Page 4 Monticello Graduation • Thursday, June 4, 2026 monticellotimes. com
Foreign exchange students reflect on year in Monticello
MONTICELLO— For four graduating foreign exchange students at Monticello High School, this year’ s commencement ceremony marks more than the end of a school year— it represents a once-in-alifetime experience studying abroad, building friendships and immersing themselves in a new culture thousands of miles from home.
The Monticello Times recently asked Emma Ripesi of Italy, Samira Thamm of Germany, Olavo Linck Souza of Brazil and Aitor Peralta Fernandez of Spain about their time in Minnesota, favorite memories and what they’ ll miss most about Monticello.
Aitor Peralta of Spain
Q: How did you learn where Monticello was, and what was your reaction when you found out you’ d be spending a year here as an exchange student?
A: I knew where Monticello was because of Google Earth, and I was very excited.
Q: What was it like meeting your host family for the first time?
A: I was really nervous, but happy to finally meet them.
Q: What was your favorite food? Was there anything you didn’ t like?
A: My favorite food is pizza, and there really wasn’ t anything I didn’ t like.
Q: Did people call you by different names or pronunciations while you were here?
A: No. Once I told people how to pronounce my name, it was OK.
Q: What activities were you involved in at Monticello High School?
A: I did cross country and swimming, where I met good friends. Now I’ m doing track, and that’ s my favorite.
Q: What classes did you enjoy most?
A: My favorite classes were gym because you have fun, and
LAUREN FLAUM / MONTICELLO TIMES
Graduating exchange students at Monticello High School this year include, from left, Emma Ripesi of Italy, Samira Thamm of Germany, Olavo Linck Souza of Brazil and Aitor Peralta Fernandez of Spain.
history because it’ s very interesting.
Q: What are your plans after leaving Monticello?
A: My future plan is going to college in Spain.
Q: Is there anything you’ d like to say to your classmates before the school year ends?
A: They are really nice, and it was good being with them.
Olavo Souza of Brazil
Q: How did you learn where Monticello was, and what was your reaction when you found out you’ d be spending a year here as an exchange student?
A: I received an email saying Monticello was my location. At first, I was happy because I already liked Minnesota, but I didn’ t know anything about the city.
Q: What was it like meeting your host family for the first time?
A: The first night was really hard. It was a feeling I can’ t really explain. Everything was so different, and being in a place where I didn’ t know anyone was scary, but I knew it was temporary.
Q: What was your favorite food? Was there anything you didn’ t like?
A: My favorite food was probably lobster rolls and Ben & Jerry’ s ice cream.
Q: Did people call you by different names or pronunciations while you were here?
A: I really didn’ t care how people called me or whether they pronounced it correctly.
Q: What activities were you involved in at Monticello High School?
A: I played soccer during the summer and was part of the ski club in the winter.
Q: What classes did you enjoy most?
A: I took a lot of different classes since there are no electives at my school in Brazil. I’ m currently taking forensics, and I’ m really enjoying it.
Q: What are your plans after leaving Monticello?
A: I’ m going back home in July, where I’ ll finish high school. After that, I’ ll most likely go to college somewhere in Europe.
Q: Is there anything you’ d like to say to your classmates before the school year ends?
A: I’ ll miss them, and I hope I get to see them again.
Emma Ripesi of Italy
Q: How did you learn where Monticello was, and what was your reaction when you found out you’ d be spending a year here as an exchange student?
A: One day in July 2025, my organization called me and finally told me where I was going to go. I was really excited, and when I searched Google to see what Monticello— and especially the high school— looked like, I was so happy. It looked like the schools I had only seen in movies.
Q: What was it like meeting your host family for the first time?
A: When I arrived at the Minneapolis airport, I was exhausted from my flights, but still really excited to meet my host mom.