having some issues over there…
Hey everyone, I’m a 17-year-old exchange student from Italy currently placed at a very large high school with over 3,000 students in El Paso, Texas. I came into this program with a lot of enthusiasm, hoping to get involved in music, tech, and the typical American high school experience. However, the situation at my current school and local environment has been pretty overwhelming, and I’m looking for some advice or shared experiences regarding the re-placement process with CIEE.
In just the first few weeks, the atmosphere at school has been really tense, featuring multiple severe fights, a heavy police presence on campus, and instances where officers had to step in and hold students for questioning following violent altercations. Since I’m taking required core classes to match my home curriculum in Italy, simply changing my schedule or dropping classes isn't really an option. On top of the school environment, I was also involved in a severe car accident on Interstate 10 shortly after arriving, along with another near-miss collision recently, which has made navigating the local traffic and daily routine extra stressful.
I’ve already reached out to my home agency in Italy as well as CIEE, and CIEE has opened a safety and support case regarding my situation. I have a check-in call scheduled with a Participant Services coordinator later this week to discuss next steps. For anyone who has gone through a school, district, or state re-placement due to safety or environmental concerns, I’d love to hear how the process went for you with CIEE, how long a transfer typically takes once approved, and how best to frame my situation during the call so they understand this is about the overall environment rather than basic culture shock. Thanks in advance for any insights!