Mercy Academy hosts Argentina Exchange Program

At Mercy Academy, three students from Argentina are currently immersing themselves in the Mercy experience and life in the United States. And this summer, Mercy students will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience life in Argentina. This cultural exchange is made possible through the annual Argentina Exchange Program, a partnership between Mercy Academy and our sister school, Santa Ethnea in Bella Vista, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Through the program, Argentine students spend four weeks attending Mercy Academy in February, while Mercy students spend four weeks attending school at Santa Ethnea in June.

Ernesto Laspiur, Spanish Teacher and World Languages Department Chair at Mercy Academy, serves as coordinator for the Argentina Exchange Program in collaboration with Santa Ethnea. Laspiur not only organizes the exchange, but is also instrumental in ensuring that visiting Argentine students are properly welcomed into the Mercy Academy community.

"A few weeks before arrival, I send an email to students, staff and faculty letting them know the date that our Mercy sisters are coming, their names, who their hosts are, that they are fluent in English, and I encourage everyone to talk to them if they get the chance," he said. "They all do."

This year, the students' arrival coincided with a pep rally, so hosts introduced them to the school to a warm reception.

"The three students that are currently at Mercy are extremely happy with their experience; they are an incredible group and they immediately adapted to their host families, and the school routines," Laspiur said. "They don't want to leave!"

When Argentine students arrive, host families aim to provide them with an authentic Mercy Academy experience, allowing them to participate in daily school life, family activities, and outings to local stores while spending time with classmates. While host families are not required to plan special trips or activities, many choose to organize visits to destinations like St. Louis, Chicago, or even Disney World, Laspiur said.

To make this exchange a reality, a great deal of preparation is necessary. At the end of August, program details are sent to all students, including an overview, an extensive application, and a parent exchange agreement. Families review these materials to determine whether to apply, and an informational meeting is held to provide a step-by-step breakdown of the program and answer questions. Interested students must submit their applications and agreements, though participation is not guaranteed. Background checks are conducted on all adults in the household.

"The physical and emotional safety of all participants is the number one priority," Laspiur said.

Once the number of participants from Argentina is confirmed, students are carefully matched in collaboration with the Argentine coordinator. After pairings are finalized, they are announced during a Zoom meeting with students and their future hosts or guests. Household adults must also complete a Safe Environment certification through the Archdiocese and provide proof of valid car insurance. Social media allows students to connect before meeting, fostering friendships while families can also use video calls to establish comfort and familiarity before the exchange.

Through the application, students learn about their guest's preferences, dislikes, allergies, and other important details, allowing them to prepare and ensure their guest feels at home upon arrival. The entire host family gathers at the airport to welcome their exchange student, with students creating and bringing large welcome signs to make the arrival special.

"The welcome at the airport is a very emotional moment, one of my favorites," Laspiur said. "After weeks of building up an online relationship they finally get to hug their friends."

Laspiur said once students arrive, he continues to oversee the program but takes a step back to allow students and host families to fully immerse themselves in the experience. However, he remains available to address any questions or concerns. As a native of Argentina, he said his background provides valuable insight in helping visiting students acclimate smoothly to their stay.

"For the Argentine girls to have someone from Argentine is a big reassurance and they feel 100% coming to me with any questions or just to get a little taste of home and chat," he said.

Just as the Argentine students will spend four weeks at Mercy Academy, Mercy Students will also spend four weeks in Argentina in June. Traveling alone, Mercy Academy students live with an Argentine family, attend school every day at Santa Ethnea and shadow their host's personal and extracurricular activities.

"The empowerment and self confidence that the students acquire throughout this experience is hard to overstate," Laspiur said. "The world opens up in their minds and they start to consider future possibilities that were not in their head before, like studying abroad, traveling to new places and meeting other cultures. It also increases their resolve in becoming fluent in the Spanish language. They realize it is only a matter of being exposed to the language, and they want to put themselves in situations to facilitate that."

On top of these experiences, Mercy Academy students who participate in the program also gain a forever friend, Laspiur said. He said many students make plans to visit each other in both the U.S. and Argentina after the exchange ends.

"I always tell them that the closest friends are the ones we live adventures with, and this is proof that that is true," Laspiur said.

To learn more about the Argentina Exchange Program and other travel opportunities offered through Mercy Academy, click here. And check back in the summer to read about the Mercy students' exchange experience in Argentina.