A typical Friday night for a high school student is a complete culture shock for the twenty six Spanish students participating in the Spanish foreign exchange. While going to soccer and football games is a similar experience, they are actually “the two most different sports in the world,” said Jurdan Camunas Lorono, age 16.

Mrs. Ciulla, the Foreign Language Department Chair, said that in previous years the students “had a blast at the games.” Two Spanish exchange students attended a Boston College High School football game with their host families and deeply enjoyed the experience. Attending football games and becoming familiar with the many other aspects of traditional American life has been fascinating for these students.

Not only is the game of football new to the Spanish exchange students, but the program in which the game is played is new as well. At home in Bilbao, students are not given the opportunity to play sports through their school; if they wish to participate in athletics it has to be through a club team. The students are intrigued by the Sailor’s school spirit and wish they had the opportunity for similar experiences.

The Spanish students not only lack the opportunity to play school sports, but they also missing the chance to play American football. The majority of the boys participating in the exchange do play soccer for club teams. Soccer is a low contact sport which punishes players for aggressive actions. Aitor Gonzalez Goya, 15, wishes he could play football because he likes “that they get to hit each other,” which he doesn’t get to experience playing soccer in Bilbao.

While soccer and football are very different, the emotions the fans experience are one in the same. Whether you are from Spain or America, there is nothing more exciting than going out and watching your favorite team play. The first home football game for the twenty six Spaniards is a fantastic chance for them to experience the adrenaline and excitement that each SHS student feels every Friday night.