By Maddy Good
Life in America is very different for most foreign exchange students, but they are enjoying the new experience. Without a doubt, being a foreign exchange student can be a difficult situation. Having to travel to a completely new place with no one they know is very stressful, but it can also be fun. The foreign exchange students explain how the American lifestyle is different for them.
Three exchange students, Melody Granier (France), Misaki Fukawa (Japan), and Sophie Urban (Austria), are excited to be in America. “The American life is so cool. I love it all, and it’s like a movie.” explains Granier. Granier wanted to become a foreign exchange student to discover the world. She loves America, and enjoys the unique experience of learning English. Trying to learn a language completely new to her can be a difficult task, but Granier is up to the challenge.
Urban is finding herself improving on English almost everyday. She was interested in becoming an exchange student because of her curiosity about American families. She was also excited to learn what an American family is really like, and now loves her host family. She loves nearly everything about them, because they are similar to her family in Austria. Urban has also enjoyed getting to know all the friendly people in Plymouth. “Plymouth is not so big, so everyone knows everyone.” says Sophie. Both of their host families have been able to show them around and introduce them. The girls do not want to waste a second of it. Urban is very thankful for her sister, Addie Palmer, who has shown her everything there is. Granier is having a good time with her host family as well, and appreciates the kindness from them. She says they are awesome, and really enjoys their hospitality. Misaki Fukawa is also enjoying being in Plymouth. She had a ton of fun at the Blueberry Festival, and plans on visiting Chicago sometimes while she is in America. Misaki also participates in golf at PHS, and really enjoys that. The exchange students also keep in touch with their families at home. Several times a month they talk to them through mostly e-mail or phone. Granier mostly misses her friends from home, but is excited to experience as much as she can. “I love America. I don’t have time to feel bad because it’s one year and it’s short. I want to have fun!” says Granier. Urban also really likes being in Plymouth, but sometimes misses her pets and the good weather.
As far as life in Indiana, Granier and Urban said it is a great experience for them. Urban says that there is definitely more corn here than in Austria, but it is not that much different than in Austria. It has not been too hard for her to adjust. “The cooking is different.” says Urban. Granier also agrees that the meals are different for her. She explains how in France, they get an hour to eat at school, and dinner is usually from 7-8 p.m. Granier also likes the fact the she gets to choose her classes. It is very different from France. The girls are most excited about their experiences ahead, and are looking forward to all of the fun times. They both feel that the year has started off great, and they love Plymouth High School.