ASSE-News Article 3

Ring, Ring, Ring We’re Calling ASSE Exchange Students!
We randomly called the following students and asked them: “Now that your exchange year is well underway, what has surprised you most about your host country?”

	“So far I am having a really good time! I have made a lot of friends. At first my impression of the school wasn’t too good because I didn’t know anyone and I felt so lonely, but that quickly changed as I met people and now I really like the school! I don’t miss my family or my friends too much because my host family is very good. I feel comfortable and my new friends can help me when I don’t know something in English.” *ASSE Exchange Student Enric Botet Vaca (Spain) hosted by the Sorbella Family of Carmel, NY, USA*
	“The school system has surprised me the most so far. It is so different how the scheduling works and I really like the school spirit of the students! And I am looking forward to new American traditions and holidays like Halloween and I really like living in Wisconsin!” ASSE Exchange Student Liv Jonsson (Denmark) hosted by the Jones Family of Burlington, WI, USA
	“I’ve been here for one month and during this time I have had many special experiences that I never had before so there are many things that have surprised me a lot. For example, the way to see hello, the way to make friends, the way to study. etc., so it’s hard to say which one surprised me the most. But I do think the equality between all of people is the thing that most surprised me because whether you are rich or poor, or black or white, for example, you have equality. In my host family, my host parents always said “it’s up to you.” At first, I couldn’t get used to it because in China our parents always make decisions for you and you have to follow your parent’s mind. So that is something that surprised me too.” ASSE Exchange Student Fei Feng (China) hosted by the Lange Family of Kelso, WA, USA
	“My host country isn’t done surprising me yet! My first impression was “WOW”, this is like the movies, the lockers at the high school, the football team, the fast food everywhere and the big trucks rolling on big roads. Then I learned how to know the people and think that they are more complex and I’m happy to be here. The mentality is very different than Europeans, for example people eat around 5 p.m. here, and I am used to eating around 7 p.m. The school is very different too because here the teachers are not distant with the students, rather they are friendly and make it possible to make school interesting. It’s very, very different and I like learning every day more and more about Canada.” ASSE Exchange Student Fanny Floreani (France) hosted by the Kauenhofen Family of Carman, MB, Canada
	“So far I have been surprised by the big cars that everybody drives here despite the gas prices, how much the Americans eat and spend going to eat and the Halloween celebration (how they celebrate it compared to what I thought) and how religious they can be here. All the houses are only one story and the houses are wood not stone like in Germany. The school and its schedule are not like mine in Germany where we get out at 1 and here we get out at 3:50. The school also has the same classes everyday.” ASSE Exchange Student Ben Schindewolf (Germany) hosted by the Parr Family of Amarillo, TX, USA

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ASSE News is published three times a year. It is provided free of charge to ASSE participants, host families, representatives and other friends of ASSE. Any copyright material is published with the written permission of the publisher and is so indicated. Any other material may be used for publication without permission of ASSE.