Every year, South students host exchange students from all over the world. However, it is difficult for a lot of students to imagine leaving their country to study abroad in a whole new place with different customs. To understand this experience, The Southerner interviewed four exchange students from four different countries to see how they adjusted to life here in the United States.

“I was really excited but nervous to start school and to meet my family” said senior Lena Holter, a Norwegian exchange student.

When asked about her favorite American food Holter stated, “I really like Pineda, it is my favorite food here.”

Along with a new family, the exchange students also had to adjust to a new city. Senior Anastasia Kuneva, a Russian exchange student said, “Minneapolis is a very beautiful and clean city… I love downtown and Mall of America.”

It can be a struggle for anyone to study abroad in a different country when the place you’re visiting does not speak your native language. Senior Guo Zhen Ding, a Chinese exchange student said, “I was really nervous coming to America because my English was not that good.”

“At first it was hard [speaking English] because I didn’t understand slang,” said Okuneva.

Other exchange students may find the transition relatively easy due to years of practice. “For me it was not that hard,” stated junior Fernado Leclaire, an exchange student from Germany. “In Germany, we study English in the fifth grade and up.”

Having to study abroad means that you become the “new kid in town.” Making friends in a new country can be easy for some people and difficult for others. However, all of the four exchange students interviewed said that they have made a lot of new friends.

“I have met a lot of new people,” said Holter. “People are so outgoing.” Ding stated that “before you come to America, you must be prepared to meet new people and have a good personality.”

When the exchange students were asked about popular music in their countries, all stated that people mostly listen to American music. According to Holter, artist such as Lady Gaga are popular in Norway, while Leclaire said Eminem is very popular in Germany. “You have to sing some songs in English in order to make it big in Norway,” Holter said.

No two schools anywhere are going to be alike. Of course, students who study abroad experience a completely new school system. The new exchange students had to adjust to how high school in America is structured.

All of the students interviewed said that in their home country they stay in one classroom and have all of their classes with the same people. This is very different from South, where students switch classrooms and have different people in all of their classes.

Leclaire stated yet another difference between his country and the school system here: the number of extracurriculars available. In Germany, “sports are not part of the school system and there are a few clubs to join.”

Living in a new country can be a challenge, but these exchange students seem to enjoy being South High Tigers.