The 2024 exchange program at Cary Academy has commenced! Each year at Cary Academy, the sophomore class participates in the World Language exchange program where students are immersed into the culture of their respective language through traveling and residing with families in their destination country. All sophomore students taking Spanish, French, and German are offered this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of experience and learning.

However, before our students begin their travels and stays with their host families, students participate in the homestay of their designated partner. During April, the exchange students arrived, learned, experienced, and departed from the Raleigh-Durham airport within the blink of an eye! Sophomore Annalise DeMatteis (‘26) claims she “was nervous to host another student in my house, but I established a quick connection with her and it’s clear to me that I’ve made a lifelong friend.” Annalise is participating in the Argentina homestay and will be traveling to Quilmes, Argentina in late May to be reunited with her partner along with her eager classmates! This year, all of the incoming student’s trips overlapped with one another, making the Cary Academy campus (and lunchroom) a little more packed than usual! However, this was not the case every day, as each exchange took day-long field trips to nearby tourist destinations such as the North Carolina Zoo, various museums, RushHour Karting, and much more. Students also took tours of colleges such as the University of North Carolina, North Carolina State, and Duke University as they explored campus life and college courses. Overall, the homestay of the Cary Academy 2024 Exchange Program was a huge success, and we can’t wait to pick this journey back up in late May and reunite the students with their partners for an unforgettable trip!