From St. Mary's to Guatemala: A Global Classroom
Afifa Shah ’25 is not just learning Global Studies – she’s living it. Afifa and her family hosted an exchange student, Ximena, from Guatemala this past school year. This summer, Afifa immersed herself in Ximena’s world.
“I have always wanted to participate in an exchange program, so when the opportunity came, I took it! I loved hosting Ximena here in Memphis, but I couldn’t wait for my turn to be hosted in Guatemala,” said Afifa.
During her time in Guatemala, Afifa joined her host family at church, malls, and soccer games. Each weekend was a new adventure, traveling to different cities to delve deeper into Guatemalan culture. However, navigating a different language posed its challenges.
“I was a little apprehensive going into it all. I have never stayed for such a long time in a Spanish-speaking country or experienced it beyond being a tourist,” she said. “I was quickly affirmed by my host family and friends that I was better at communicating than I realized. Thanks to my Spanish teachers at St. Mary’s, I was proficient in the language and thrived in Guatemala.”
St. Mary’s Global Education program cultivates globally-minded leaders poised to excel in an increasingly interconnected world.
“There are countless cultures and traditions in this world,” Afifa said. “It’s important for us to make the effort to study them so that we can build more self-awareness of our perspectives and empathy for the people around us.”
The exchange program is just one of the many foreign language and global education opportunities St. Mary’s offers students. This year, students and teachers will travel to Germany, Switzerland, Iceland, and the Netherlands. Past destinations include Ireland, France, Spain, and Italy. St. Mary’s is also a partner school with the Global Education Benchmark Group (GEBG), providing students with opportunities to share meaningful dialogue with peers all over the world on subjects of global significance.
“By immersing ourselves in these new places, with unfamiliar cultures and traditions, we grow. If possible, we should strive to take any opportunities we can to experience the world around us,” said Afifa. “Because I did this exchange program, I gained not only a wonderful experience but also a lifelong sister and second home.”
For the 2024-2025 school year, sophomore Caroline Brezina and her family are excited to welcome an exchange student into their home.
“Hosting an exchange student will be such an enriching experience for me,” Caroline said. “I hope to learn more about her culture’s customs and traditions and gain new perspectives. And maybe she can help me with my Spanish-speaking skills!”
- Upper School