Change isn’t always easy, but for a group of five foreign exchange students spending a year at Hickman High School, it’s an opportunity they’ve welcomed with open arms. Coming from across the globe, these students are discovering that stepping out of their comfort zones can lead to meaningful experiences, new friendships, and a broader view of the world.
“[America] is very cool, but it is so different from Spain,” said Carlota Gonzalez Martin, a sophomore from Spain.
One of the first cultural differences the foreign exchange students noticed was the openness and friendliness of the people they’ve met.
“People are way more friendly,” said Clara Linnenbruegger, a junior from Germany. “They come to people and say, ‘Hey, you’re pretty.’”
Carla Calante Lopez, a junior from Spain, has felt the same. She found that this welcoming attitude from the people around her helped her settle in socially.
“I felt pretty confident making friends here,” Carla said. “People here are nice, and if you approach someone, they’re going to talk to you.”
They have found that this attitude extends into the classrooms at Hickman, noting that teachers are very purposeful in building relationships with students in tandem with teaching actual content.
“The relationship between teachers and students here is way cooler than in Germany,” said Clara.
“I think that’s easier because teachers are trying to be more helpful and they’re coming to the student and this one to one conversation to find out where help is needed.”
Lotta Vulsiek, another junior from Germany, explained that school life has been a grounding force as she adjusts to her new surroundings.
“I think school helped me get into a new rhythm, adjusting to a different life,” Lotta said.
A big part of aid during this adjustment process was help from Hickman staff.
“My counselor has been very helpful with arranging my schedule and is overall extremely nice,” she said.
Carlan has found that it is not just the teacher’s attitudes that are different, but the actual class content varies too.
“I think the school system is pretty different. The classes here are more practical,” she said. “It’s really different but I couldn’t say one is better than the other.”
Although moving to a country alone for an entire year is no small feat, these students are embracing the challenge and thriving in their new environment.
“I was really scared, because it’s a big thing to go away for a whole year,” Carla said. “I thought I was going to be really homesick and want to go home already, but then I realized – I’m doing fine here.”
