Why Exchange is Worth It: ‘You Have to Live This’

Meet Otto B., a 2025-26 CIEE BridgeUSA High School exchange student from Nampula, Mozambique. During his exchange year, he lived with a host family in Fort Worth, Texas. 

CIEE: What did you think America was going to be like before you came here? 

Otto: Before I came, I was expecting all American people to be white. And it's really diverse here in Fort Worth. It surprised me because there are more Mexican people and Black people. And there are white people, of course. 

I was expecting that they would all speak English here, but that's really different because they also speak Spanish. When I go to someplace, I see things in English and Spanish. 

CIEE: What are your thoughts on Texas in general? 

Otto: When I came to Texas, I really was surprised because everything is big here and places are really far. You cannot walk. You have to drive. You have to drive everywhere you want to go. And the schools are so big.  

But when I want something, like I need to go somewhere, my host family is willing to drive me. They drive me and they're really cool. I like when they ask questions about my country, about things that they want to know, and they ask some questions and I’m always there to answer. 

I see that people from Texas like to do community service. I could see how people really care about people, really care about the cause, the matters. They really like to volunteer. So they really have a big heart.   

I do community service to help a nonprofit organization that rescues dogs. I go to markets, I help them with fundraising, and help them pack up. Sometimes there are dog events, we take dogs, we walk with the dogs. That's pretty much what I do.   

CIEE: What else are you noticing about America? 

Otto: There's a lot of things. Like here in America, holidays are taken serious. Like you make decorations for everything: spring break, Christmas, Halloween, everything.  

And I like how Americans do Christmas here. They exchange gifts. Of course, we do that in Mozambique too, but here it's already different.  

They exchange pajamas. That's a different thing. 

CIEE: What did you think about the CIEE BridgeUSA experience as a whole?  

Otto: CIEE BridgeUSA gave me an opportunity to come to America. I love it. I love the experience because – as my father says – the sky is the limit. I think that he was talking about not being in my country, to go visit the world, see the world, and see other places.  

I'm here. I think it's going to be one of the best experiences of my life. If it's not the best. 

CIEE: What would you say to other high school students considering an exchange program? 

Otto: I would say go. Go see the world, go do something different.  

You won't be there with your parents, with your family, so you have to be independent, but you have to live this. If you have the chance, you cannot wait.  

I wouldn't think twice. I would say go, go, and go. Go live.  

Interested in becoming an exchange student in America? Learn more about the CIEE BridgeUSA High School program.