The Student News Site of Mount Vernon High School

The Mustang Moon

The Student News Site of Mount Vernon High School

The Mustang Moon

The Student News Site of Mount Vernon High School

The Mustang Moon

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Spotlight on Gabriella Veleva

By Zehra Khan-
Q: Where are you from?
A: Varna, Bulgaria
Q: How old are you?
A: 16
Q: Who is your host family?
A: Jeff and Marci Schmatt
Q: Which languages do you speak?
A: Bulgarian, English, German, Russian
Q: Could you describe your family back home?
A: My mother, Krassimira, is an office manager, and I have a younger brother named Victor, he is ten years old.
Q: Are there any differences in home life between the two countries?
A: It’s not so different, I like it. American families eat dinner more earlier. In Bulgaria, they’d eat around eight.
(Gabriella, continued)
Q: What are some of your interests, or things you like to do in your free time?
A: I like acting, astronomy, reading, and to hang out with friends. In Bulgaria, I lived in a bigger city, so there was more opportunity, and we could go by he sea.
Q: Why did you want to become a foreign exchange student?
A: Because I really wanted to go to America and see if it was like the movies. (for example, they don’t have yellow school buses, lockers, or a certain place to sit and eat lunch)
Q: What are some cultural differences you have noticed between the two countries?
A: Americans smile a lot, even when they are not happy. “How are you” isn’t a question, you are always “good.”
Q: What do you miss most about home?
A: I miss my family, friends, and the Bulgarian cheese.
Q: What is your favorite food here? Do you like American food better?
A: I like the sweets here, I like my home food better.
Q: How do the schools differ?
A: Everyday is not the same, Monday is different than Tuesday. (the day of classes alternate) You don’t get to choose the subjects. The grading system is based off a set of numbers, 2-6, instead of letters a, b, c, d, or f. The teachers come to the classes, the students don’t move, and we have ten minutes during passing time between classes. High school consists of grades 8-12, and there are different high schools for different subjects- language high schools, math high schools, sports high schools. (they have to take an exam after seventh grade that determines which high school they go to) If you don’t pass the exams, you don’t go to high school for another year.
Q: What do you like/dislike about schools here?
A: I like the fact that there are more things to do. I like how the teachers really care. They give you interesting projects. School is easier here.
Q: Is there anything in particular that you would like to do during your year here?

Mohamed Kassem from Egypt, Gabriella Veleva from Bulgaria, Sara Lopez from Spain, and Louis Lyska from Germany are foreign exchange students studying at Mount Vernon High School this year.

A: I want to do new things everyday.
Gabby held a role in the fall play, “Almost Maine,” and just recently joined the speech team. She hopes to play tennis in the spring, and to participate in the musical.

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