The Academies continued its partnership with its German sister school, the Hohenstaufen-Gymnasium, in taking turns hosting students from each school to the other’s country. Hohenstaufen students came to America in late October and early November, where they accompanied their American counterparts to their home school and the Academies.

Emma, a junior AET student, was one of the program’s participants. “I liked the opportunity of meeting new people, having an independent adventure, and the possibility of working towards making a difference by working with the Sustainable Development Goals,” Emma states, as she explains why she chose to participate with the program. She references the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations to be achieved by 2030. Students who partake in the exchange pick certain goals for the group project, such as eradicating poverty or shifting to clean energy. Collaboration between the two groups of students center around these goals.

Lennard, a junior at the Hohenstaufen-Gymnasium, is also part of the project. “There were other opportunities for programs in Spain or France, but I chose the Academies so I can visit America.” He mentions that exchange programs are common at the Hohenstaufen-Gymnasium, with him having previously participated in one with a school in the Netherlands. Although the Hohenstaufen students only visited for a few days, it proved to be a memorable period of time. Both Lennard and Emma offered their perspectives on their experiences for the first round of the exchange as the Academies students hosted the Hohenstaufen students.

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INTERVIEWER: How was your experience hosting an exchange student? How did you accommodate them in America?

EMMA: It was fun but also a lot of responsibility to be on all the time. There was a lot of driving back and forth but it was really fun. My favorite night was when we had a bonfire and I taught them to make s’mores and they taught me how to play poker.

INTERVIEWER: Were there any cultural differences you experienced?

EMMA: Senses of humor were the most different surprisingly. They were greatly surprised by the size of everything, like how much space houses and yards had, and the excessive lanes on the highway.

INTERVIEWER: Did you feel like you learned from the experience?

EMMA: I think I’ll learn more about German culture when I go. However, I learned that their schooling system is different from ours in the way they split it up—in the upper grades they choose a focus area, then stop doing a bunch of their core classes and only do their focus. They also start much earlier in the morning so they’re done by like 2:00 in the afternoon. Lunch also isn’t as much of a thing over there as it is here.

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INTERVIEWER: How was your experience with the exchange program?

LENNARD: It was a good experience, like a movie. My only complaint would be that it was too short.

INTERVIEWER: What was your impression of the Academies? How does it compare to your home school?

LENNARD: The Academies was like a university in Germany. I was impressed with how students could focus on a special subject, like in a college. There was a lot of technology widespread for students to use, like 3D printers, that would not be otherwise accessible. The students were focused with their work and asked a lot of questions in the classes I was in. The teachers were very helpful in teaching, especially with explaining to a student personally. It was serious, and they were strict about not skipping classes.

INTERVIEWER: Did you go to your partner’s home school?

LENNARD: Yes, I went with my partner to her homeschool the other day. I can’t describe it really, it was like a movie. It was more similar to my home school.

INTERVIEWER: I think you watch too many American movies. Where else did you go?

LENNARD: We went to a Walmart, I was really excited about that. We were all in D.C and went to a lot of museums, like the African American Museum and the National Air and Space Museum. We also got to go to a vintage record store, which was very cool because we don’t have a lot of stores like that in Germany.

INTERVIEWER: Did anything surprise you about America? Was there anything you were expecting that surprised you?

LENNARD: Yes, there were things that you might not understand but were very American, like security guards and big parking lots. I heard that Americans ask you a lot of stupid questions, like asking if Germany had electricity, but no one did that to me. People were very nice and friendly.

INTERVIEWER: I hope I didn’t ask you any stupid questions. Are you ready to for your turn hosting students from the Academies?

LENNARD: Yes, this will be in June. The Academies students will be on summer break but we will still have school in Germany.

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Speaking of the future of the exchange cycle, Lennard and Emma are hopeful in collaborating on their project. “Someone very inspiring and influential once told me that one of the best things I can do in life is travel and the more I’ve done it, [the more I’ve found it] to be true,” Emma declares, carpe diem. Lennard maintains Academies students will not experience culture shocks in Germany: “I don’t think it is that different like people think.”

 

written by Sandra Gad

edited by Srisha Nannapaneni