6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 4, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com 831 The phrase “culture shock” applies to unfamiliarities both large and small, curious and aggravating. For Santa Catalina School junior Marina Hurtado, however, these all add up to learning opportunities—and not just for herself. After a year spent in Austria, Hurtado returned to Santa Catalina with a mission in mind. “I felt like I had benefited from the experience,” she explains. “I wanted to share it.” At the start of the current academic year, Hurtado decided to start a club on campus, one dedicated to exploring different cultures and promoting exchange possibilities. The first meeting of Global Connect focused on Germany. An upcoming gathering will discuss Scandinavia. That Hurtado was able to bring a club together so readily, as well as to devote meetings to countries outside of her personal experience, has a lot to do with Santa Catalina, a private boarding school in Monterey. For the current school year, there are two exchange students enrolled from Germany, one from Sweden, another from Turkey, as well as two visiting from France on a short-term program. “Anytime a student has an interest in starting a club we support it,” says Julie Edson, head of Upper School at Santa Catalina, which includes grades 9-12. “Global Connect asks [exchange] students to share their experiences.” For Hurtado, the benefits of studying abroad are so clear that she finds it difficult to comprehend why so few of her peers participate. From Austria she could travel easily to other countries. There are regional foods to sample and new pastimes to try. And there are the bonds made with others in the program. “I saw a spectrum of things I hadn’t been exposed to,” she explains. “The connections you make are more intense—deeper. I feel like I have an advanced perspective of myself.” The U.S. welcomes far more foreign students to its classrooms, more than double the number of Americans who choose to study abroad. According to the Council on International Educational Exchange, just 2 percent of American high school students participate in exchange programs each year. On a positive note, the number of Americans holding valid passports is at an all-time high—half of the population, according to the U.S. State Department, compared to 30 percent in 2008. While the purpose of each meeting of Global Connect is to introduce educational exchange opportunities, the format gives foreign students a forum to speak about their country, its language and traditions. And they are also encouraged to expand on culture shock—the differences that stood out after arriving on the Monterey Peninsula. Cultural difference is something Hurtado knows firsthand. Even now her face registers the confusion she felt on the first day of school. “When an adult would come into the room, the students all stood up,” she recalls. “It’s a show of respect.” She still marvels at the fact that Austrian students—at least at her school in Graz—remain in the same classroom throughout the day. The teachers rotate through. Hurtado came to her interest in international studies through language. By the end of her sophomore year in high school, she had learned Spanish and French. Her grasp of languages proved helpful in Austria. “When I arrived I knew no German,” she points out. That was at the end of August, with classes about to start. “I was able to somewhat participate in school by November-December.” Hurtado’s fascination with languages began as a child when she spent two years in Canada. As a freshman, she took advantage of Santa Catalina’s partnerships and spent several weeks in France. “We’re committed to providing a global education for students,” Edson says. “Marina is keenly interested in being a global citizen and understanding as much as she can about the world.” Hurtado cautions students about the homecoming—especially for those immersed in another culture for an extended period. When she returned after a year in Austria, Hurtado rediscovered the limits to public transportation in the U.S., for example. It was no longer possible to jump on a train and take a day trip to Prague or spend a weekend in Brugge. “I was warned about reverse culture shock,” she says. World Class After a year studying abroad, a Santa Catalina student launches an effort to encourage others. By Dave Faries “I have an advanced perspective of myself.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS Santa Catalina School junior Marina Hurtado is eager for another opportunity to explore after spending a year in Austria. She is currently in the process of applying to a critical language program that would send her to Russia. Let the Best Of Monterey Bay® Family readers know what you have to offer. FOR MORE INFO: CALL: 831-394-5656 EMAIL: sales@montereycountynow.com SUMMER PLANNING IS AROUND THE CORNER SUMMER CAMPS • ACTIVITIES • HEALTH • SCHOOLS PUBLISHING APRIL 2 AD DEADLINE MARCH 13 FamilyFREE 2025-2026 BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® SUMMER CAMP LISTINGS 2025 FORGING LIFE SKILLS CAMP FROM A COUNSELOR’S PERSPECTIVE TEAM BONDING PUBLISHED BY cover_family_25.indd 1 3/20/25 10:59 AM
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