AFS kids bugging out early

By ANDREW MCGINN

a.mcginn@beeherald.com

A month ago, Louise Anselmo took a FaceTime call from a friend back in France, who told her about a new virus there.

Anselmo, an exchange student at Greene County High School from the rural south of France, will soon join an exodus of AFS students out of the United States to their home countries as that virus — COVID-19 — bears down on the rest of the world.

Marta Trindade, an exchange student at Greene County High School from Portugal, said this week they’ll be given between 24 and 72 hours notice before their departures, an abrupt end to their year abroad that will leave prom dresses unworn and prevent them from saying goodbye to all friends.

“I don’t think it’s the best decision to send me home,” Trindade, 16, said.

AFS Intercultural Programs made the decision to bring home participants where possible because of COVID-19, believing it to be in the best interest of students to be with their families in their home countries.

However, the idea of traveling through airports right now is, frankly, worrisome to both girls.

“I might get it and give it to my family,” Anselmo, 16, worried.

Trindade, who hails from the capital city of Lisbon, said her parents are “really, really worried,” and that her dad supplied her with masks and hand sanitizer.

Their fears aren’t unfounded.

The U.S. State Department on March 19 issued a global Level 4 travel advisory, advising U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel because of COVID-19.

Level 4 travel advisories are usually reserved for places like Iraq and Syria — destinations rife with terrorism, kidnapping and armed conflict.

“They’ve told her not to worry, and we’ve done the same,” host mom Becky Killion said of Anselmo’s parents back in France. “She would rather stay here than travel, but it is what it is.”

Both girls were originally scheduled to leave on June 22, enabling them to experience spring in Iowa, prom and, despite only being 16, even graduation.

“I would love to finish my year here,” Anselmo said. “I’m not even sure we’ll have school again.”

But, COVID-19 or not, the experience was one they’ll never forget.

“I don’t even have words. It truly was a life-changing experience,” said Trindade, who’s been staying since early August with Larry and Tasha Monthei in Cooper.

Trindade was the Montheis’ fifth exchange student.

“We’ve thoroughly enjoyed having Marta with us,” Tasha Monthei said.

The family was all set this week, as a matter of fact, to welcome back Anke, an AFS student they hosted from Germany 11 years ago, Tasha explained. Anke is now married and was supposed to come for a visit with her husband on March 25 — a trip now canceled because of the coronavirus.

Becky and Rick Killion, who live north of Jefferson, were in their first year as an AFS host family.

“It’s been a learning experience,” Becky Killion said of their time with Anselmo, adding that they’re “just enjoying our time together’ these final days.

The Killions had planned to take Anselmo on trips to San Diego — where son Nic recently completed Marine Corps recruit training — and South Dakota.

“It stinks,” Becky Killion said.

Anselmo said she found people in Iowa “way more friendly than French people.” And as for the highlight of her time in Iowa?

“Driving with friends with loud music,” she said.

For her part, Trindade achieved a dream of becoming a cheerleader — something she’d only ever seen in movies.

“She wanted to be a cheerleader so bad,” Tasha Monthei said. “She just grinned from ear to ear, even though she didn’t know most of the cheers. She just smiled and kicked her leg up.”

Trindade will now return home to Portugal knowing the truth about American cheerleaders.

“They’re not as mean as all the movies show,” Trindade said.