Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:00Your 2023 homecoming queen is...
00:07How are you feeling about homecoming?
00:09I want to have the full American experience,
00:11but it is kind of stressful.
00:13Obviously, everybody wants somebody to go with,
00:15but everybody won't get the opportunity.
00:18Miss Sophia Butler.
00:20CHEERING
00:22All the American kids are like,
00:23oh, a lot of us think that you're cute and you're so pretty
00:26and da-da-da-da.
00:27But none of you are doing anything.
00:29There's a lot of talking and not enough action.
00:31What's that about?
00:32If you think I look nice or I'm cute,
00:35then go talk to me.
00:37Yeah.
00:39Queen Sophia, make a reign, bring a victory tonight.
00:43CHEERING
00:45Oh, say can you see...
00:48The United States and the United Kingdom.
00:52Can you do a British accent?
00:54I'd like to have a pot of tea.
00:56At once familiar and also very different.
01:00If they come for your guns, you give them your bullets first.
01:03Hello out there.
01:05But how well do we really know each other?
01:07I've heard you guys like beans and toast.
01:10All I've got to base it off is TikTok.
01:13Do you trust TikTok?
01:14No, I don't trust TikTok.
01:16Now, two groups of teenagers...
01:19Hey, he's going somewhere.
01:20..with barely set foot abroad...
01:22It smells really bad like weed right here, can we move?
01:25..are about to find out.
01:27Oh, my days.
01:30They're going to exchange places...
01:32Come on.
01:33..between a multicultural comprehensive in South London...
01:36South London is, like, very funny, very welcoming most of the time.
01:41..and a mainly white Christian high school in rural Arkansas.
01:45This is what we're going to use to squirrel hunt today.
01:47Shoot them up, bang, bang.
01:49It's just a bunch of hillbillies.
01:51Yes, little man.
01:55They'll live with each other's families...
01:57We've got to get them out of the dirt.
01:59Yeah, yeah, yeah. Easy that way, though.
02:01..hang out with each other's friends...
02:03He's lame.
02:04They're in love with you.
02:06..and go to each other's lessons.
02:08Please do not make me mom voice you.
02:10LAUGHTER
02:12My frustration level is to a boiling point.
02:15Will the grass be greener?
02:17College itself was founded in 1571.
02:19I could probably see myself studying somewhere like this.
02:22In my dreams.
02:23But will they come to realise there's no place like home?
02:26I'll never live anywhere. I can't pee in my own front yard.
02:29I don't really want to leave, Mum. I really want to stay here.
02:38Good morning, Mena!
02:43It's the start of the biggest week of the year at Mena High School.
02:47Are you guys excited for homecoming tonight?
02:50CHEERING
02:54So, homecoming is a week that's an American tradition
02:59and the week that you celebrate being a Mena Bearcat.
03:03CHEERING
03:05Well, homecoming was started in the American universities
03:09in the early 1900s and it was just an opportunity to have a big party.
03:17As tiring as this week is, it is necessary to do this
03:22to keep your community and your student body
03:25centred around a common goal of the school.
03:28It works and our kids had fun.
03:32There's one thing every UK person wants to experience
03:35is going to homecoming
03:38because it's something that we've, like, grown up seeing.
03:41It's like a dream come true, literally.
03:45On Friday, we had the homecoming football game.
03:50Then, on Saturday night, we had the homecoming dance.
03:55It's kind of like the one big dance event of the year
03:59when you're in high school.
04:01And with that comes the pressure to take a date.
04:04I've been searching for some homecoming guys.
04:06Have you found any? Not really.
04:08I try.
04:10It is kind of stressful.
04:12This would be nice if somebody asked me.
04:15We could just go together. Mm-hm.
04:17Exactly. We don't need no boys.
04:23Ready, set, go. Run, run, run.
04:25Now, catch the ball. You've got to catch the ball.
04:27Yes, sir. Spike it!
04:28Throw it on the ground!
04:30Since the start of the exchange,
04:32Jude has been made an honorary member
04:35of the high school football team.
04:37This coach, homecoming week scares you to death
04:39because the boys aren't thinking about playing football,
04:42they're thinking about pretty girls.
04:45Appointed, Jude's teammates are determined to impress upon him.
04:49You want to ask any of the girls around here at homecoming?
04:56Oh, you get all the women there?
05:02OK.
05:03The main point is, find a woman and ask her at homecoming.
05:06You have to have a woman. It's very important.
05:08It's imperative. Ah!
05:11My mum made the best jollof rice in the world.
05:13Hands down, no lies. Yay!
05:17Before taking part in the exchange,
05:19bagging a homecoming date was not on Jude's agenda.
05:23I'm not going looking for romance.
05:26I'm not going to go there and just be like,
05:28can I get your number, can I get your Snapchat?
05:30I'm not that type of person.
05:32Are you looking forward to making new friends in America?
05:35Yeah, I'll be able to make new friends.
05:37Remember, be yourself.
05:39Yes, Mum.
05:40Jude can sometimes surprise you a lot when he's home.
05:45He is the sweetest boy. He's an angel.
