Meet PLHS's Foreign Exchange Students
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Perry-Lecompton has a rich history of welcoming foreign exchange students into our building. This year PLHS has been fortunate enough to host two outstanding foreign exchange students, Anna from Spain and Holly from Germany. As a school, we feel that foreign exchange students allow our students an opportunity to learn more about other countries–similarly it allows the exchange students the opportunity to experience and learn about American culture. Both Anna and Holly were interviewed on their experiences to date, and it is clear that both girls are recognizing the differences between American culture and their own.
Why did you want to do an exchange year in the US?
Holly: I have wanted to come to the United States for several years. The movies I have seen about American high schools made me wish that someday I could be a teenager in an American high school.
Anna: I thought the year would help me with many things. Being more independent, less shy, and more organized. I wanted to learn about the culture, improve my English, and I knew I would enjoy meeting new people and discovering new places and food.
What has been the biggest difference from your home school to school at PLHS?
Anna: Having classes with students of different ages and grades.
Holly: My school and PLHS are complete opposites, so it is hard to pick out just one thing. Having a school iPad is very different, in Germany students either bring their own or do not have one at all.
What have been your favorite moments here at PLHS and being in America?
Holly: I took the opportunity this year to try new things and be a part of the many activities. Playing volleyball, participating in the musical and forensics, and now playing softball. These will all be great memories from my year here.
Anna: Homecoming and Winter Formal have been two of my favorite things here at PLHS. They were so much fun. I have also enjoyed hanging out with my friends, and traveling with my host family.
Not counting friends and family, what have you missed most about your home country?
Anna: I have missed the food and the ocean.
Holly: Public Transportation. I am not used to not being able to jump on a train or a bus, but always having to rely on someone for a ride. Also the ocean, I live close to the North Sea and the Baltic Ocean.
What things have you done with your host family to experience American culture?
Holly and Anna: Both girls live with the same host family, they have traveled a lot including going to Minnesota before school started, have traveled to natural parks, and during Spring Break they visited Washington DC. They have been to many museums as well. Both girls reported that it has been a great experience.
If you, or someone you know, are ever interested in hosting an exchange student do not hesitate to reach out to us and we would be happy to give you the contact information of companies that we have successfully worked with. This has been an overwhelmingly positive experience for host families, students in our district, as well as the school as a whole. PLHS does require that any placement agency be CSIET certified to place a student at PLHS.