I was chatting with Marion High School’s five foreign exchange students the other day, and the topic of sports came up.

All five either have played a fall sport at MHS or are currently playing one. Football, or to them, American football, seemed to be a popular topic, although some admitted to still not knowing all the rules.

This didn’t come as a surprise to me considering most Americans don’t know all the rules to soccer – and it’s the most popular sport in the world! Come to think, I know a lot of Americans who don’t know all the rules of football.

It also came as no surprise that the five all played most of the same sports back home as we do here in the states. However, what I did find interesting was the fact none of their schools have sports teams. As Max Wagner from Germany told me, school is for academics, and sports are played on recreation teams in spare time.

Mats Mangelrod Johannessen of Norway informed me he loved sports and the 24-hour cycle of them on ESPN. However, what he loved about playing sports in the school was the team unity it represented. He liked seeing his teammates throughout the day in school.

Phlip Gu of China was a member of the MHS cross country team. He was blown away by the laid back nature of the sport, and the encouragement his teammates gave to everyone on the team.

“It didn’t matter who you are,” Gu said. “They cheered for you.”

Gu said he wasn’t used to that, and enjoyed his time as part of the Warrior squad.

Speaking with the five students made me realize sometimes I think the daily lives we live in Marion, or the entire U.S. for that matter, are the same as everyone else.

It’s hard for us to imagine what others lives are like when we are so used to our daily routines.

“A school without sports teams,” I thought, “How could that be?” That was the only reason I went to school.

Of course, teachers, I’m kidding, but knowing there was a game on a certain day made it easier to get through seventh hour. OK, once again kidding, but you get the point. A student has only four years to take advantage of the opportunity to wear a jersey with his or her school name on the front.

After that, the only opportunity most of us have of playing sports is in video game form.

So students, if you see these five students having a little extra fun during their time as a Marion Warrior, join in. Your time won’t last forever either.

Editor’s note : Look for a feature on the five students in an up-coming edition of the Marion County Record.