05:48Tell me how he tastes.
05:50All matters.
05:51He's a different person when he goes out.
05:54Peer pressure, he's not confident in that.
05:57He will just do things that will make his friends happy,
06:00rather than himself.
06:02I wish for him to come back being very confident in everything.
06:10That confidence is about to be tested by Jude's new friends.
06:14Where are you staying?
06:15Eli?
06:16Yeah, I'm staying with Barry.
06:18OK, OK.
06:19Hunter, Natalie dropped...
06:21No!
06:22I texted him at the airport and said...
06:25Who texted Eli?
06:26I deserve better.
06:27She broke up with him already?
06:28Yeah, they broke up.
06:29All right, I'll show you, I'll show you, bro.
06:31That's Natalie. She's pretty hot.
06:33That's me.
06:34I was beautiful and good-looking, I can admit that.
06:37Take Eli's girl.
06:41If you're staying with Eli, take his girl because she broke up with him.
06:44Yeah, I might have to.
06:45Yeah, she's all right.
06:47Yeah!
06:52Jude is staying with Eli's family
06:54while Eli is attending Elm Green in London.
06:59Homecoming is so fun.
07:00It's probably a homecoming proposal.
07:01The guys make cute little posters.
07:03Do you guys think that's cringy?
07:05It's so cringy.
07:06It is so cringy.
07:07We're not really going to be back in time for homecoming asking.
07:10Well, I did, but, you know...
07:12Along with the other Americans,
07:14he'll be returning to the US the day before the homecoming game.
07:18Eli asked a girl.
07:19I think she broke up with me before I came on the plane here.
07:23Yeah.
07:24Sorry.
07:28Athlete Eli is more used to breaking records
07:31than having his heart broken.
07:33I'll never fall in love again
07:37I have some medals that I had placed in cross-country.
07:40From FBLA, I have a plaque that I got first place in.
07:44If I could sum Eli up in three words,
07:46it would be kind, caring and scholarly.
07:50But he's very intelligent.
07:52That's crazy.
07:53There's just not a whole lot of kids like him.
07:55He's unique.
07:57Natalie.
07:59But not unique enough for Natalie.
08:03It's supposed to be after I come back,
08:05we're going to start dating,
08:06because we weren't going to be able to see each other for a long time,
08:09so I was like, might as well just wait.
08:11And then, on the plane, it was just like, you know...
08:15So, before I left for London,
08:17I did ask Natalie to a homecoming.
08:19Of course, she said yes, right?
08:21I was really excited.
08:22I thought we were going to have a really good time.
08:24Then, I was on the plane, we were about to take off.
08:27I just got a text, and she was just like,
08:29Natalie, we should be friends.
08:30And I was like, OK.
08:33It's not something that I want to fight for at that moment,
08:35because we're about to leave on a plane for nine hours.
08:38I'm not going to be able to talk to her at all.
08:403, 2, 1, do it.
08:42You know, I think that it's easy to forget, as an adult,
08:47what it's like to be a teenager.
08:49Duck. Goose!
08:51Get him, get him, get him!
08:52I don't care if it's been a two-week relationship.
08:55At the end of that two weeks,
08:56you might as well have been dating for two years,
08:58because that's how bad it hurts.
09:03So, you lot excited to see the chicken show?
09:05Yeah, I'm excited to eat chicken, sure.
09:08While the exchange has precipitated the breakup of one couple...
09:12Six barbecue wings and chips, and six wings and chips, please.
09:15What we do here, we say thank you, boss.
09:17You say thank you, boss.
09:18You guys lying?
09:19No, we promise, we promise.
09:20Oh, thank you, boss.
09:22..it could be about to bring others together.
09:25I don't fancy anyone enough.
09:26I've seen a few people like that.
09:28I think the boys are prettier in the US.
09:30Do you guys fancy any girls?
09:31From you lot?
09:32Oh, yeah.
09:34Jayla.
09:35She's so pretty.
09:37She's so sweet.
09:42They pleaded to us about their love for Jayla.
09:45I was the first one to go speak to her.
09:47I was a gentleman, I even opened the door for her.
09:50Oh, how kind.
09:51Dylan said that Jayla looked at him first.
09:55I know you lot are going to go tell her after this.
09:57Yeah, you're going to tell her, you're going to tell her.
10:02Oh, Grace and I have something to tell you.
10:05I know, we know.
10:06They are in love with you.
10:08You have very nice hair.
10:10You have nice hair too.
10:12I saw Jayla walk in and I was like, he's lame.
10:16And that means, like, you're pretty.
10:18My head is spinning around and around us
10:21I go deep into the funnel of love
10:25Yeah, and then from there, I just started asking her
10:28where she's from and stuff.
10:29Then eventually, me and her just started speaking more and more.
10:33Can I actually see your nails properly?
10:35I didn't get to look at it either.
10:36Oh, it's coming from the bottom of my heart.
10:38I genuinely like her.
10:39I like her vibe.
10:40We both like mayonnaise, you know.
10:42I like her vibe.
10:43She's very chill.
