Kristin Barbieri

Flores competes in a soccer game representing WHS.

   Although many high school students attend schools in their hometowns, Diego Flores from Mazatlan, Mexico, is attending his junior year far from home by coming to WHS as part of an international exchange sponsored by the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland. The Rotary Club is an organization made up of business leaders; it also funds a foundation that provides students who are interested in studying in different countries, thereby allowing students like Flores to attend a school in the U.S.

   Flores decided to enroll in this program for a couple of reasons. 

   “I came to Weston because I wanted a new experience in the States, and my parents also encouraged me to do so,” Flores said.

   Flores has started his time in Weston living in the household of English teacher Henry Moon and world language department head Kathy Baker. Their son, junior Oliver Moon, has been directly involved in helping Flores become acclimated to life in Weston and at WHS.

   “Deciding to host Diego in our home was a mix of giving back to The Rotary Club, an exchange program that my brother Owen is using to be able to stay in Taiwan, and also helping out another family. Diego will be staying in Weston all year, but he will only be at our house until November, and then he will rotate to two other homes this school year,” Oliver Moon said. “Diego has been a really good fit for our family because I am on the soccer team and he wanted to play boys soccer at Weston.”

   Moving so far away from home for Flores does come with some challenges.

   “I really miss the food from Mexico, such as authentic tacos, [along with] my girlfriend, and my family,” Flores said.

    While hosting Flores has taken some time to get used to, both the Moons and Flores have found many parts of Boston to explore and appreciate together. 

   “My favorite part while hosting Diego has been re-experiencing all of the great things Boston and Weston have to offer. I think we often take it for granted because we just see it as part of the background,” Henry Moon said. “I always have to remind myself that he is new and has never experienced some of these things, like going to the North End for example. We have all been but Diego hasn’t, so it has been fun being able to introduce these places to him.”

   Soccer has played a significant role in their lives, helping connect Flores to his current host family on a more personal level.

   “Getting to know Diego has been great. I have honestly found more similarities with him than I have with my own brothers, so it’s almost like having another sibling,” freshman Violet Moon said. “Sometimes we play soccer with each other and my older brother Oliver, which is really fun.” 

   Soccer has not only served as a strong bond between Flores and the Moons, but it has also helped him connect with many more WHS students.

   “I really enjoy the environment of the soccer team, and the opportunities it has given me to understand new cultures,” Flores said. “When I leave I will really miss the friends I have made on the team. They have all been very kind and welcoming to me.”

    Not only has the team been very accepting of Flores, but his presence has been very positive for all of the people around him.

   “It’s really fun having Diego on the team because he is very spirited, which helps bring us closer together and we are all able to learn and experience a different culture,” senior captain Mark Leonardo said.

   The soccer team has been a great way for Flores to connect with new friends beyond his host family.

   “Being on the team has helped me meet a new variety of people, which has been very useful since moving here,” Flores said.

   Flores will not only leave having made many new friends, but he will have also learned a lot academically. 

   “One important thing I have learned while living here has been my ability to improve my writing and speaking in English, which was definitely one of my goals before I moved here,” said Flores.