Taiwanese freshman Jack Shen spent more than 10 years learning, speaking and practicing English whenever he had the chance. He frequently followed American sports and watched American movies to get a better grasp on the culture and language in hope of fulfilling his dream of one day visiting the land of opportunity, according to Shen.

For Shen, this dream became a reality on April 9.

Shen and 14 of his classmates arrived April 9 at O’Hare Airport from Chengong Senior High School in Taipei, Taiwan. They are staying with various Glenbrook North families until April 20.

“I think my experience in America will be fantastic,” said Shen during a Skype interview prior to his arrival in the U.S.  “Every time I watch American movies, it seems [the Americans] are just having fun every day.”

Shen believes this experience will be something new because he will have his first encounter with  American culture.

“I can live with an American family and learn about culture as well as take classes with American students,” Shen said.

Chinese teacher Waynin Chou also believes this program is culturally beneficial to the student hosts, sophomore Kevin Medansky, senior Chris Kuester, and juniors Ashley Cohn and Daniel Congbalay, who are in her chinese classes.

“Bringing in Taiwanese students into [my students’] homes, my students have first-hand experience for 10 days with that particular student to get to know his or her culture better,” Chou said.

Cohn’s family is hosting two Taiwanese students. Her mother feels that the program not only gives the students a great learning experience, but also more company at home.

“We liked the idea that Ashley wouldn’t be alone,” Cohn’s mother, Lauren Cohn said. “Her siblings are at college and we’re used to having three kids running around, so it will be a refreshing reminder about what it’s like having noise in our house.”

Shen said he wants to come to America because he wants to compare the differences of high school life between the two countries. According to Shen, his daily schedule in Taiwan consists of school from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. After school, he usually comes home and does homework or plays basketball with his friends. At 6 p.m. he leaves for another academic class, which has about 100 students, known as cram class, until 10 p.m.

“I would love to have more [free] time in school,” said Shen. “We have about eight classes a day with very limited break time. We also have three different science classes and seven different math classes per week.”

Daniel Congbalay believes his hosting experience will not only be exciting, but a little weird as well.

He said he thinks it will be weird because “having a second person by your side at all times and the fact that you’re literally teaching someone what you do, everyday, subconsciously,” is going to be a new experience for him.

He also said that it would be hard to adjust to the idea that “someone doesn’t know what your routine is and what certain things are, like unspoken rules in the United States, which [Taiwanese students] haven’t experienced yet.”

Daniel Congbalay’s mother, Beth Congbalay, looks forward to hosting a student from abroad.

“It will increase our understanding of other cultures and challenge us to represent the U.S. well,” Beth Congbalay said. “It will also provide ample comedic entertainment for us and a chance to compare [our situation] to the movie ‘Sixteen Candles’.”

Shen believes this program is great because it allows Taiwanese students to widen their perspective and experience the way their peers in a foreign country live, while it allows the American hosts to learn about Taiwanese values from an actual Taiwanese student.

“We [American and Taiwanese students] can walk onto the world stage and broaden our concept of the world culturally,” said Shen. “Through this program, I will do my best to introduce and promote the small country of Taiwan to the world.”