10:44I like her a lot.
10:45Why are you blushing?
10:46I'm not.
10:47Am I really?
10:48This is his heart.
10:49I was not the least bit surprised
10:52by the amount of teenage relationships
10:55and shifts in relationships and crushes.
10:58I think it's cute, but, you know, I got a boyfriend.
11:01So, you know, yeah.
11:05And I think that we have to help them navigate those feelings
11:08because I think teenagers, by nature, feel big.
11:13And few teenagers come much bigger...
11:16I haven't talked to any of the girls.
11:18They're nice. Come. And they don't bite either.
11:21..than Mina's star quarterback...
11:23What's up, guys? ..Dax.
11:25Do you guys do any hunting over in London?
11:28Well, I'm a scout, so I have, like... I got out of fish.
11:31That was interesting.
11:33Are any of you interested in, like, hunting or anything over here?
11:36Yeah, I think it'd be fun.
11:37I've shot a gun before.
11:40Come on, now!
11:45As an active member of the Scouts,
11:47Naomi is no stranger to adventure.
11:50I think being a Scout is, like, quite, like, a big part of my life.
11:54You can't just limit yourself to things that are, like, just girly.
11:57My skill that impresses people the most is, like, my shooting ability.
12:01I'd say I'm pretty good.
12:03Naomi likes to surprise.
12:05She's got no fear.
12:07She's kind of a bit worried, but...
12:09You all right? Yeah.
12:11I think Naomi's at the age where she wants to push the boundaries
12:14and find out what life's all about.
12:17Hi.
12:19You want to go hunting Sunday? Hunting? Yeah.
12:22Probably can if I'm free.
12:24Feel pretty good about it.
12:26Are you hopeful? Yes, I am hopeful.
12:30I know he's on the football team.
12:32I think he's popular. I think he's popular.
12:34I know he's on the football team.
12:36I think he's popular. I haven't been here for very long,
12:38so I don't know the social status of everyone.
12:40So I can't tell if he's cool or not.
12:47Hello, darling. How are you?
12:53OK.
12:57So he likes you, then? Yeah.
12:59That's what's going on there, isn't it? Yeah.
13:01You know how to deal with that, don't you?
13:03Affirm no.
13:07I know she can take care of herself,
13:09and I also know that if she wasn't happy, she'd say.
13:12You know, she'd let me know.
13:17Sorry.
13:19There's a lad that likes her, and, you know, she's not sure,
13:22and she's trying to be polite, but, yeah, she's handling it.
13:25I think for most of the parents who have sent their kids off,
13:28they haven't done this, you know.
13:30It's a big thing.
13:32But I think they'll come back.
13:34They'll come back, you know, really strong.
13:43Wait, so what do I have down?
13:48Homecoming week sees many of the American kids off timetable.
13:54And Jude is the only one to turn up to his next lesson.
13:58This is called the FACS class.
14:01It focuses on life skills,
14:03preparing people for life after school.
14:08I can let you see the kinds of things that you'd be working with
14:11if you want to take a little tour.
14:13All right, I'll be fine with that, yeah.
14:15OK.
14:17Be real-world ready. Yeah.
14:20Over here they have a pot for meats.
14:23You can put them in there, let them cook all day,
14:26and they're so tender that they fall apart almost.
14:29You can put a fork through. Oh, wow.
14:32This is where you learn how to do your laundry, how to sort it.
14:36Here we have various personal supplies.
14:40Everyone gets a chance to learn proper grooming skills.
14:45This...
14:48I'm not sure what this is.
14:50Let's see.
14:54Hello, Sash. How are you?
14:57I'm doing well. Come here. What you got?
14:59The reason why I wanted to talk to you is because
15:02there's no-one in the lesson and the teachers are sort of...
15:06Oh, OK, OK. Yeah.
15:08Well, you could take Child Growth and Development,
15:12but it is a predominantly female class.
15:16Yeah, it's going to be nothing but girls in there.
15:23My name is Miss Wilson.
15:25You guys are in Child Growth and Development class.
15:28Hey, what's your name? I'm Jude.
15:31Do you like it here? Yeah, I like it.
15:39I dare you to go up to Natalie and we'll start talking to her now.
15:43What do you mean? Do I have to, like...
15:45Can I talk about the work or do I have to, like,
15:48follow different conversations?
15:50Sometimes people are like, oh, it's love at first sight,
15:53you're just going to instantly love her and just ask her to homecoming.
15:56But I was, like, the type of guy that would just get to know people first,
16:00then see where we could go from there. Yeah.
16:04Jude's decided to make his first move.
16:13Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello.
16:16Hi. How are you? I'm good.
16:18So what lesson do you have now? I'm going to art.
16:21You're going to art? Are you, like, very good at it?
16:23I don't think I'm, like, great at it. How about you?
16:26I don't really draw that much.
16:28Natalie, that's also for you. Can I get your number?
16:31My number? Yeah, can I?
16:33Yeah, I guess.
16:35All right. Thank you. See you. Bye.
16:40You got the digits, Jude!
16:44Jude, I was just a little caught off guard because...
