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Exchange Students Make
Themselves At Home
By: Kelly Craig

                 Each school year, Arbor View plays host to foreign exchange students from all over the world. Students from Europe, the Middle East, and South America are walking the halls today and culturally enriching our lives. While they are all very much enjoying their time here in America, there are many significant differences from their home countries.
           Many of the foreign exchange students observed how different  the classroom atmospheres and learning experiences are here in America. Almost everyone commented on the more  informal and friendly student/teacher relationships here in America, and Pierre Vignier from France even noticed how much more decorated and personalized the classrooms look in American than in Europe. Even what is taught in each subject differs from what is taught in other places in the world. Bettina Rissman from Germany observed, “Chemistry in Germany is chemistry, and in America, it’s math!”
           Another significant difference pointed out by almost all of the exchange students is the freedom in America to choose what subjects to take. Both Nino Basilaia of Georgia and Dora Knipfer of Hungary spoke about their lack of choice when it comes to classes in their home countries and how they were surprised by their freedom of choice when they came to America.
            Perhaps the largest difference regarding school in America versus school around the world is that in America, sports, clubs, and activities are done through school, where almost everywhere else they are done outside of school. Lina Molin, from Sweden, dubbed Arbor View “more active” than her school due to the availability of activities. Pierre added that Arbor View had more “unity” than his school in France. The exchange students are taking full advantage of their opportunities to participate in the togetherness of Arbor View. Lina is on the volleyball team and many of the exchange students are thinking about joining Key Club, a student-run volunteer organization (see right sidebar).
            Every foreign exchange student said that, as much as they love it here in America, they miss their family and friends, and the familiar landscape of their homes. But Pierre first remarked that what he missed most was “good bread.” Food in America is a hot topic amongst the exchange students. Nino, from Georgia, loves sushi since coming to America and Lina listed off Krispy Kreme Donuts, KFC, and Starbucks as some of her new favorites. Macaroni and cheese is a highly appealing American food. Betty, from Germany, loves it, but Lina does not understand why anyone would put cheese on macaroni. According to Pierre, we eat more in America.
            Aside from the food, the exchange students like American people despite their being quite different from people in their home countries. “Almost everything about people is different,” Betty stated. Everyone else, when asked about similarities between America and their home country, had difficulty coming up with anything.
            Despite being a great experience for the students from other countries, their presence benefits those of us who have lived in America our whole lives by giving us the opportunity to interact with students from other countries. “I love learning about their cultures and hearing about their new experiences,” says Samantha Wills, a senior who has been spending a lot of time with the exchange students and helping them to settle in.
            Even though America is very different than the rest of the world, the foreign exchange students feel very welcome here at Arbor View and are enjoying experiences like football games and clubs. As the year goes on, Arbor View will continue to welcome the exchange students as they go through their new experiences, try new activities, and most importantly, find new favorite foods!