Academic adventures

Exchange students experience Le Center lifestyles

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a three-part series about the three foreign exchange students at Le Center High School. This week you will meet George Pinto of Espirito Santa Do Pinhal, Brazil.

During the 2011-2012 school year at Le Center High School three foreign exchange students are experiencing life in a small town.
George Pinto of Espirito Santa Do Pinhal, Brazil, is hosted by the Richard and Nancy Rezec family; Charlotte D’Haese of Aalst, Belgium, is hosted by Chuck and Lisa Holicky; Noemie Wunsch of Luxembourg, Luxembourg, is hosted by the Carol O’Conner family. 
Each student speaks a different language and is participating in different foreign exchange programs. 
George is 18 years old and has participated in football and is currently wrestling for the Coyotes at 182 lbs. and has won six of eight matches. His mother is Georgiana Aires, and is a Veterinary, his father is Gefferson Pinto and an Engineer Agronomist. His step-father is Jose Antonio Casta and is a Surgeon. He has three step-brothers and two step-sisters. His hometown of Espirito Santa Do Pinhal which sits between the Mantiqueira Mountains in southeastern Brazil. The temperatures are in the 70’s most of the time and it is summer there currently. Their native language is Portuguese. 
“I finished my high school in January,” said George. “My motivation for becoming a foreign exchange student through ERDT SHARE was when my family back home hosted Vincent Arnold from Germany for a entire school year. I found out a month before I was to travel where I was going to be placed and learned about my host family.” 
According to host mother Nancy, George’s experience didn’t start out as planed. 
“Just before George was to arrive my dad passed away,” explained Nancy. “So George started out his visit by attending a wake and funeral with our family.”
Back in Brazil George plays soccer and practices Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His home town is the size of Mankato with 40,000 people. He is enjoying the small town atmosphere and class sizes. 
“I am having a great experience here in Le Center,” said George. “The people are so friendly, the class sizes are smaller so you get to know different people easier. We don’t have sports in our school so if you want to play a sport you join a club after school. Homecoming was really a lot of fun to experience from building the float, parade, football game and dance. We also don’t have Thanksgiving back home so this was a new tradition for me. My family went shopping from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. and then we had early morning wrestling practice. . . it was the worst day of my life. . . I was tired.”
Christmas is a little different with Papai Noel coming instead of Santa Claus. Papai Noel comes down the chimney at midnight and puts gifts under the tree. If a child is bad they get coal in their sock/shoe.  
The Rezacs took George on a trip to Colorado and the Rocky Mountains this past fall. George has experienced deer hunting watching his uncle Bob Fortier get an 8 point buck. He enjoys four-wheeling and horseback riding too. George doesn’t like the cold but is excited about ice fishing and snowmobiling and is looking forward to spring turkey hunting with extended family in the Ely area. 
“Back home we hunt Jaguars, Capivaras and Paca’s,” said George. “Capivaras are the largest living rodent in the world and are very similar to rats but the size of dogs.”
Host brother Kyle stated he enjoys learning about the Brazilian culture and spends time talking on Skype with George’s dad about hunting, pistols, and Japanese knifes. 
“I’m enjoying having George as part of our family,” said Kyle. “I sure am getting out of the house more often, spending more time with friends and sharing experiences with George. We also like to play X-Box games together, even though George isn’t as addicted to the games as I am.” 
The lifestyle is different in Minnesota than in Brazil. 
“We sleep in late and party all night,” said George with a smile. “The music is different, I actually like hard rock. In Brazil you can’t drive until you are 18 years old. However, you can drink when you are 18. If you go out to the dance clubs in Brazil it isn’t unusual to go out at 11 or 12. The food here is different too. We eat a lot of beans and rice. I’m enjoying the BBQ ribs and chicken, the venison isn’t bad either.” 
“Kyle and Brittany aren’t in sports so this is the first time I’ve watched a wrestling match,” said Nancy. “We went to more football games because of George’s involvement.”
“Part of the reason I decided to cheer for football and wrestling this year is because of George’s participation,” added Brittany. “It’s fun having two big brothers.”
George is a member of the senior class at Le Center High School and will participate in commencements on May, 25. His parents plan on attending graduation. Once back home in Brazil, George will apply to colleges in St. Paul the capital. He plans on studying to become a doctor either a surgeon like his step-father or a pediatric doctor. He will attend school for six years before deciding on what to specialize in and then will study for three to four more years taking about 10 years to become a doctor. 
Editor’s Note: Next week’s article will be on Charlotte D’Haese of Aalst, Belgium.