Starting over at a new school is hard but doing it in a completely different country is even harder. That’s exactly what junior Eva Knuta experienced when she came from Europe to attend Sierra Pacific High School. She knew coming here would be a big change but she took the challenge anyway.
Knuta is a junior foreign exchange student born in Kuldiga, Latvia. Kuldiga is a small city on the western side of Latvia. She grew up and spent most of her life in Saldus, Latvia. She came to the United States through a foreign exchange program called FLEX which is a merit-based program for high schoolers in the United States, Europe and Eurasia.
Her experience in America so far has been really exciting and full of surprises. One of the biggest differences she noticed right away was how people interact. In America, she says people are more talkative and outgoing, even when it comes to random strangers in public. Knuta also added how she feels about the California weather compared to the cold back home.
“My experience has been very, very nice,” Knuta said. “The thing I’ve enjoyed the most is probably the weather because it’s pretty much always warm and sunny.”
Since coming to Sierra Pacific, Knuta made the varsity basketball team, which has been a major part of her experience here. She decided to try it out because she already played basketball back home with a club team. Making the team was something she didn’t expect, especially because of how competitive it is.
“I felt really good and grateful that I made the varsity team, because I didn’t think I would since people always said how hard it is to get into varsity”
Her hard work paid off during early morning season practices and off-season workouts. Knuta and her team went on to win both the division II section title and the Div. II state championship, making her first year playing in the United States one to never forget.
Being on the team gave her the opportunity to meet new people she can call teammates and lifelong friends. It has also given her the opportunity to travel to states such as Hawaii and Nev. for basketball tournaments. Outside of basketball she has also visited Washington D.C., Utah, Ariz. and N.M. Knuta’s favorite U.S. state is Nevada because she had a really fun time in Las Vegas with her team. Her favorite place she’s ever visited would be Vienna, Austria due to its breathtaking scenery and enjoyable activities.
She says one of her favorite parts about living in the United States is her host family, who have helped her feel more at home during her time abroad. She has also made new friends and continues to get involved in school activities and charity works.
Even though her time in the U.S. won’t last forever, Knuta says this experience has already changed her a lot. She has become more independent, gained unforgettable experiences and learned more about the world. When she returns to Latvia, she will take these memories and experiences with her.
