This is Monika Janska who is one of the foreign exchange students. Photo courtesy of Anna Brant.
Hastings High School has many foreign exchange students this school year.
“My year has been really good. It is very different here from what I am used to, and I have learned how to handle it. I have also made a lot of relationships which I am very thankful for!” senior Kaiza Zakrisson said.
Zakrisson came from Sweden, Monika Janska from the Czech Republic, Jacob Gjesdal from Norway, Lilly Siegmund from Germany, Yuki Chung from Japan, and Isabel Soto from Spain. However, one foreign exchange student, Emma Feidieker from Germany, was only here for the first semester. Also, Douglas Machado who came from Brazil for the second semester. They have been able to try new things such as activities, foods, and even some holidays.
“My favorite food I tried were bread sticks, especially from Olive Garden. Runza was alright, but waffle fries were really good,” senior Monika Janska said.
Some classes that are offered at HHS are different from their own countries. Most of the exchange students have been able to keep up with the classes even if they are a bit different.
“There is a lot more freedom in the classes. Some different classes would be pottery, and I took yearbook but then dropped it. Sports performance is a big difference because our schools do not have weight rooms. Also psychology, world of work, and careers. But the rest is similar to Germany, such as English and History,” senior Lilly Siegmund said.
The exchange students have been able to connect with different people but mostly their host families. Surely, it was different in the beginning because of the change, but over time they have become more comfortable with one another.
“My host family is amazing. I was very lucky to get such a good placement. My host parents are awesome and I am so thankful I got placed with them. I know this is a life long relationship, and I cannot wait to come back and visit them, and of course for them to go visit me,” Zakrisson said.
The exchange students have missed their families and their home. Most of them will be leaving from late May up until June.
“I miss my family everyday. Being so far away from them made me appreciate them and realize how happy I am with my family, and how much I truly love them. I never was that grateful that I have them, because it felt like a normal thing. I never took time to actually show them how much I appreciate them.” Janska said.
