Yoshiya Ando, senior,  is on an adventure he has always wanted to experience by spending a year in high school as a foreign exchange student. Ando came from Japan and now lives with his host family.

“I wanted to be a foreign exchange student because I wanted to learn better English, learn more about American cultures, and the American food,” Ando said.

This was Ando’s first time leaving Japan.

“My favorite thing about America is the food, and I love watching football games. The American people are also kinder,” Ando said.

There are many positive parts of being an exchange student, but there are a few struggles as well.

“The hardest part about being an exchange student is the English. I am not good at English. I am bad at listening and speaking so it is difficult,” Ando said. “But since I have been here I am getting better. In the beginning I could not understand anything honestly.”

He did not only have to part from Japan, but he had to part from his friends and family as well, who he has not seen since he began his journey to America.

“I miss seeing my Japanese friends. I do not talk to them, because talking makes me sad and miss them more,” Ando said.

However, Ando’s American experience has given him a new friend, who he lives with and considers a brother, exchange student Rafael Beracochea from Uruguay.

“I thought he was very wild because Japanese people are more gentle, but we liked each other and got more comfortable around each other,” Ando said.

Ando also loves his host family and explains that he could not have ended up with a better one.

“My host family is perfect. I have nothing I dislike. They always take us to an interesting place. My favorite was shooting and visiting New Orleans. We also went camping and fishing,” Ando said.

This experience is one Ando will forever remember and he is truly living the dream.

“I always wanted to be an exchange student.  I love being here in the U.S.,” Ando said.