Foreign Exchange Students

Foreign Exchange Students at Medina High School

By: Gillian Seifert, Zoe Martell, Andrew Boughter, and Dylan Whitehill

Throughout this school year, we have become very close with the new foreign exchange students and shared many new experiences with them. These students, who come from countries including Spain, Germany, and Finland, are having many first experiences in America, especially in regards to the school system, and have many thoughts to offer. 

The first foreign exchange student we met this year is Frederik Schonger, a junior from Germany. He came to America this year through a program called AYUSA, which stands for Academic Year in the USA. Freddy is observant and interested in the working systems of America. When asked about his favorite aspects of the American school system, he said that teachers here are “a lot more personal.” He also complains that “American schools have a lot less freedom to move around,” such as study halls with assigned seating and longer breaks between classes. Overall, he has had a very positive experience in America so far, and hopes to make many more memories before leaving for Germany in June. 

Another student participating in AYUSA is Clara Andrei, a junior from Spain. Clara is fun and social and has enjoyed getting involved in extracurricular activities and social events at the school. She said that one of her favorite aspects about American schools is “that there are so many activities at school, like dances, sport games, clubs, and school bands.” While there are certainly activities to partake in in Spain, getting involved in America has been a great experience for Clara.

The final two students we had the chance to meet were Jenna Sundell and Miljabella Saukkonen from Finland. Their trip with the Trans-Atlantic Classroom Project only lasted a week, but they got to sit in classrooms and experience what a day at school in Medina looks like. After having brief discussions with them, we learned that they enjoy the school system better in Finland because the classes are longer but differ every day, providing variety in their everyday lives. Furthermore, their school in Oulu, Finland is way smaller than ours, allowing them to form stronger connections with their small class. While they prefer the comfort of their own schools, they definitely had positive things to say about their time in Medina. Also, the students from Oulu have a newspaper of their own. Here is a link to their website if you are interested in reading more about their American experience! 

To meet these students from different countries and discuss cultural, societal, and educational differences has been a tremendous experience, for us Americans and them alike. Having conversations with foreign exchange students is important to keep us educated on the differences that exist between countries. 

There is much to learn from people all around the world, whether it be comparing languages and cultures or using our various educations to work together on certain school tasks. Experiencing variety is essential to having a well- rounded education, and getting to know foreign exchange students has certainly allowed us students to do so.