The World Comes To M.V.: An introduction to the foreign exchange students studying at MVHS in 2017-18

By JENNA RHUDE

Moapa Valley Progress

This is the first in an ongoing series introducing the group of foreign exchange students who have come to Moapa Valley and will be attending MVHS this school year. MVHS is host to many students attending an exchange year away from their home countries and families. They have come to Moapa Valley to find adventure, culture and make life-long memories.

Pakara Thanetraksa is better known to local students as Poom. Poom is from Bangkok, Thailand. While in Moapa Valley he is making new memories with his host family, Jeremy and Valerie Brummett. The Brummett’s have six children, Poom makes that 7. The Brummetts say that they have loved hosting exchange students in previous years.

Poom’s parents had mixed feelings in the beginning when he approached them about an exchange year. But, they decided to let him have this experience and come to America for one school year. He says that they are very proud of him and his desire to experience a new culture.
Some of the things he is hoping to gain while in the U.S. is to improve his English, make new friends and enjoy time with his host family.

One day he wants to become a pilot and own his own business.
Poom wants to participate in cross country and basketball this year. He also enjoys, archery and water volleyball. His hobbies include, photography, hanging out with family and going out with friends.
Poom speaks English and Thai and has lived in Thailand with his mom, dad and brother Sam his all his life.

Eirik Monsvoll is from Trondheim, Norway where his lives with his mom, Mena and his dad, Vegar and his little brother Stian. He is also close to his older sister Christina.

Eirik chose to come to an exchange year with the EF program because this company made a good impression on him. His teachers and friends encouraged him to come to America.
His mom and dad had mixed feelings about him leaving for a year. They wanted him to experience more and explore a different culture, “but they wanted me to have a chance to learn from others.”

He wanted to come to America to become more independent and learn from another culture. His main goal in the future is to provide for a family. He wants a career where he can earn enough money to feel safe. He also wants to travel and vacation…a lot!

Eirik is staying with Jason and Kristy St. John and host brother Braeden. Braeden likes having brothers this year. The St. Johns also have 2 older daughters.
While in America, Eirik is going to participate in Soccer and track. He loves hanging out with friends, listening to music and going to the movies.
He speaks Norwegian, English and a little Spanish. He has lived only in Norway until this exchange year.

Alvaro DeLeon is the only student from Spain. He, his dad, Charlie, mom, Veronica brother Charlie and little sister Victoria (“like the queen” he says lovingly) live in Tenerife, Spain.
He loves to describe his home. He has always lived on the island of Tenerife. However beautiful the island is, he is also fascinated with how beautiful the southern Nevada desert is.
His parents had mixed feelings about him doing an exchange year. His father loves to travel and experience new cultures.

“My mom misses me a lot,” Alvaro said. “But both my parents have the mentality of travel and are excited that I made this decision to come to America.”
Alvaro’s host family is also the St. Johns.
“I have different expectations when I start my career,” he said. “I want to be a sound engineer. I want to work on movies and with sound production.”

While at MVHS he will participate in American football, basketball and track. He also likes tennis, swimming, surfing, listening to music and has a passion for Julio Cortázar books.
Alvaro speaks Spanish and English.