16:48..I never met him.
16:52He's a big hugger, but...
16:55..it's all right.
16:57Listen, we are going home at the end of this.
17:00You're going to have to pull Jude like this. Come on.
17:02Natalie!
17:05Don't go!
17:07Don't leave me, please!
17:10I don't want to hurt Eli's feelings.
17:12It felt a bit weird because he's coming back
17:15before the homecoming dance,
17:17and that's why I'm going to ask her to.
17:20News of Jude's plan has already reached Eli.
17:23What's going on at home?
17:25Cos I've heard some things, like, through the grapevine, you know?
17:28The grapevine? Yeah.
17:30You know that table that I stood at for, like, lunch? Yeah.
17:32Apparently, like, he sits there or something.
17:34What's up, bro?
17:36My friends told him to go talk to Natalie cos they know...
17:39Oh, my God.
17:41Went to go speak to Natalie and her friends.
17:44It's kind of a douche move, I guess.
17:46Yeah, it is. I don't know anything else to say about it.
17:48At the same time, it's like, I really liked her, she's really nice,
17:51she's a great person.
17:53Eli comes back and he's...
17:55You're going to have Natalie over?
17:57I've always thought that my friends were not very serious
18:00about stuff like this.
18:02Having them kind of cross me like that,
18:05it's just kind of like, I don't know.
18:09While he's attending Elm Green...
18:11It's very strange to be in such a small place,
18:13but at the same time, I do really like it.
18:15It's so cosy.
18:17Eli is staying with a family of one of the South London kids
18:20who has gone in the other direction.
18:22I hope it's not for you or something. Yeah.
18:24Trust me, it won't happen. I think it will, my dog.
18:27Every other girl, they're getting, like, arsed, like, by other guys
18:31and, like, this and that.
18:33No-one has spoken to me once.
18:35Oh, my gosh, you know, two boys have asked me on Snapchat today.
18:38Lucky! It was genuinely...
18:40It's kind of made it worse, like, my insecurities.
18:44Yes, I've not finished it and I don't like it.
18:47Gosh, I love it!
18:49You've took this to a whole other level.
18:52Magda, she is very talented.
18:55She would probably be a bit cross at me for saying that
18:58because she doesn't like to be big-headed.
19:01This is, like, one that I did, but I don't like it that much.
19:04It's amazing.
19:06She's always been very artistic,
19:08but she seems to lack confidence with things.
19:10Oh, I do.
19:12I've said to her, don't dim your light for anybody.
19:14I've had people doing that to me when I was younger
19:16and then you look back and think, well, actually, you know,
19:19just shine your light, cos they're going to say something bad anyway.
19:22One opportunity to shine will be at the homecoming football game
19:25on Friday night.
19:27I want to introduce you really quickly to my husband,
19:30and introduce you really quickly to our visitors,
19:34and they want to learn about cheer.
19:39As cheerleaders...
19:41Look at that expression. I know.
19:44I would say it's just to be a positive representation of the school
19:48and just bring up the crowd, get all the energy,
19:51but also, you know, stay smiling and, you know, really peppy
19:54and just really excited for everything.
19:57The kids can learn some of the routines.
19:59Go! Big red, let's rock!
20:03They can take part in the homecoming game.
20:07Do you want to cheer, Swann?
20:09You have a natural cheerleader face.
20:12Ooh, I felt that.
20:14But it doesn't come naturally to everyone.
20:16I don't think I've played football enough.
20:18You got this, you got this.
20:20I did notice quite early on that Magda did not have a lot of self-confidence,
20:25especially in how she looked.
20:28I can't do this one. I guess I'll do one.
20:30Can you do one? Yeah.
20:32It made me very sad because she was constantly, like, putting herself down.
20:36Oh, I hate my legs.
20:38I love your legs. Don't say that.
20:40Sorry.
20:42A lot of that comes from having a history myself
20:47of body image issues as a teenager.
20:50I'm hoping by the end of the three weeks
20:52that she really has gotten some newfound self-confidence.
20:57I don't want to do this.
20:59Magda, you're like, nah, nah.
21:01I don't want to do it. I don't like cheer.
21:03No, it's OK. It's OK.
21:07Go! Big red, let's go!
21:11Go! Big red, let's win!
21:13I just feel, like, really useless and really fat
21:15when compared to everyone else.
21:18It's very much about, like, looks and appearance.
21:20You have to look the role.
21:22And I don't like how I have to be, like, all, like...
21:27I don't know, I don't like it at all.
21:30What's going on?
21:32I don't know, I feel very insecure.
21:34I feel a bit fat.
21:36And I feel, like, a bit ugly.
21:38And I hate cheer. That's OK.
21:40Cheer's not your thing.
21:42Imagine our school doing this. I wish we did this.
21:44It'd be so fun.
21:47I don't think that you look fat and ugly.
21:49I think you're beautiful.
21:51And we have 15 different body styles in there, and that's OK.
21:54But if you don't feel good about it, I don't want you doing it,
21:57so we'll do something else, OK? That's not a problem.
21:59You just got to talk to me. OK.
