EXCHANGE EXPERIENCE

Exchange students and hosts reflect on their experiences throught the year

by Ajay Singireddy design by Jocelyn Aguilar

Q + A with Exchange Students

What made you decide to participate in the exchange program?

Honestly, I decided to participate because I wanted to try, see how far I can get, and figured I couldn’t lose anything by trying. Of course, living in the United States and going to an American High School is a dream a healthy amount of Germans had in their life.

What were some expectations you had for the program?

I knew that it is something special that is most definitely a rare thing to be able to experience. I also expected to get homesick very soon. Interestingly enough, it never really happened. I was expecting to miss everything from my life I was used to, but I can say that I was able to adjust to the new circumstances without many problems.

We have 13 years of school [in Germany], so the junior year you don’t really do a lot. You just select classes and all that, but nothing important for your graduation so it’s basically like an orientation year. It’s why I thought I would do this.

Q + A with Host Students

How do you think being a host to a exchange student has impacted you?

I would definitely recommend hosting for other students if they're up for it. This is because I feel that it is important to open your horizons as much as you can, and you're contributing toward an exciting trip for someone else.

I didn’t really have expectations, because everything is different. It’s why I didn’t try to set any expectations — to not be sad about it if it didn’t come true.

Would you recommend hosting to other students?

I think hosting is a really good experience. It was just really nice to have her over, and we could just hang out in the living room together, and go out for bowling with other people and we just hang out and have a good time.

I think being a host to a foreign exchange student has impacted me positively by seeing the average everyday things we find normal as Americans through the lens of someone not from the country. It’s a different kind of feeling when looking through your normal and familiar world through someone else’s point of view.

I would definitely recommend hosting for other students if they're up for it. This is because I feel that it is important to open your horizons as much as you can, and you're contributing toward an exciting trip for someone else.