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Jan/Feb 2015 • 26 F rancisco A. Vincente is a foreign exchange student from Brazil who was part of Kevin and Carla Bat- man's family from August 25, 2013 until June 27, 2014 and atended Crawford County Junior-Senior High School. He re- cently talked with Southern Indiana Liv- ing about his time here. What is your favorite thing about Amer- ica? How does it compare to your coun- try? "My favorite thing about the U.S. is how you love your country. I think it is awe- some how people are proud of their coun- try and how they like to show the Ameri- can fag." What is your favorite American food? "Bacon, defnitely! And Taco Bell… I've always thought they should fnd a way to mix them." What is the strangest/funniest experi- ence you've had since you were here? "I've had a lot of funny moments, having another language as my frst one. I think the funniest thing was to hear my friends trying to speak Portuguese." Have you been to America before? Where else have you traveled? "It was the frst time I was out of Brazil. It was kind of scary, but defnitely worth it." Are you a native English speaker? What other languages do you speak? "My native language is Portuguese, Bra- zil's ofcial language (not Spanish, nor "Brazilian"). I have had English classes since frst grade, starting with basics. I've also had Spanish classes." If you could tell Americans one thing about your culture, what would it be? "We don't live in forests!!" What have you learned as a foreign ex- change student? "Besides the language, being an exchange student really opened my mind. I've learnt that people love, fght, and laugh the same, all around the world." Did you ever get homesick? "My host parents always made me feel like I was part of the family, but it is im- possible not to get homesick sometimes. The holidays were a difcult time, but I was always able to work it through." What about your country do you think would surprise Americans the most? "Again, we don't live in the forest! It's something a lot of people ask. I think they'd be surprised with how rich our cul- ture is, how smart we can be, and how we are alike." How is school diferent in your country? Is it easier? Harder? "School in Brazil is harder, but I think school here is more adapted to each stu- dent. In Brazil, I wouldn't choose which classes to take; I'd just take every one. One thing I have learned is that nothing is bet- ter or worse than anything else, it is just diferent." What is the most interesting thing you've seen in America? "People. People here were amazing to me, and always treated me well. I was sur- prised with the hospitality that I'd never thought I'd fnd so far from home. Bra- zilians, we are warm people and I have found the same warmth in Crawford County." • Anyone interested in hosting a student or who would like more information, can contact CCI, Greenheart Exchange at www.cci-exchange. com/usprograms/host.aspx. From Brazil to Southern Indiana Q&A; with a local exchange student PIctured: (Above) Francisco standing in the yard with Kevin and Carla Batman at their home near Marengo. (Below) Francisco with the American fag and the Brazillian fag Special Feature