Magical Night in America: Exchange Students Going to Prom in America

By BAO LUU
The Tower

From Italy and beyond, Manteca High foreign exchange students Ester Donnini and Elise Deleo know what it is like to experience prom in America and how it compares to similar experiences in Europe. 

With flowers on their wrists, Ester Donnini and Elise Deleo are ready to enter the country club and step into the life of an American high schooler for a night (Ester Donnini/The Tower)

Deleo, an exchange student from Belgium, was amazed by her American prom at Manteca High. The Buffaloes went to prom on April 11 at Brookside Country Club in Stockton. Deleo and Donnini attended the dinner and danced together. 

"In Belgium, prom is much more casual," she said. "It’s usually in the school cafeteria with a DJ, and it doesn’t have the same glam." 

The American prom was a different experience. Manteca High’s event was more elaborate and fancier, beginning with the location: Brookside Country Club in Stockton. Students were served dinner – pasta, chicken and salad – and could take pictures in a photo booth.  

"The venue was beautiful, and everyone was so well dressed," Deleo shared. "Seeing all the colorful dresses made the night feel magical." 

Deleo, like her friend Donnini, was blown away by the grandeur of the event.  

"I wish we had something like this in Belgium," she said. "Even though the food wasn’t the best, dancing and having fun with friends made it all worth it." 

Spending the night with Donnini and their friends made it even more memorable. The two started their day around 11 a.m. with hair, nails and makeup, before making their way to Stockton for a night in the “enchanted forest,” the prom theme. 

Donnini understands why American prom is such an iconic tradition and believes Europe could benefit from a similar celebration.  

“It was my first prom ever, and I had a lot of fun. The venue was cute and fancy, and I loved all the decorations. Everyone was very well dressed, and I really enjoyed seeing so many colorful prom dresses: it made the whole atmosphere feel even more magical and exciting. I truly wish we had something like this in Italy to celebrate the end of the school year with friends.” She said.  

Here’s what Deleo had to say about her unforgettable prom experience: 

The Tower: How was prom in America compared to prom in Europe? 

Elise Deleo and Ester Donnini, Belgian and Italian exchange students at Manteca High school, on their way to their first and last American prom for a night in an Enchanted Forest (Elise Deleo/The Tower)

Elise Deleo: I had a junior and a senior prom in my high school in Belgium. It is really not a usual thing. A lot of schools don’t have anything like this at all, so I thought it was pretty fancy, but my prom at MHS this year really changed my mind. In Belgium, prom was in the school cafeteria. The older brother of my friend was doing the DJ, the entrance was 12€ for a couple, you didn’t have any dinner or anything, … It felt more like a normal school party with costumes and big dresses than a “real prom” like I had here.  

TT: Was prom what you thought it was? 

ED: It was different and at the same time exactly what I was expecting. When we see proms in movies, it looks amazing, more like a dream than real life. I had a lot of expectations and honestly, I really think that it was amazing! I spent most of the night with my friends from musical theatre and my sister, they really made that party special for me. I want to thank all of my friends so much! 

TT: Do you wish that Europe should make prom a normal thing? 

ED: Yes! I think that we’ll never have a prom like the one you guys have here, but we definitely should. It marks the end of the senior year before it happens, and I think it is important for everyone to realize that the end is coming. I loved my prom in Belgium but spending my night here with Ester, Marilyn, Vinny, Oliver, Maddy, Kyra, Kal and Alex was just incredible!! 

TT: What did your family and friends say about prom here in America? 

ED: When I sent pictures to my family and friends, they all said that it looked like a movie. When I talk to people here, they say that prom and homecoming are boring but honestly just having those opportunities is really cool. I think that people should enjoy it as much as they can. It is only when you tell them everything that we don’t do in our home countries they realize the chance they have. 

TT: What were some things that you like/dislike about the prom that you went on  

ED: I really enjoyed the night! The music was great, people were super nice, ... Spending the night with Ester for her first ever prom was very special. The only thing that was not super great was the food, but it didn’t ruin the night for all!