From moving in with a brand new family to making the JV soccer team, this foreign exchange student has quickly adjusted to living in a new country.
Junior Paula Gomez is from Madrid, the capital of Spain, and has been attending LCM since the beginning of this school year. One may assume that her hometown is quite different from Orange, Texas, and according to Gomez, that assumption is very accurate.
“My hometown is way bigger,” Gomez said. “Everything is closer and there’s a lot more to do. You don’t need a car like here. You can use public transportation to go everywhere you want.”
Gomez said she is genuinely enjoying her time in Orange because she has made an abundance of new friends and her host family has been treating her very well.
“I couldn’t ask for anything better,” Gomez said. “They treat me like their own child and would do anything for me.”
According to Gomez, one of her favorite things about Orange is the southern hospitality within the community and she loves that everyone here is very polite and open.
“The people are friendlier here,” Gomez said. “In Spain, if you don’t know someone, you don’t talk with them. You don’t even smile at them and here everyone is so open to you.”

Some of Gomez’s favorite memories so far have been visiting Houston and the beach in Galveston. She said she also appreciates all the memories made with her teammates and new friends. Gomez spends a majority of her Wednesday nights going to Youth at First Baptist Church of Orange with German foreign exchange student Lennart Weidenhammer, who has the same host family as Gomez. Although Gomez has made plenty of fond memories, she said she frequently misses her home.
“The things I miss the most are my family and friends,” Gomez said. “It’s hard not to see them every day. Plus, I can’t talk to them as much as I want because of the time difference. But all of the great moments I have spent here are worth it.”
One of Gomez’s favorite classes she has taken this year is Geography with Kelly Teakell.
“Coach Teakell is one of the best teachers I’ve ever had in my life,” Gomez said. “He made my year a lot easier and enjoyable.”
According to Teakell, Gomez is a quiet student and focuses on doing her work. However, when the class occasionally discusses Spain, Gomez has the knowledge to elaborate in discussion as a foreign exchange student from Madrid.
“Paula’s a good student,” Teakell said. “She does her work and turns it in on time. And I’m always impressed with someone that can use English as a second language.”

When Gomez travels back to Spain at the end of this year, she will be taking many new unforgettable friendships with her.
“All the relationships I’ve won have changed my life completely,” Gomez said.