The Girl from Germany-The New Foreign Exchange Student
by Natalie Ciecholewski
September 22, 2009
Have you ever been away
from your family, your friends and your home for nine months?
Hi, my name is Natalie, I am 17 years old and I come from Berlin,
the capital of Germany.
And yes, I am a foreign exchange student at Axtell High School.
Beside my parents, I have one brother; his name is Leo and he is 8 years old and hopefully he is waiting for me at the airport when I will come back. I took the long way, a 12-hour flight, to learn more about the USA and, of course, to improve my English. It is my second time that I have been in America and I really enjoy it.
I am living with such a nice family; I could never ask for anyone better. The first time I knew that I would live in Axtell was surprising and weird at the same time. Berlin is a big city with millions of people, cars and difficult roads, and Axtell is small, nice and it is totally quiet here. I have never imagined saying that but I like it here very much. Everybody knows everybody and everybody knows my name even if I have never met them before. Getting homesick? Maybe the first week but, honestly, I have no time for that or thinking about my family. My biggest fear was the first day of school and I do not know why I was so worried about it. One step in school and everybody starts talking to you. You have to learn all their names and you have to find out where your next class is in 3 min.
The first
week was really difficult but you get used to it. What I also enjoy
is the food. Ok, we also have fast food in Germany but there are a
lot of other things to try Talking in English is not a problem any
more, I just start talking even if it is totally wrong but until
now, everybody understood what I was trying to say.
Everyday happens something new and I do not regret the decision to
stay here.
