International Program
The world is getting smaller. 24-hour news coverage, the Internet and social media are creating a culture of almost instant communication. St. Brendan understands this new global dynamic and offers many opportunities for students to be exposed to languages, cultures, and traditions from around the world.
These include:
International Student Exchange Programs with Spain, Germany, Italy, and China
Family hosting of students from Europe and China
Annual trips to Europe
Courses in Spanish, Mandarin, French, and Italian
Hosting visits from international dignitaries
Our International Student Exchange Program started in 2007-2008. Since then dozens of teenagers from Spain, Germany, Italy, and China have created friendships and shared languages, culture, food, and traditions. Families have been enriched by hosting international students and sending their children to families in other countries.
A Personal Testimonial:
I got involved with the International Student Exchange Program in 2008 because two girls from Italy who were staying with another family needed a ride to school. I never dreamed that gesture would help my family grow in so many ways. For 4 years now we have hosted students from Spain, China, and developed close bonds with our students from Italy. It has broadened the horizons of my entire family. We have learned about the Italian, Spanish, and Chinese cultures, which in turn, has made us more aware and proud of our own culture. We have learned to cook their food, and speak a little bit of their languages. My son would even pull out the world map and look for their countries. The experience has been amazing.
It has also given my daughters the opportunity to go to Spain and spend their summers there with the families of our Spanish “children”. When my oldest daughter, Stephanie, returned from her trip she said, “What I learned the most was that the faith of Papi and Mami was so much bigger than us, than our family, than Miami. It became more real to be able to experience that same faith abroad, with another family.”
My family’s experience with the International Program has helped us learn more about our culture, our world, our faith, and ourselves.
Mrs. Miriam Smith, St. Brendan HS alumni, St. Brendan parent, Int. Program hosting mother, and Religion teacher.
