From Morocco to AHS: Nouha Barray
What’s it like to be a foreign exchange student?
AROUND THE WORLD- Nouha Barray participates in an episode of the Eye of the Needle. Barray came from Morocco, a country in North Africa.
Nouha Barray is 4,708 miles from her hometown in Morocco, a country in North Africa. She is a foreign exchange student studying here at Atlantic High School for the 2017-2018 school year.
At home she has a younger sister Hala who is 11, and a mom and dad. Barry said, “America is different because everything is a little different. Like the food and schools.” If she could change one thing about herself , she said she wouldn’t because she like the way she is. “Atlantic is a lot different because it’s smaller, but it is a very friendly town,” Barray said.
America is different because everything is a little different. Like the food and schools.
— Nouha Barray
Her host parents are the owners of The Sweet Joy Shoppe, a friendly little coffee shop in downtown Atlantic. The shop also offers different foods and paintings you can buy. If she could change one thing here at Atlantic High School it would be to have more activities and classes to offer. All of Barray’s teachers have helped her tremendously, and she is very thankful for them.
In her lifetime she plans on “being dependent and to have a job that allows her to travel the world.” Barray has made many friends while she has been here. Being a foreign exchange is not an easy thing to do. Many students leave their family for about 10 months, and then get to travel back home at the end of the school year.
IRIS is the organization that most foreign exchange students join. Sue Hunt is the local recruiter and helps the students find loving host families. Students are allowed to participate in all sports and extracurricular activities that they choose.
Throughout the years here at Atlantic High School we have had many foreign students, and they bring lots of joy and happiness. The host families provide a warm welcoming home, food , and treat the student like one of their own.
The students are on a scholarship when they leave their country to travel. that means they are provided with their own spending money. Each student has to take oral and written exams on English before they are selected to participate in the program. It’s a life changing experience for everyone involved. Many people don’t get the opportunity to do anything like this. This year at AHS, we have 3 foreign exchange students. If you would like to know more about IRIS, you can contact Sue Hunt at 712- 249- 9612.
