A World of Possibilities
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February 15, 2010
Filed under Feature, Top Stories
This year at OHS we have two foreign exchange students-Seniors Magdalena Mayrhofer from Austria and Amanda Vang from Denmark. OHS has had an abundance of foreign exchange students over the years, but has sent a very minimal amount of their own on the journey.
Next school year, two of our very own students, sophomores Dana Peterson and Jordan Gray, will be participating in the Rotary Foreign Exchange Program.
Gray will be going to France for one month. When she returns she will be accompanied by another foreign exchange student from her “new family.”
“I want to get understanding of a new culture and different views on cultural differences,” Gray said. “I have been to France two other times and I really liked it. I also considered going to Switzerland and Belgium, but I couldn’t because I was a vegetarian. Those are big meat eating countries, so it would have been difficult for me.”
Going to another country offers many experiences and opportunities that most people will never get the chance to participate in. Going from America to another country would give most people a culture shock, but that was the part that made Gray so eager to go.
“I want to meet new and interesting people, see the different styles, try foods that are not available in America and explore the landscape that is also not available here,” Gray said.
Gray also mentioned that she would like to be placed with a family that loves to travel and is as interested in cultural differences as she is.
Peterson will be spending and entire year in Ecuador, leaving in late July or early August and returning in July of the next year.
“Going to Ecuador is going to help me with what I would like to do in the future. I want to join the Peace Core in South America so I think that learning the language and culture is going to help me a lot,” Peterson said.
Spending such a long period of time away from home would make many homesick and maybe even scared. Though Peterson believes she will be homesick, it is not stopping her from going on the trip.
“I know that I will be homesick, but there is a bigger picture in my mind that will keep me motivated and keep my mind away from things like that”
Even though many would be most excited to see the landmarks and try the food in another country, Peterson is more interested in helping people and playing one of her favorite sports.
“I really want to play soccer while I am there. Ecuador offers a way more competitive atmosphere since soccer is such a big deal there,” said Peterson.
The time away cannot be measured in days alone. You may only be gone for a school year or simply a month, but the experience will enrich the rest of your life. Living in another country for a set amount of time is not something many will ever get the chance to do. You will return with new knowledge, cultural understanding, maturity and lifelong friends from another country. The hardest part may even be leaving your “new family”. They will have shared in your adventure and learned from you, as you will have from them.
THE REVIEW:
If you were a foreign exchange students where would you wanna go?
Chelsea: Ireland
Jaime: Japan
Wilmes: Italy
Crystal: Paris
Tayler: Australia
Schuyler: Sweden
Haley: Spain or London
Abby: Australia or Italy
Ross: Italy
Laura: Australia
Angela: London
Raeann: Chile
Taylor: Venezuela
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Danon Taylor
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