Thirteen students from Spain are spending a month getting the full Missouri experience while improving their English.
For the past four years, two Spanish teachers at Jefferson City High School have coordinated foreign exchange students to immerse themselves in Jefferson City homes, learn about American culture and work on speaking and writing English.
In the next couple years, Spanish teacher Shane Williams is hoping students from JCHS can travel to Spain for a similar experience.
The students were in town for the Salute to America festival and fireworks, and they enjoyed the Fourth of July classics: hot dogs and hamburgers. While in the United States, they'll also catch a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game, float down the Gasconade River and take a trip to the Windy City.
They spent Thursday at the Capitol learning the history of the building, in part from state Sen. Mike Kehoe, who stopped to visit. Mayor Carrie Tergin was also there to welcome them.
"I think it's wonderful you're spending time in Jefferson City," she said. "I love Jefferson City, and even more, I love welcoming you."
One of the Jefferson City hosts, Cameron Luke, 20, said this is his fourth year having an exchange student and has hosted seven from around the world. His mom offered to host a student when he was home-schooled and in his junior year of high school. They've hosted a student every year since, and he's visited previous host students in Spain.
"It's a lot of fun, and you get to learn about a new culture and experience a new culture while staying in the U.S.," he said. "It's a way to travel without traveling because breakfast to them is completely different, and you're teaching them about your culture."
Joan Mari, the Spanish interpreter accompanying the students during their travels, has been to the U.S. three times, but this is his first visit to Missouri.
"For the students (the best experience) is to live with an American host family and get to create a new family, and get to speak and improve their English and create new friends," he said. "It's emotional to see them cry on their last day. They really grow in four weeks."
The students knew some English before coming to Missouri, but they learn the British version of English, which uses some different words than Americans use.
"For example, they said, 'I need to use the toilet,' which is rude in America. Instead, they're learning to say, 'I need to use the restroom or bathroom,'" Mari said. "They also say 'rubbish' for 'trash can.'"
One of the students, Alvaro Gordo, 16, agreed the American accent has been a little difficult to get used to and understand at times. But he's already noticed his English is improving.
His favorite part of the trip so far was watching the fireworks. There isn't a holiday in Spain similar to Independence Day, but he has seen fireworks before. He was also a fan of the hot dogs and hamburgers, something they also have in Spain, but in much smaller portions.
Each year, the students build strong bonds with their host families, and Williams thinks the program will create a widening circle of friends who visit each other.
Participating in the program sparked his interest because it's a rare opportunity to learn language and culture by experiencing it first hand, he said.