When a person walks into South’s V-Show, they never know what to expect.  From comedy to dancing, there is always something new and exciting for the audience to watch.  This year, there were several different acts, such as junior Alison Tye’s silk act, the drum line act featuring De La Cru and a song from sophomore Florencia Cuadros, a foreign exchange student from Chile.

Much like an audience experiencing the V-Show for the first time, Cuadros experienced everything for the first time: V-Show, Glenbrook South and even America. While Cuadros knew it would be a totally unique adventure, she never knew it would be as good as this.

“Basically [I came] to learn English and study in an American high school for a year so that is the whole goal,” Cuadros said.

Cuadros came at the beginning of the 2012 school year and is going back after the year is over. According to Cuadros, she is focused on taking fun classes such as photography and Titan Tots, and she believes  South has been a great experience so far.

“I really like it and everybody asks me if it’s how I expected it, and I didn’t really expect anything, so it’s been pretty good,” Cuadros said.

Sophomore Janie Kahan said she met Cuadros soon after she transferred and has gotten close with her. Kahan and Cuadros became friends through their love of theater and performing.

“We instantly clicked,” Kahan said.  “We went to football games, she’s taking a bunch of interesting electives, and we go downtown.”

V-Show director Mark Ferguson said he was lucky enough to get the chance to work with Cuadros during the show.

“I was just taken by not only her beautiful singing voice […] but also by the way she introduced herself,” Ferguson said.

Cuadros sang, “Corre”, in the V-Show while playing her guitar. She said she was definitely nervous at first, but she loves singing and was excited to perform.

“I’m really glad I did it,” Cuadros said. “I saw all these talented people before, and I was really scared, but […] everybody was really nice. It was  a really good experience.”

For the rest of the year, Cuadros said she has no set goal on what she wants to accomplish; she just wants to continue to learn about and explore America. Ferguson agreed and said anyone with this type of experience should seize every opportunity they can.

“Travel is the best way of getting an education,” Ferguson said.  “Going to places that are outside your comfort zone is really the best education you could possibly have.”

Cuadros concurred and said she could not have asked for a better experience. Cuadros also said that despite the new world she is in, she will never lose sight of who she is.

“I’m from Chile,” Cuadros said. “I don’t want to change. I’m different, but I don’t care.”

Ferguson and Kahan both agree that Cuadros’s personality is just one of the things that attribute to her successful year in America.

“She speaks very openly, very heartfelt and very honestly,” Ferguson said.

Kahan recalls a conversation with Cuadros on travelling alone.

“I was telling her how brave she is for just getting on a plane and arriving in a strange country and she said, ‘With an experience like this, you just need to go with the ‘Flo’’,” Kahan said.

According to Kahan, that is exactly what Cuadros did.

“I’m just here to have fun […] and to have a good story to tell,” Cuadros said. “It’s amazing to have the chance when you’re 16 to go somewhere else and have to be by your own.”

FUN FACTS

about Cuadros…

Plane ride from Chile to Chicago: 13 hours

Favorite Chilean Food: Empanadas

Favorite American Food: Rice Krispie Treats

How She’s Changed: More open-minded and willing to meet new people

What She’ll Miss the Most: Living in a small town because she is from the city in Chile