Brazilian exchange student is enjoying her high school experience in Weiser

by Nicole Miller

 Eloá Evangelista is an exchange student from Goiânia, Brazil. She is spending the year living in the home of Lena and Ben Barbot. 

 Evangelista shared that she wanted to become an exchange student because she wanted to have the high school experience she saw in the movies. She also was interested in sharing her culture with new people as she learned about American culture and improved her English skills. 

 So far Evangelista has found that high school is very much like how the movies show it. Evangelista has been involved in soccer, powder-puff football during homecoming, horticulture, art, and she was also able to attend girls’ league. She is also participating in the spring musical and plans on playing tennis this spring.

 School in Brazil begins at 7 a.m. and finishes at 1 p.m. The students stay in the same classroom all day, so the teachers change classes – coming to the students. Students are not able to choose any electives and all clubs and sports are not part of the public education system.

 In addition to the school being very different, the community of  Weiser is also very different for Evangelista. With a population of over one million, and the capital of Goiás, Goiânia is much larger. In contrast, Evangelista has been surprised by how much easier it is to get to know people from the community. She has enjoyed the quiet pace of the town, and seeing people are more involved in community activities.

 Eloá is the Barbot’s second foreign exchange student through the Northwest Student Exchange Program. Their first experience with the program was wonderful, so the family decided it would be fun to host another student.

 The Barbot’s were paired with Eloá early 2020. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic she was unable to come that following school year, 2020-21. They re-opened the exchange student program for this school year, and the Barbot’s were asked if they would like to still do the exchange this year. They happily agreed.

 Barbots shared that Eloá has been a wonderful addition to their family. Their daughter, Brei, is a senior, and it has been like having a sister for her. The family feels that not only have they enjoyed getting to know about the many differences between the U.S. and Brazil, including the culture, language, and educational system, but even more than that, they feel like they have gained family in another foreign country that they are excited to visit in the future.

 The Barbots want Evangelista to experience as much of American life as possible and learn about living in a rural area instead of an urban one. They are helping her enjoy her high school experience, learn about agriculture, and try new foods and experiences. 

 “We hope that when she leaves, she will miss our wonderful little town and want to visit many more times,” Barbot said. 

 In addition to getting to know Weiser, the Barbots have also traveled a little with Evangelista to show her even more of the United States.  

 In Idaho, they visited the Western Idaho Fair, McCall, Cascade, a BSU football game, and even went to the musicals Cats and Hamilton at the Morrison Center.

 Over the fall break the whole family took a road trip during which they spent a few days in Los Angeles, followed by a few days in Las Vegas, and then slowly made their way home with visits to a number of national parks and other attractions including the Grand Canyon, Zions, Bryce, and the Great Salt Lake. 

 Over winter break, they visited Coeur d’Alene and took her sledding, ice skating, and skiing which were very new experiences for someone who had never seen snow. 

 Evangelista will head home in June, but before that she has many more American experiences to look forward to. She is looking forward to a traditional American graduation ceremony. She also is excited to continue traveling with her host family as they have plans to visit Disneyland, Yellowstone, and Seattle.