ETC students and host siblings represent ETC and their country at the South Carolina International Fair every year!
South Carolina students Daniela from Mexico, May from South Korea and Nicole from Brazil enjoy a weekend camping trip.
Lisa & Lara from Germany, Anna from France hang out in Charlotte, NC.
Louisa from Dusseldorf Germany is welcomed by her host family at the Charlotte International Airport.
Students placed in North Carolina pose in front of the North Carolina marker at a monument in Washington, DC
Carolina students enjoy a fancy dinner during Restaurant Week in downtown Charlotte, NC (L-R American host sister, Italy, France, Brazil, Germany & Mexico)
Our students enjoy monthly activities like playing laser tag.
South Korean students enjoy their week at a traditional summer camp in Greensboro, NC. Soomin from South Korea says, “Summer camp was probably the best experience I had on my exchange.”
Chiara from Italy enjoys a hike with her host siblings. The Carolinas are surrounded by a lush green environment and many families enjoy time outside.
The Carolinas (North and South) has approximately 35 students per year, with a majority being placed in the greater-Charlotte area. Other areas students are placed in is Raleigh/Chapel Hill, Brevard, Columbia, Greensboro and Wilmington. From our famous white-sand beaches to our picturesque mountains, the Carolinas are beautiful states to live in. Our students enjoy monthly activities with other ETC students like attending professional basketball games, bowling & laser tag, camping, and roller skating. Many students make the trip to Washington DC & Myrtle Beach, which is just a short flight or drive away, with their host families. Many students also choose to enjoy the adventure of Carowinds, which has 13 roller coasters and many thrill rides including the Fury (a steel roller coaster that reaches a maximum height of 99 m and reaches 153 kmh making it the tallest and fastest Giga coaster in the world and the 5th tallest overall.) The Carolinas is also home to the Carolina Panthers (professional NFL team), the Charlotte Hornets (professional NBA team), the Charlotte Motor Speedway (Nascar professional race car driving), the Charlotte Knights (a semi-professional baseball team), several prestigious universities, and a lot of musical venues, theaters, museums, lakes and hiking trails. Carolina students are allowed by state law to participate in sports with their high schools – students have to have a sports physical and then they are allowed to try out for their high school teams. Charlotte Mecklenburg and Cabarrus County Schools encourage the students to participate in high school graduation ceremonies! Elena from Spain says, “I really enjoyed how I got to experience all the seasons and the beauty of the Carolinas, it is like a movie for us Europeans. And the people, especially the coordinators and other exchange students, are the best; I will never forget them!”
Many of our students get to visit Washington DC as part of their exchange when placed in the Carolinas.
We have several professional sports team in the Carolinas including the Charlotte Hornets. Here Letizia from Italy poses with the NBA mascot.
The Carolinas are also home to professional football team NFL Carolina Panthers. Here Franziska from Germany poses with her host sister at a Panthers Game.
Heliang from China enjoys the outdoors with his host family by playing in the lake with his host brother. The Carolinas have many lakes and streams to enjoy.
Charlotte, North Carolina Union County, Charlotte Mecklenburg and Cabarrus County High Schools are where a majority of our Carolina students attend school in Charlotte, NC. Many students have enjoyed spending their school year at these large, traditional American high schools which have a wide variety of sports, clubs, elective classes and a rigorous school curriculum. Examples of schools that have hosted students in the past in these areas include: Porter Ridge High School -- https://www.ucps.k12.nc.us/domain/34 Marvin Ridge High School -- https://www.ucps.k12.nc.us/Domain/22 Ardrey Kell High School -- http://schools.cms.k12.nc.us/ardreykellHS/Pages/Default.aspx Myers Park High School -- http://schools.cms.k12.nc.us/myersparkHS/Pages/Default.aspx Cox Mill High School – https://www.cabarrus.k12.nc.us/coxmillhs Jay M. Robinson High School -- https://www.cabarrus.k12.nc.us/robinson
School Pictures and information
Joao from Brazil loved his Brevard High School
Elena from Spain says, “Porter Ridge lets you dream big with all the electives and sports you can experience!”
Elena from Italy, two American host siblings, Anna from Germany and Lison from France enjoy a high school football game at their high school Mallard Creek in Charlotte, NC. Elena from Italy says, “American Schools have such great school spirit! You feel like you truly belong to the school and I love this culture!”
Chiara from Italy poses with her high school mascot, the Marvin Ridge Maverick
Lara from Germany made her high school’s volley ball team at Cox Mill High School. Lara says, “Playing in a High School team is a experience for life! These girls are awesome and it was a pleasure to stand on the court with them. I made friends for life and will never forget this amazing and exciting time!”
Lison from France & Anna from Germany enjoyed running for their high school cross country team at Mallard Creek High School.
Wilmington Pictures & Information
Wilmington, North Carolina Wilmington, North Carolina – is a city located on the coast of North Carolina. There is a small population of students that gets to be placed here because the schools are quickly filled. However, for those that do, they enjoy Kira fishes off the pier with her host dad in Wilmington, the beach often. NC.
Many students in Wilmington participate in their schools’ marching band.
Justine enjoys visiting the many lighthouses in the Outer Banks, NC.
Transylvania County, North Carolina pictures & Information Brevard High School -- https://www.tcsnc.org/Domain/8 Brevard High School is nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains in Transylvania County, NC. The first Hunger Games movie was filmed in the nearby forest, and the area has 4 distinct seasons with a breathtaking “fall colors” when the leaves change. The community receives many tourists who seek to escape the noise of city life and enjoy the numerous surrounding waterfalls. We have placed many students in this quaint town and they absolutely thrive there. The high school community has its arms wide open to our international students. When Alejandra from Spain is asked why she loves being placed in Brevard she says, “The question is what to choose between all the things I love from Brevard. First the people; I’ve found here the most wonderful people. I also love the landscapes; it’s such a beauty.”
Ana from Mexico enjoys her first experience of snow in the Brevard Mountains.
Soomin from South Korea and her host family enjoy hiking the waterfalls of Transylvania County
Joao from Brazil loved his Brevard High School soccer
Columbia, South Carolina Schools in Columbia, SC and surrounding areas also provide an enriching and unique experience for its students!
Camilla from Italy enjoys a college football game in South Carolina.
Eduardo from Spain stands in front of his high school Dutch Fork in South Carolina
Angelica from Italy enjoys a beautiful morning at Myrtle Beach, SC. Many students and their families travel to the beach on the weekends and holidays
Carolina students dressed for prom!
Minseo from South Korea poses with her host mom after her graduation ceremony. Many Charlotte area schools encourage students to participate in Graduation.