An exchange student from Japan went to a school in Australia. During a PE class, they were playing cricket. He thought the cricket bat was a strange oversized paddle. When it was his turn to bat, he held it upside down at first and then started swinging it in the most comical way, missing the ball every time but having a great time.
A Spanish exchange student once tried to order a 'coffee with milk' in a local diner. But instead of saying 'café con leche', she said 'coffee with cow'. The waitress was really puzzled at first. It was really funny seeing her trying to explain what she actually wanted.
Sure! One of my friends had a foreign exchange student from France in his class. This French student was always trying to use American slang, but often got it hilariously wrong. For example, he once said 'I'm going to hit the hay' as 'I'm going to hit the horse'. It made everyone burst into laughter.
A Spanish exchange student in a New Zealand school was invited to a barbecue. He thought it would be like a Spanish fiesta and brought a big speaker to play flamenco music. When he started playing the music really loudly and dancing around the barbecue area, the New Zealanders were a bit taken aback at first but then joined in and it turned into a really fun and funny cultural mix - up.
One horror story could be that the exchange student was extremely messy. They would leave their dirty clothes all over the place, in the living room, on the stairs, and even in the kitchen. It made the whole house look like a disaster zone.
A host family in Australia had an exchange student from Germany. The family lived near the beach. At first, the German student was a bit shy. But the family took him surfing every weekend. Over time, he became more confident. He also shared his knowledge of German engineering and cars with the family. This exchange student host family story shows how different interests can bring people closer.
One common exchange student horror story is facing extreme homesickness. Being in a new place far from family and friends can be really tough. Some students also encounter problems with their host families. For example, the host family might have very different living habits or be unkind. Another is having difficulties in school. The new curriculum, different teaching methods and language barriers can make it a nightmare to keep up with studies.
One horror story is about a foreign exchange student who was placed with a host family that was extremely strict about religious rules. The student, who had different beliefs, was constantly pressured to conform. They were not allowed to eat the food they liked and were made to attend religious services against their will.
One horror story is when the exchange student was extremely messy. They would leave dirty dishes everywhere in the house, and their room was always in a complete chaos. It was a nightmare for the host family to keep cleaning up after them.
One story is about a host family in a small town. They welcomed a foreign exchange student from Japan. The family took the student to local festivals, and the student taught them Japanese calligraphy. They became like a real family, and when the student had to leave, there were many tears. It was a beautiful connection across cultures.
One common element is cultural shock turning into a horror - like situation. For example, some Chinese exchange students may not be used to the way Western cemeteries are laid out. They might accidentally wander into one and get really scared because in Chinese culture, cemeteries are often in more secluded areas. Another element could be misunderstandings. A student might misunderstand a local custom as something menacing. For instance, a local festival with people wearing strange masks could seem terrifying at first.