22:03For the girls that remain, the scale of the task confronting them...
22:06They're really good. They're really, really good.
22:11..is beginning to become clear.
22:14I thought it was just, like, jumping around and shouting,
22:17but it's actually quite hard to do.
22:19Quite intense.
22:21It's a bit confusing,
22:23but I feel like the more I do it, the more I'll get it.
22:28This is how much I got right.
22:30This is how much I got wrong.
22:33I need to learn everything by Friday.
22:35Because what if I mess up? That's embarrassing.
22:37In front of everyone, you mess up.
22:40Number one.
22:42And they aren't the only ones
22:44daunted by the challenge in front of them.
22:51You're scared, innit?
22:55Bro, we need to hurry up.
22:57As the homecoming dance draws near...
23:03..Jude is feeling the pressure from DJ and the rest of his friends.
23:08One of the horrible things about being a teenager
23:11is that peer pressure.
23:19They're still children,
23:21so why are we pressuring them into adult situations?
23:28It's not for everyone.
23:30Some are not ready. It's not your time yet.
23:33With Jayla about to return to Arkansas,
23:36Dylan is making the most of their remaining time.
23:39Do you guys realise that Dylan likes Jayla?
23:41Of course. Dylan, just a little bit.
23:44He's told us.
23:46That she secretly liked him back.
23:48Like she has a boyfriend in America.
23:50But I don't know if she does.
23:52She doesn't tell me about it.
23:54I don't know if she does.
23:56I don't know if she does.
23:58I don't know if she does.
24:00I don't know if she does.
24:02She doesn't tell me about it.
24:04My boyfriend gave me 21 letters before I left.
24:07I'm supposed to read one every day,
24:09but I just forgot about them, to be honest.
24:11I sound like a really bad girlfriend,
24:13but I guess I'm not really missing him.
24:17And then she told me that she likes me.
24:19I told her I liked her.
24:21And then eventually...
24:23..happy ending.
24:27I gave her a bracelet
24:29and she gave me a matching necklace.
24:31I have a pork chop.
24:33He just became one of my really, really good friends.
24:35Just friends? Yeah, just friends.
24:37She likes the way I look a lot.
24:39Like a lot, a lot.
24:41She loves my personality.
24:43She likes the way I'm funny.
24:45She likes the way I'm talkative.
24:47When she goes, you're going to be destroyed.
24:49Yeah, I am.
24:51It's going to be so annoying.
24:56What are we hunting, by the way?
24:58Hot tail deer.
25:00Oh, like a Bambi?
25:02Yes, like Bambi.
25:06Right through here, you look for some tracks.
25:08I wasn't here this morning.
25:10Naomi and Dax are on their first date.
25:14To give them space to get to know one another,
25:16Dax has chosen a quiet,
25:18out-of-the-way kind of place.
25:22You know what kind of tree that is right there?
25:24No.
25:26Black cherry.
25:28You know what tree that is?
25:30Sawtooth oak.
25:32That tree out there is a shortleaf pine.
25:34That's a water oak.
25:36Water oak, white oak,
25:38sweetgum, mockernut hickory.
25:40You know what kind of tree this is right here?
25:42No.
25:44That one produces acorns, and deer like acorns.
25:46So if you're just walking around,
25:48and you see one of them trees,
25:50you know deer are going to be around.
25:52Is that funny to you?
25:54Yeah.
25:56I was kind of nervous,
25:58because I hadn't really talked to him that much
26:00before I went hunting.
26:02It did feel like a date,
26:04because it was not very romantic,
26:06in our full camo gear,
26:08looking for deers and being quite quiet.
26:10Big buck.
26:14I think that was a cow.
26:16I think that was a cow.
26:18Yeah.
26:22Dating is also on the agenda for Jude
26:24and his host family.
26:26How's the plans going for homecoming?
26:28I spoke with Natalie,
26:30but I did feel like kind of simple for Eli.
26:32You know what, Jude?
26:34I understand.
26:36It seems like a lot of pressure about this whole HOKO thing,
26:38but listen,
26:40you really don't have to stress out over this.
26:42Some take dates, and some don't.
26:44So I don't know what's going on
26:46with all the kids at school.
26:48If they're pressuring you
26:50to go with somebody specific,
26:52don't fall into peer pressure.
26:54Because that's what it's about over there.
27:00I would not do that move in the UK.
27:02I'm too shy.
27:04Bull does not lie.
27:06Do I get girls?
27:12It was fun.
27:14I didn't kill anything,
27:16but I'm glad I didn't kill anything,
27:18because I would have felt, like, bad.
27:20Because I loved it. They're so cute.
27:22Maybe someone will ask you to homecoming this week.
27:24Maybe they shall.
27:26I have some plans. I won't think about it.
27:28I don't really know.
27:30So we'll just have to see.
27:32You're going to make it.
27:34I don't want it to carry you out of here.
27:36As the US kids prepare to leave London
27:38and return to MENA in time for homecoming,
27:40Jude is also reconsidering his plans.
27:42When I realised Eli was coming back for the dance,
27:44I was like,
27:46yeah!
