By Adam Hocking

Editor

MARSHFIELD — Foreign exchange students from both Columbus Catholic High School and Marshfield High School were welcomed to the community by city leaders on Monday, Oct. 5, during a reception held at the Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MACCI).

The students come from countries all over the world, including China, Thailand, Vietnam, Italy, Hungary, South Korea, Bolivia, and more.

The students listened to Mayor Chris Meyer, MACCI Executive Director Scott Larson, and former Washington Elementary teacher and AFS (formerly American Field Service) Chapter President Jean Swenson give advice on maximizing their time in Marshfield. The Swenson family hosted its first foreign exchange student in 1981.

True to her educator nature, Swenson gave the students a lesson complete with a visual aid with some tips on how to make their time in Marshfield a success. Her advice to students was to smile, participate, ask questions, be flexible and appreciative, try new things, help at home, keep meeting new people, have a positive attitude, and of course do their homework.

Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry Executive Director Scott Larson speaks with foreign exchange students about the many career-related programs available in local schools on Monday, Oct. 5. (Adam Hocking photo)

Meyer quipped about the winter climate in Marshfield, listed fun things to do in the city, and urged students to get involved in the community.

“Getting involved is really important in high school,” Meyer said. “Getting involved and finding clubs and other organizations to be part of really helps you meet new people. Get involved in the community so you know it better.”

Larson spoke with the students about school-to-career programs MACCI has developed with area schools.

“You don’t have to move away to Chicago or the Twin Cities or California or New York to have some great job . A lot of them are available right here in central Wisconsin,” Larson said.