Imagine this: Next Jan. 1, the United States stops printing dollar bills and issues a new currency, Americos, which also is used in Mexico, Canada, Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and El Salvador.

You would have to adjust. A soda from a vending machine no longer would cost a dollar, but 2.5 Americos. And instead of George Washington's face, the new currency would have an image of an Aztec-style pyramid.

While it may seem far-fetched, citizens in 12 European countries went through a similar transition.

Y-Press recently spoke with Dodd Gray, 13, of Tervuren, Belgium, and David Flesch, 17, of Salzburg, Austria, to see how they adapted to their countries' switched to the euro on Jan. 1 of this year.

We spoke with Hugo McIlveen, 16, and Laura McKiernan, 10, of Belfast, Northern Ireland, which is one of four European countries that didn't switch. We also spoke with several Roncalli High School students who visited Europe in the spring with their German class.

Dodd, originally from Indianapolis, believed he was well-informed about the currency changeover.

"It was made very well known when the change would occur, how long after the euros became the main currency you could still spend the old currency and when you couldn't," he said.

He also thought the Belgian government did a good job of helping people adapt.

"They tried really hard to get people to have the euro, to start using it as soon as possible," he said. "And before the change, stores had to start showing prices in both euro and other currency."

David, however, didn't feel prepared. He's had some problems, too.

"I spend a lot more money now than I did before 'cause it just flies away -- everything's more expensive now in Austria than it used to be."

Hugo and Laura didn't have to worry about the switch in their country and don't think they ever will: "The pound's easier to handle, and that's why more people want to keep it," Laura said.

Just because other countries switched doesn't mean some of their citizens didn't have similar feelings.

As David said, "It is especially hard for old people because they had the (Austrian) shilling their whole lives."

Dodd felt differently: "If I had lived in Belgium all my life, I might feel some attachment to the franc."

Still, Dodd understood why some would feel attached to their currency.

"Just think about it: If they took away the dollar, that's what it would be like. Something you're so used to, and something that sort of symbolizes your country," he said.

David rejected the notion that Austria lost part of its identity by abandoning the shilling.

"People keep on saying that, but there is so much more to a country than the currency," he said, adding that "the shilling might represent Austrians, but we have so many more things, like Mozart."

Monica Petty, 17, from Roncalli, agreed. "Personally, I don't think currency identifies a nation. It seems more that the culture does, and money really doesn't have anything to do with that," she said.

The European Union did allow each country to put its own designs on the euro coins, but not the paper currency. Louie Stephon, 18, of Roncalli said that approach was "interesting," adding, "I liked using it a lot."

Though each country can put its own designs on the coins, they are still very much the same currency. As Dodd explained, "It's more like the state quarters."

With the same currency, travel between these countries is easier. David felt that was one of the few positives about the euro.

"I still don't like the euro much, although with traveling, it's good. . . . I went with my school to an excursion in Rome, Italy, and I found it much easier actually 'cause you didn't have to exchange it to Italian lira and do the conversions."

Americans traveling in Europe, he added, will find it "much easier for them now than it used to be."

Dodd echoed that sentiment. "I'm on sports teams, and we travel throughout Europe to play other international schools in different sports, and it's so much easier to just not have to exchange money," he said.

The Roncalli group found travel easier in euro countries, too.

"We knew it was pretty close to the dollar, so it was easier for us to change the money," said Adrienne Price, 17.

"It's easier to compare how much stuff costs there in relation to how much it costs here," added Jessica Knoll, 16.

On the other hand, travel to non-euro countries was difficult for the Roncalli group.

Louie explained, "We did go to (two) countries that did not use the euro -- Switzerland and Liechtenstein -- and I thought it was kind of a hassle to go into an exchange station and exchange travelers checks to euros, and then taking euros and getting them into francs."

Dodd felt that the switch to the euro made Europe more unified -- but, he said, that integration already was under way. "With the EU and the European Parliament, it's definitely a step and a large one, but I don't know if it's the first step. There have been many steps made, and they're trying to make it more and more integrated."

While many see how a common currency has benefited these 12 countries, Hugo believes that increase in unity is the very reason the United Kingdom won't ever adopt the euro.

"They're taking a stand by saying that we're keeping our money, we're keeping our heritage, we're keeping the queen's head on the money."

The question remains, however: Since a shared currency has worked so well for these 12 countries, would the rest of the world be wise to follow suit?

David and Dodd felt that it would be extremely difficult . As Dodd said, "It would take a long time to get people ready and get everyone to agree to change to the same currency. It would be great, but if it ever happens, it'll take a while."

ASSISTANT EDITORS: Merideth Bush, 14; Victoria Sahm, 18.

REPORTERS: Chad Dyar, 13; Jacob Hollingsworth, 13; Lauren Maus, 13.