512-323-9595, ext 3040, or email info@saeglobal.org