27:48What is he going to feel like
27:50when he comes back and I'm going out with her?
27:52Is he going to care?
27:54Is he going to do something?
27:56Good morning. Good morning.
27:58It's the day Jayla and Dylan have been dreading.
28:00Stay in touch with me,
28:02and I'm going to come to America.
28:06Saying goodbye to them was very difficult.
28:08Very, very, very emotional.
28:12I'm going to miss you.
28:14I'm going to miss you.
28:16We had a little moment to ourselves.
28:18We was hugging.
28:20I'm not upset.
28:22I was tearing up a lot this morning.
28:24It was sad, leaving them.
28:26They started crying. I was crying.
28:28Come.
28:32I gave her a jumper with my cologne
28:34sprayed on it, how I smell,
28:36because she likes the way I smell.
28:38That jumper looks nice.
28:40One more.
28:42I was just like, I don't want to go home.
28:44Let's start getting on.
28:46Safe journey back, everyone, OK?
28:48All right, guys.
28:50OK, we'll move your bag.
28:52Bye. I love you guys so much.
28:54Why don't you stop?
28:56Have you looked me over?
28:58Have you?
29:00Am I the same
29:02that you used to know?
29:04Why don't you
29:06stop?
29:08And we can...
29:10As Jailor
29:12and the others head home,
29:14final preparations are being made
29:16for the homecoming game.
29:18Are you girls confident enough
29:20to go through it with us tonight?
29:22I don't want to do it.
29:24Why? You're so committed.
29:26I'm so tired.
29:28I don't feel like I want to do it now.
29:30You can sleep later.
29:32There's going to be, like,
29:34over 600 people there,
29:36so I'm scared to perform.
29:40Game day starts with the most important
29:42pep rally of the year.
29:44Oh, my God.
29:46The outfits are so cute.
29:48Oh, my God.
29:58A pep rally is a
30:00take on a pagan ritual
30:02that may
30:04have started in your country
30:06that when the warriors came back
30:08from a successful battle
30:10or a successful hunt,
30:12a festival was thrown.
30:18Homecoming.
30:22I started doing that same speech.
30:24I've said it for 15 years now,
30:26and it gets them hyped up.
30:28When a group of people went out
30:30to battle or went out to hunt,
30:32when they came home,
30:34they threw a party!
30:40I just throw a little history in there.
30:42You know, you got to protect your castle.
30:44You got to defend your queen.
30:46Tonight, somebody is trying to come
30:48to this house and steal your queen!
30:54The older I get, the harder it is
30:56to give that speech because I hurt myself.
31:00This is our house!
31:04I want those football boys ready
31:06to play that game because
31:08if you lose homecoming, you tend to have
31:10a very poor remainder of the semester.
31:12The spirit is gone.
31:14You defend your queen!
31:20Get ready for a cheer!
31:22Yeah!
31:28It was really, really good.
31:30When I saw the outfits, I was like,
31:32yeah, I want to do it now.
31:34I did the little sparkles
31:36and the little extras.
31:38It made it perfect.
31:40Baby, I need a bear pack.
31:54Go get her!
32:00I see it!
32:04She came up.
32:06Oh my gosh!
32:10Thanks for all the help.
32:12Need some help?
32:14It's too late now.
32:20Let me look at you. You've gotten taller.
32:22Just the shoes long.
32:24No, it's not.
32:26Feels great to be home.
32:28I never want to fly again in my life.
32:30I never want to leave the United States of America.
32:34There's not a house right there, you know.
32:36And I have a yard.
32:38We'll be here waiting on you.
32:40Is this the first time you use the restroom outside?
32:42It is.
32:44For Eli, returning home also means
32:46a first meeting with Jude.
32:48Hey, Jude.
32:50Eli!
32:52Welcome home.
32:56I did talk to Jude about Natalie,
32:58and it wasn't a big deal.
33:00It was calm about it.
33:02I'm so glad you're here.
33:04I think my friends put him up to that.
33:06I think they just wanted to get a really good laugh out of it,
33:08and I don't think that they feel bad about it at all.
33:10Like, I don't feel good about it.
33:12I wouldn't do that to them.
33:14You know where Pinge is?
33:16I live in Pinge, Magda's house.
33:18Pinge?
33:20Yeah, so I had to take a train every morning.
33:22Oh, OK.
33:24I can't wait for you to meet Magda.
33:26I like her.
33:28Magda's been inside to me.
33:30But not everybody is happy to have come home.
33:32I'm going back. Two months. Two months.
33:34You're serious?
33:36I'm so serious. That's what I want for my birthday.
33:38I don't want a sweet 16 or nothing.
33:40Just take me, give me to London.
33:42Like, this was hard enough.
33:44Mom, I came to Tamina, right?
33:46It looks depressing.
33:48It's literally like, I'm already sad.
33:50But in London, Mom!
33:52Like, I fell in, it was amazing.
33:54I definitely think I could find places like that in the States,
33:57like, you know, New York, the city, Chicago, I'm sure.
34:00But London, I just fell in love with it immediately.
