Exchange Students Club members will celebrate their first Halloween this year on Oct. 31.

“Many of the foreign exchange students don’t have Halloween in their home countries,” David Mikesell, club leader and exchange students counselor, said. “This is absolutely new and surprising experience for them. They aren’t used to seeing thousands of children dressed up in strange costumes.”

“In my home country we celebrate the Day of Death on Nov. 2, when we remember all people who died. Halloween is something I’ve never tried, and I’m really excited about it,” Maria Emilia Benavides, exchange student from Ecuador and senior, said. “For me the best part of Halloween is giving candies to kids, seeing happiness in their eyes.”

“Experience foreign exchange students will have can be something they can take back to their countries,” Mikesell said.

For exchange students, Halloween means not only free candy, but it’s also an opportunity to spend time with their American families and to be involved in their routine.

“ I spent a lot of time helping my family decorate the house and cut pumpkins. It made me feel more comfortable with them, and I started to feel (like part of the family),” Benavides said.