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Elisenda Arasa Pellicer of Barcelona, Spain, recently spent four weeks learning what it's like to be a Hoosier.
Eli, 16, stayed with the Dennis and Lorna Schori family in Warsaw as part of the Nacel Cultural Exchange. The program allows foreign students to experience the culture and language of another country by sharing the daily life of a family.
"My uncle has two sisters who live here. He asked me if I wanted to go with them for one month," said Eli, "but I thought it would be better if I didn't go with my family, so I am staying with another family."
Although this is her second summer in America, Eli still struggles with English. "The language has been the hardest to get used to," she said.
"She is much better in English this year than she was last year," said Lorna Schori. "But it is our slang words that kill her."
Elisenda feels at home in America with her host family. "Last year I missed home a little bit for the first week, but not this year," she said. "I want to go back because I want to see my parents again, but I am having fun here."
The Schoris have taken her to many sights around Indiana. "We have visted Indianapolis, Chicago, Shipshewana, the Fair, and to see the 'Village People' in Elkhart," said Lorna.
Eli had to make many adjustments while in America. "Everything is different here. The houses here are one building for one family. In Barcelona everyone lives in apartments," she said.
Karen Laker, Elisenda's host sister, hopes to go to Spain someday, and stay with Eli and her family. "We would love to send her," Schori said.
More than 200 French and Spanish students came to Indiana this summer, and many more are coming from France, Spain, Germany, Thailand and China to spend the school year.
