Arnetta Bradford, speaking at this week’s Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce coffee said providing a home for an international student for either a semester or a year is beneficial to the students but also to the community in which they are placed.
Bradford said when she placed a student from Japan and a student from Australia in Spring Hill High School 15 years ago, she was gratified by how the small town responded. “When I saw these international students being welcomed into this small community, and I saw this whole community start transforming into something totally different, I thought, ‘I kind of see you now. It makes sense.’” She then made the decision to allow her own son to attend the school. He graduated in a ceremony last night.
Bradford was joined at the coffee by Miguel Barrado-Ribera from Spain and Aurora Nieddu from Italy both of whom attended Prescott High School. Barrado-Ribera was a soccer player in his home country but found his way to do some kicking for the Prescott Curley Wolves football team despite the school’s lack of a soccer program. He said he became interested in coming here because members of his family had travelled to Washington DC and Nevada and because of one of our leading exports, American movies.
“I started seeing American films, and I said, ‘I want to feel like an American person. So I came here. I'm so sad because I'm going to have to leave. I’ve enjoyed this year so much,” he said.
Nieddu found when she got to Prescott in January that the school’s ladies’ basketball team could use her skills. She was bowled over by the town’s show of support at games, by the quality of the facilities and by the eagerness of coaches to teach.
“In Italy, it's totally different. There aren't a lot of people to see the game. In America, we have the cheerleaders and all the school came to see all the games. For me, it's so crazy. And the gym is so good. I like the gym. I love the basketball gym. My gym is so bad. The rapport with the coach is totally different. In America, I found a real good coach,” she said.
Bradford invited families interested in hosting exchange students to fill in an application available on the International Student Exchange web page. She said she also looking for a part-time placement coordinator for this area. Her email is nett1984b@yahoo.com
Host parent Denise Walker of Prescott spoke of her family’s experience hosting Barrado-Ribera and Nieddu this past school year: “Miguel came in August, and like Arnetta said, he was a great kicker for the football team. He did great. And then in January, Aurora came and she needed a placement, and we said, we have another room that'll be fun. So she came, and we've enjoyed it very much. They're great kids. It's great experience for our kids that are teenagers.”
Served at the coffee were Starbucks cold coffee drinks, a variety of Bundt cake slices, cookies, vegetable and fruit plates and a crackers, cold cuts and cheese plate.
