Bowling Green High School, according to BGHS guidance counselor Karen Swiney, is hosting six foreign exchange students this year. These students not only have to learn the content but must also become accustomed to Bowling Green and learn the curriculum in English, which for many is not their first language.
Swiney works with foreign exchange companies to place students at BGHS. She said, “The company has a regional person that places students with us. They contact me and send the student’s grades, the letter the student wrote and letters of recommendation from teachers and members of the community.”
The exchange students not only get to learn about the culture of where they’re studying abroad but also share their culture with their classmates, friends and host families.
Swiney said, “I think the goal is for foreign exchange students to be immersed in another culture and for our students to get exposure to other cultures. Our students who have formed friendships with the foreign exchange students are learning about other cultures.”
Nella Ištvanová is a current junior at BGHS who is studying abroad from Slovakia. In Slovakia, there are 13 grades, and Nella would be in the 12th grade; however, she is enrolled as a junior at BGHS.
“The school spirit is really intense; we didn’t really have that in Slovakia.” said Nella. “And the teachers are more like friends. My teachers at my old school were pretty strict - you couldn’t talk, you couldn’t use your phone.”
BGHS is also hosting a foreign exchange student from Germany: Lara Unnuetzer, a 16 year-old junior.
“This school is completely different from my school,” said Lara. “My old school went from 5th to 13th grade, and we only had 900 students. Every day, I had different times and different classes, and I had the same classes with the same people. The teachers just moved instead.”
One common difference that Nella and Lara noticed was the abundance of air conditioning. In Slovakia and Germany, air conditioning is sparse and not found in places like school and or at home.
Nella said, “In Slovakia we don’t use air conditioning as much, so I’m really cold here. And we don’t put ice in everything.”
Patrick Laufenburg, a junior at BGHS, is studying abroad in Germany this year. Although school for him doesn’t start until September 7th, he’s currently in language camp, which is four weeks of language training. The classes are held every weekday, along with other activities that the participants can partake in.
Like the foreign exchange students at BGHS, Patrick has noticed some cultural differences while he’s studying in Germany. He said, “The biggest difference is probably the ease to go places. Here in Germany, you can be dropped off almost anywhere in a city and be able to walk or take public transportation anywhere.”
When comparing Germany to Bowling Green, Lara also mentioned the proximity of places in Germany. She said, “I live in a really small village in Germany. We only have like 6,000 citizens, and everything is really close because we don’t have much space between houses in Germany.”
Each student has a host family who will be providing for them during their stay. Lara is staying with Sophie Moore, and Nella’s host sister is Kelci Morrison.
Nella said, “My host family is really nice. I have a little host sister and I think we get along really well. Plus we play volleyball together, which is really cool.”
Sophie, Lara’s host sister, said, “It’s like having a sister. Plus I’ve learned about some of the differences between European, especially German, culture compared to American culture.”
“I love my host family. Without them I wouldn’t be able to be there, so I’m very grateful. They’re some of the nicest people I’ve met,” said Lara.
Luckily, the foreign exchange students seem to be enjoying their stay in Bowling Green. This cultural exchange has allowed the foreign exchange students and their host families to immerse themselves into a new culture.
Nella said, “I really like it in BG. Everyone is so friendly and nice. They’re asking questions about me and where I’m from.”
Like Nella, Lara has also enjoyed her time in BG so far. She said, “I love it here. Bowling Green looks likes in the movies kind of.”
Nella and Lara, along with the other foreign exchange students, will be attending BGHS for the rest of the school year, and BGHS plans to continue the program next year.