The idea of a student exchange program had been circulating at Blue Mountain since 2023, but it wasn’t until September 2025 that the vision became a reality. The program originated at Oxbow High School, which had participated twice before. Inspired by Oxbow’s success, Blue Mountain Spanish teacher Mrs. Montague took it upon herself to bring the exchange experience to BMU. Her first step was to find students eager to participate. Interest quickly grew, opening an exciting new opportunity for cultural exchange and connection at the school.
From the moment the program began, enthusiasm ran high, particularly among the twelve students from Sapere Aude High School in Villanueva del Pardillo. Each shared glowing reflections on their time in America, with many saying their experience at Blue Mountain was the highlight of their trip.
Ana Garcia explained that she “got to see all the differences between [the] school[s].” One of Ana’s exchange friends, David Moreno, also shared his experience at Blue Mountain. He shared his opinion on this once-in-a-lifetime experience by saying his favorite part was “meeting new people, the American society, [and] the food, but if I had to pick one it would be the people.”
Their stories show how this exchange has already made a lasting impact—creating lifelong friendships, cultural understanding, and unforgettable memories.
Host Families: Opening Homes, Hearts, and Horizons
Behind every successful exchange are the families who opened their homes and hearts. At Blue Mountain, host families played a crucial role in making the program possible. Many eagerly volunteered, ready to share their homes and Vermont life with the Spanish students. This commitment included providing for them and giving them a place to stay. The exchange students lived in host homes for three weeks until they flew back home to Madrid on October 16th.
Host parent Ethan Nelson reflected on why his family chose to participate: “I thought it was a good idea to meet people with different culture[s] and….upbringings.”
In order to be a host family, families had to prepare for the exchange students’ arrival. Nelson pointed out that “my wife put in a lot of work getting a guest room ready.” Nelson also talked about the importance of making sure that the Spanish students had a comfortable place to rest since their days were packed with activities from sunup to well after sundown.
During the visit, parents and BMU students worked together to ensure the Spanish students experienced the best of Vermont. Overall, the exchange went well for families; when Michelle Zornes was asked what it is like hosting an exchange student, she replied ¨it was like a really long sleepover with good friends. We got to learn about David and Julen’s culture, and we got to share some of our Halloween/Fall traditions with them. It was a great time.¨
For Michelle and her family, on the days when there was no school, they would plan fun activities such as: board games, hikes, swimming, sleepovers, kayaking, video games, and a trip to a trampoline park. Michelle emphasized “this was a wonderful experience, and if you ever get the opportunity to welcome an exchange student into your home, they should take it. . . We made some really good friends, and I am very excited for Lance and the other kids who will get to experience Spain with their new friends.
Nelson echoed Zornes’ excitement, adding that, “We had a couple of great kids [who were] very polite and interactive and had some really sweet personalities.” When asked if Nelson would host again, he said, “Absolutely…I really enjoyed it. I thought they were great people.”
While some host families admitted to being nervous at first about welcoming a student into their homes, the Spanish students shared that the adjustment period went both ways. Ana recalled, “When I went to Lila [Winchester]’s house with the family, in a house that wasn’t mine, at first it was weird. I didn’t know what to do.” Despite moments of homesickness, the students said they were thrilled to be in America and eager to make the most of the experience. David shared that he had no problem adjusting and he “[felt] normal.” Host parents agreed that once those first few days passed, both sides settled in easily.
Blue Mountain Students Behind the Experience: Friendship Without Borders
The exchange program’s success wasn’t just felt by the visiting students or the parents who hosted them, it also made a lasting impact on the BMU students who opened their homes. For many, hosting was more than just a school activity; it was an opportunity to form real connections and experience a new culture firsthand.
BMU students chose to host for the unique learning experience the exchange offered. By welcoming Spanish students into their homes, they built lifelong friendships, gained insight into another culture, and saw their own community through fresh eyes.
The exchange wasn’t limited to host families; it created connections across the wider school and local community in Wells River, Newbury, Topsham, and Groton. These interactions helped students recognize both the differences and similarities between Spain and America. BMU junior Alexandria Deforge reflected on how the experience reshaped her daily life: “My daily routine has definitely changed from before they arrived and after they left. Fortunately, I would say . . . [it] has changed for the better.”