34:03And I just stayed in London for the rest of my life, you know.
34:06I'm sad.
34:08But now I told her I want her to, like...
34:12Like, who am I to stop her from living her dream?
34:23How was hunting with Dax?
34:25It was fun.
34:27It's the day of the homecoming game
34:29and the final chance for the kids to line up a date for tomorrow night.
34:33Are you going to want to be asked to homecoming?
34:37No, I don't want to go home.
34:39It was a lot of drama, because if someone asks you
34:42and you weren't expecting it, you have to say no.
34:44It's kind of, like, awkward.
34:46He was like, oh, are you planning on going anywhere?
34:48And I was like, no.
34:50Loads of people had a crush on me, but this wasn't my time.
34:54That's crazy.
34:56You see it all the time on TV, I guess.
34:58Oh, my gosh, is Tyler going to ask me?
35:01So it was, like, a lot of...
35:04..tension.
35:06Hi, Eli Small.
35:08That's me.
35:10Oh, look at your clapped lunch.
35:13Who did you stay with?
35:15The Ashcrafts.
35:17Did you like it?
35:19I miss my house, though.
35:21This is so small. I cannot live there.
35:23My house? You're rude.
35:25I hit my head on your lamp that was in your room.
35:27But it's not that small. I thought I had quite a big room.
35:30Oh, it's not small, I'm just...
35:32Oh, but you just said it was small.
35:34It's, like, small. Shorts.
35:36Yeah, yeah, yeah. This is the girl.
35:38I stay with her family.
35:40Find somebody to go to Hong Kong with?
35:42Be taken.
35:44All right, here you go.
35:46Did you find someone to go to Hong Kong with?
35:48It seems as if you need a woman to go with.
35:50I wouldn't need one to go with. That's not my fault, OK?
35:52How? In what world is that not your fault?
35:54I had nothing to do with that.
35:56It was happening.
36:00Ladies and gentlemen, your leader,
36:02Marti Perez.
36:04Hey, everybody.
36:06Feeling good about tonight?
36:08Now that you have your uniforms,
36:10are you feeling good about tonight?
36:12You look super cute in your uniforms.
36:14My hopes for the girls
36:16is that they just enjoy tonight,
36:18that they get a little bit of the experience
36:20of being an American cheerleader.
36:22I told them, if you mess up,
36:24no one usually doesn't know that you've messed up,
36:26so just keep going.
36:28Take it seriously, but not too seriously.
36:32Jelly, you happy to be back?
36:34You haven't talked at all since you left.
36:36While the rest of the exchange kids
36:38catch up with their friends...
36:40I have to put a scope on my muzzle loader.
36:42Then I've got to stop my muzzle loader in.
36:44Magda has some news to share.
36:46Come on, midget.
36:48I was in the library, and he was like,
36:50are you going to homecoming with anyone?
36:52And I'm like, nope.
36:54And he's like, I'm not either.
36:56Do you want to go with me?
36:58I'm like, okay.
37:00Why not?
37:02Because my family knows him,
37:04and they all really like him.
37:06And I like his family, so yeah.
37:08Sir?
37:10Sir?
37:12Let's go!
37:14Let's go!
37:16Let's go!
37:18Let's go!
37:20Let's go!
37:22Let's go!
37:26Let's go!
37:28Let's go!
37:30High key, I'm gooing myself.
37:32There's a lot of people here,
37:34a lot of people.
37:38United States of America,
37:42one nation under God,
37:44indivisible.
37:46Cances for all.
37:48Where's it going? I knew some of the words.
37:50MUSIC PLAYS
38:00We say, God is spirit! God is spirit! God is spirit!
38:05The older Shay probably would have not even signed up
38:09to go to America.
38:11She probably would have been like,
38:13oh, that sounds fun, but I'm not doing that.
38:18When I started to cheer, it felt just so freeing.
38:25Seeing Mr Thomas with his proud dad face,
38:28cheering in the crowd, almost in tears.
38:35You killed it, all right? Super proud of you.
38:38I'm bursting! Yes, Bobby!
38:40Yes, Bobby!
38:42Very proud of myself that I did this.
38:45Go! Go! Go!
38:47Oh! Oh! Oh!
38:49Oh! Oh!
39:03Get your hat there a little quicker, all right?
39:05Yes, ma'am.
39:07CHEERING
39:13We pretty much didn't leave each other for the entire game.
39:16We knew we weren't going to have a lot of time to talk.
39:18That was kind of like a turning point right there.
39:20It was like we kind of knew that we were excited
39:22for homecoming the next day
39:24and we were going to have a good time.
39:28Good game.
39:30I cried two times today.
39:32I don't want to leave. I do not want to leave.
39:35Being here has made me feel a bit more...
39:37free.
39:39You know, there's a lot more judgy in the UK,
39:41but I'll try and keep that positive energy that I have here.
39:44Amen!
39:46Don't forget, we've got tomorrow.
39:48One, two, three!
39:51Goodbye, Cass.
39:57I'm a little bit worried.
39:59Is it because you've never had it hurled before?
