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In this article, Meredith Higa will introduce three german exchange students.
German exchange students
German exchange students
By Meredith Higa
By Meredith Higa
Photo of German exchange students taken by Meredith HigaFrom left to right: Helena, Louisa, Jana
Every year, thousands of foreign exchange students come to America to experience the different cultures, lifestyles and cheeses. It is a unique experience for those who like to travel, plan on moving abroad or just want to see what life is like on the other side of the world. Recently, The Friendship Connection, a national foreign exchange program, brought four German students to Grants Pass High for a three-week program.
Applying for this experience was pretty simple. Every German student wanting to experience life abroad filled out an application for their English teacher who then selected a few and sent them over to the HQ in America. From there, the applications are sent out to high schools all over the US. Students with families willing to host the exchange students then looked over the chosen applications and picked a student who would fit in well with the host. Louisa, Helena, and Jana were three of four students chosen for Grants Pass High School.
Louisa is 15 and was born and raised in the city Wiesbaden, Germany. She has traveled all over the world, but her top place would be France. She really enjoyed meeting new people and recommended the experience to whoever has the chance. Her favorite subject both in America and Germany is science. However, she was surprised by the lack of education advancement options in American high schools. The German school system is unique, with certain educational paths leading to graduation as early as 15 or 16. There are a lot more types of schools in Germany, both for those who learn at different speeds and for those who want to grow their knowledge in different fields. Compared to the cut and dry middle school to high school to college program America has, it is no surprise that this came as a shock to Louisa. Another big difference she noticed was the hilly landscape. The valley, which most Grants Pass citizens take for granted, is a far cry from the miles upon miles of flat land in Germany. Her favorite color is purple, something she shares in common with Helena.
Born in Marburg but currently living in Neustadt, a town almost twice the size of GP, Helena’s favorite travel destination is Greece. Like Louisa, she also likes the science curriculum in America. In Germany, she prefers her German class. The scariest part about being a foreign exchange student for her was leaving and living in a completely different English-speaking only (for the most part) town. German students actually learn British English, slightly different from American English. Despite this, they use a lot of American slang. Something that surprised Helena was American portion sizes. Even though she had heard about the larger food sizes, it is sure something to see a 7-11 64 oz Double Gulp fountain drink in person. She recommends the exchange program to anyone and everyone, even if they are scared or nervous. The different lifestyle is a unique experience for anyone who is willing to step out of their comfort zone.
Jana lives in Kassel, a city in Germany known for its art exhibits. She works as a waitress and lives with her parents and brother. She plays handball (basically the lovechild of soccer and basketball) and likes the color blue. Something that surprised her about America is the cheese. Before the exchange, she thought that American cheese only came as spreads. On the other hand, she appreciated the small town feel. One of Jana’s favorite parts of Grants Pass was the local downtown shops. Like Helena and Louisa, she encourages other students to travel abroad. The overall process of learning about new places, traveling away from one's home country and meeting new people all come together into the unforgettable experience of a lifetime: the adventure of a foreign exchange student.
There are many opportunities for students to travel abroad inside school and outside of school. These experiences not only look good on resumes and college applications but also provide social and educational benefits, such as life long friendships, stronger language skills, and a better understanding of different cultures. Jana, Helena, and Louisa are just three out of many foreign exchange students that have visited Grants Pass. If you get the chance to talk to an exchange student, they all have great experiences and perspectives on the life we live that many of us have never even thought about.
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