By Morgan Malloy
Belen Arias in her study hall. Belen Arias is one of Audubon’s four foreign exchange students this year. She is from Madrid, Spain and is staying with the Armentrout family, which consists of Tim and Tracey and their daughter Molly. Arias said, “[The Armentrouts] are an awesome family. I’ve been really lucky… They take care of me as a member of the family.” Some activities that Arias said the family does together are cooking, playing games, and solving puzzles.
Junior Molly Armentrout said that living with another person is “really different” because she was accustomed to being the only child in her home for years after her sister Becca graduated. However, she quickly learned to adjust and loves having Arias in the house with her. Armentrout said she enjoys the time she has to bond with Arias.
When Arias first heard that she would be staying in Audubon, a little town with nothing more than “corn and farms,” she had low expectations for her stay. However, after she arrived here, her opinion of Audubon drastically changed. “When I knew that I was going to Audubon I was really surprised because I didn't know anything about it. I searched for information, and all I could get was that Iowa was full of corn and farms. [My] expectations were really low at that point.…Then I came here, and I saw the town [and] the people; I couldn't love this place more!”
Arias has been in Audubon for four months now. She says she really misses her friends and family and the big city of Madrid. “I'm used to [taking] a train and [going] to the mall in only 10 minutes; here you need to spend an hour just to go to the mall!” said Arias. However, she really enjoys living in Audubon as well. “I think my favorite thing about Audubon is that people care about each other. It is a small town, but everyone knows everyone. They take care of each other as a 'big family'," said Arias.
Junior Molly Armentrout said that living with another person is “really different” because she was accustomed to being the only child in her home for years after her sister Becca graduated. However, she quickly learned to adjust and loves having Arias in the house with her. Armentrout said she enjoys the time she has to bond with Arias.
When Arias first heard that she would be staying in Audubon, a little town with nothing more than “corn and farms,” she had low expectations for her stay. However, after she arrived here, her opinion of Audubon drastically changed. “When I knew that I was going to Audubon I was really surprised because I didn't know anything about it. I searched for information, and all I could get was that Iowa was full of corn and farms. [My] expectations were really low at that point.…Then I came here, and I saw the town [and] the people; I couldn't love this place more!”
Arias has been in Audubon for four months now. She says she really misses her friends and family and the big city of Madrid. “I'm used to [taking] a train and [going] to the mall in only 10 minutes; here you need to spend an hour just to go to the mall!” said Arias. However, she really enjoys living in Audubon as well. “I think my favorite thing about Audubon is that people care about each other. It is a small town, but everyone knows everyone. They take care of each other as a 'big family'," said Arias.
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