Many students also described how hosting added new excitement to ordinary activities. With their guests’ fresh perspectives, everyday routines like grocery shopping, dining out, or playing sports became bright, fun experiences filled with laughter and curiosity.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the exchange was the language immersion it provided. Instead of learning Spanish from textbooks, BMU students practiced in real time with native speakers. Alexandria shared one of her challenges: “The biggest learning challenge I faced in the exchange was being put in a situation where I was forced to use more Spanish dialect.” Although the Spanish exchange students spoke exceptional English, they still preferred speaking Spanish in America, encouraging BMU students to stretch their Spanish skills beyond the classroom.
Learning Together: Inside the BMU Classrooms
While families hosted the students at home, during the school day BMU teachers played an equally important role, ensuring that the exchange students got a true taste of life at Blue Mountain for the 20 days that they attended. In classes, teachers allowed space for more than just the curriculum to allow the Spanish students to learn about American culture and to create connections with their American peers.
During class, teachers noticed how quickly the exchange students adjusted to BMU life. Although the Spanish students could be chatty, teachers enjoyed observing the bonds they created with students. BMU’s high school mathematics teacher, Sara Coon observed, “They all followed the topics really well; they participated in class.” While teaching, she also pointed out, “They were able to relate which was really fun.”
The Spanish students were able to take their learning outside of the school as well. BMU’s Spanish teacher and organizer of the exchange program, Carmenza Montague highlighted that, “It has been much better than I even imagined.” Teachers didn’t expect the Spanish students to make such a strong impact on the high school students, but Sara Coon also emphasized that, “[she] think[s] we are a very small town, and our students sometimes forget how the rest of the world can be, and [she] think[s] any exposure we can have to any other culture is beneficial.”
Beyond the Classroom: Exploring Vermont and New England
During their time in Vermont, the exchange students and their BMU peers explored learning opportunities outside of school through a series of field trips. A few of these options included a trip to the State House, a corn maze, an overnight stay in Boston, and a visit to the Mt. Washington Hotel, the St. Michael’s College Fair, a hike in Franconia, and Scotch Burn Farm.
Mrs. Montague was in charge of coordinating and planning all of the trips. She explained, “I primarily wanted students from Spain to experience the beauty of the area where we live, so I thought about a variety of places that are interesting, beautiful, and affordable.”
Blue Mountain and Spanish Exchange students alike enjoyed the trips that were offered. Mrs. Montague shared, “the most successful trip was by far the stay in Boston. It brought everybody together and created a lot of connections.” BMU student Izzy Florentine explained that “apple picking was the most successful. It was really fun seeing their reactions to all of the different kinds of apples.” Kurtis Brooks said, “the trip to the State House helped students experience the United States and understand more about Vermont’s history.”
Many students and teachers thought the exchange program was an educational opportunity that brought different cultures together. Mrs. Montague emphasized, “I believe that all experiences were educational, even time spent with families. The majority of the students from Spain had never been to the United States, so everything was new. One could claim that traveling itself is education, and I am sure these students learned a lot from their experience here”
Reflections and Farewell: What the Exchange Meant to Everyone
As their three weeks in Vermont drew to a close, the Spanish students shared their final thoughts on what they had learned and how the experience changed them.
While the exchange students were living with their host families, many quickly realized that life in Vermont was quite different from what they were used to back home. Several shared that when they first arrived, it felt almost like they were still in Spain, but as the days went on, the cultural differences became clear.
David, one of the exchange students, pointed out that “the food, cities, and people were all very different.” He explained that there were far more places to eat in the U.S. than in his hometown, and he was surprised to see students bringing breakfast to class. Ana added, “Our teachers don’t even let us have water, mostly,” laughing about how different American classroom rules felt.
( BNN Photo/M.DeChiaro)
Indeed, attending an American school was a true culture shock. In Spain, students go home for a two-hour lunch break instead of eating at school. Their schedules are packed with eight or nine classes a day, often larger in size and varying in time and length. Although the curriculum is more demanding, the relationships between teachers and students are generally more relaxed than in America.
They also had to get used to not being alone, as they went almost everywhere with their host families: grocery stores, fast-food restaurants, and local shops. David laughed as he remembered one of his first surprises: “The first thing that surprised me was Walmart, because in Spain the stores aren’t that big.”
While BMU students, staff, and families agree the exchange was a success, one student’s words captured the spirit of the program best. “I would come back every single time if they offered me—again and again,” said Jorge de la Cruz. “I thought Vermont would be boring, but I have loved being here. This was the best experience I have ever had.”
Looking Ahead: BMU Students Prepare for Spain:
BMU plans on sending 12 high schoolers to Madrid this March to return the favor of having the best experience ever. If you would like to donate money to help the students travel to Spain this spring, contact Marie Winchester in the Blue Mountain Union front office.
