Estudillo loves listening to reggaeton music, especially classic reggaeton artists.
Meet Carla Estudillo Fuentes from Spain
Carla Estudillo Fuentes talks about her experience being in a totally different atmosphere than what she’s used to
Welcome to “Walk in their shoes”, a column where we showcase our foreign exchange students and their homes throughout the year.
Carla Estudillo Fuentes (’24) is from Spain.
Being a foreign exchange student is a very difficult decision to make. Estudillo expressed how hard it was to come to school in the United States since her English wasn’t the best, “and it was hard to express [her]self”. The idea of leaving her family behind and staying with a random host family was hard for her, as it would be for anyone.
She admitted the transition was complicated for her, but as time has gone on she’s got more comfortable.
Estudillo enjoys how linear schools in the U.S. are compared to Spain. “There are different schedules every day [in Colorado],” she said, explaining that these schedules make the school days more interesting.
She continued, “In Spain we can’t go out [during] lunch, we can’t have phones. Schools in Spain are so strict.”
At Mead High, Estudillo is part of the volleyball team. She has enjoyed this since it has allowed her to meet new people and has made her transition significantly easier.
Estudillo enjoys working out and going to the gym as well as reading romance books during her spare time. She also mentioned her love of the beach, though the beaches in Spain are more vibrant and Colorado doesn’t offer sandy beaches. Going swimming is one of her favorite activities during the summer.
Estudillo explained her life back in Spain, saying the atmosphere is “always really fun” and playful. She said everyone in Spain is welcoming, and it feels upbeat.
She misses home, most specifically her cats, Antonito and Rosita. Estudillo is grateful for her parents who send her pictures of her cats while she’s far from home.
To other students studying abroad she advised not have any expectations. “I thought this was like a high school musical — all expectations were wrong,” she said. Moving away is hard, and though it comes with it’s benefits, she said not to come in with any assumptions.
Estudillo plans to attend college in Spain. She is looking forward to becoming a plastic surgeon someday.