40:01Yeah. I don't know, what if I get clapped?
40:03What does that mean?
40:05Ugly? Yeah.
40:07You are not. You are beautiful.
40:09Tonight is the last night
40:11and we're going home tomorrow.
40:13Oh, my!
40:15I'm going to miss everyone, going to miss everything.
40:17Oh, my gosh! It's so rad.
40:19I never want to leave.
40:21It's so nice here.
40:23That looks cute.
40:25No, look at that L'Oreal.
40:27I'm kidding.
40:29You look sharp, son.
40:32Some girls don't touch you without cutting their sails.
40:34Look at y'all.
40:36Oh, my goodness.
40:38One, two, three, hold the phone.
40:48How are y'all?
40:50Looking very sharp.
40:52Good evening, Mena High School!
40:58You know, we won the football game last night.
41:00The rest of this is just kind of icing on the cake.
41:02All right, guys, let's have a great time.
41:04Mr. Tilly's about to crank it up!
41:08Did I say everything I was supposed to?
41:10I think so.
41:12Somebody's talk begins.
41:20When I arrived,
41:22I couldn't even find them.
41:24I was thinking, where are they? Oh, I know where they are.
41:26They're in the middle.
41:30That's how popular and just happy they were.
41:32And the Mena students
41:34were embracing our young people
41:36into their homecoming dance.
41:46I'd say me and Gida are the centre of attention right now,
41:48because me and Gida just slide, man.
41:50Yeah.
41:52Mm.
41:58This dance is actually crazy.
42:00I thought it would be slow dancing and everything,
42:02but no, this is our full party.
42:04Can this never end?
42:06Can we have an extension, please?
42:08Because I want to do this, like, over and over again.
42:12You good?
42:14Um...
42:16I don't know, homecoming was like,
42:18wait, hold on, give me a minute to compose myself.
42:22She looked incredible
42:24compared to everybody else.
42:26It was really cool to kind of see her,
42:28because that was the first time
42:30I'd kind of gone to the dance with somebody.
42:32I, like, properly experienced an American homecoming,
42:34so that was really fun.
42:46I felt that the energy was high.
42:48But the emotion was about to burst.
42:50LAUGHTER
42:56100% we're going to stay in touch.
42:58Yeah, of course.
43:00I think that, I mean, we're not going to, like,
43:02forget this experience for sure, so...
43:04No.
43:06We'll definitely be keeping in touch,
43:08pretty frequently, I would say, so...
43:10Yep.
43:12Mr Maxwell.
43:14Why is she crying? What have you done?
43:16I don't know.
43:18I'm not crying, my eyes are just dry.
43:20No, you're not crying.
43:22Yeah, she's fine.
43:24So many tears.
43:26I'm going to remember it.
43:28Yes, I am.
43:36MUSIC
43:46MUSIC
43:50End of an era.
43:54Are you going to cry?
43:56No, I'm not going to cry, I'm brave.
43:58Oh, no, here it comes.
44:00Lazion's not ready to go back,
44:02and we're not ready for him to go back.
44:04We're going to miss him.
44:06Give him a big hug, buddy.
44:08Jude gives the longest hugs.
44:10He is so cute.
44:12I am not ready to leave.
44:14I'm speechless.
44:16I am lost for words.
44:18All right, buddy.
44:19Give me a hug.
44:20Oh.
44:22You still have glitter on your ear.
44:23Do I actually?
44:24Yeah.
44:25They're just inseparable.
44:27By the time he got home to the time she left,
44:30every minute that they could possibly have together
44:33to just hang out, they did.
44:35Yeah.
44:36It's OK.
44:37I think they're both very sad, just because, like,
44:40it's going to be very difficult to kind of get over this.
44:44I don't think that he had those emotions on the breakup
44:48on the way over.
44:50But I don't think I have ever seen him that crushed
44:54that he had to let her go.
44:57It's pretty tough, for sure.
44:58But, um, yeah.
45:14School is all about the academics,
45:16but it's all about the nurturing and growth as well.
45:23They've been on a massive journey,
45:24and a great experience, something
45:26that they'll never, ever forget.
45:28And that's the biggest thing for me.
45:35I think it's definitely been a good experience.
45:38It's taught me a lot about the person who I want to be.
45:43The fact that I had the opportunity
45:44to go and do this whole thing is just, like, special in itself.
45:51America, my days, was actually the best experience of my life.
45:56Number one!
45:57Number one!
45:58I loved it too well.
45:59I had too much fun there.
46:01Let's go, Bearcats!
46:02Let's go!
46:03Let's go, Bearcats!
46:04This was a life-changing experience.
46:06Would you want to go back?
46:08Oh, of course I'd love to go back.
46:09Definitely.
46:10100%.
46:11Bearcats!
46:12Mina!
46:13Bearcats!
46:13I'm a Mina Bearcat for life, bro.
46:16Come on.
46:17Wait up!
46:17Wait up!
46:18Go!
46:19Go!
46:19Go!
46:19Go!
46:20You think you guys will ever do a season two?
46:42You think you guys will ever do a season two?