In addition to the foreign exchange student introduced in the previous edition, Thea Wostryck, OHS is also hosting two more exchange students.

Lisa Engström left her friends and family in Sweden to spend a year in Minnesota. Engström is staying with three families while in Minnesota: Lori and Andy Meehan, Kara O’Brien, and Rea and Jeremy James. She said that the families are very supportive of her.

Engström’s favorite things about being a foreign exchange student is the food, meeting new people, and seeing all of the new things. She loves macaroni and cheese, the Original Pancake House and pizza.

Many foreign exchange students think that leaving their family and friends is exceptionally hard, however Engström did not see this as a problem.

“I didn’t have any problem leaving my family and friends. I have always wanted to do this and they know that. I know that they still are going to be there for me when I come back,” Engström said.

Engström said that it was much harder to leave her boyfriend behind because she knew that she wouldn’t be able to spend time with him for an entire year.

There are many things she is looking forward to when she goes home. She can’t wait to go out with her friends, but most of all, Engström is excited about getting to see her family.

Nadine Schwanke, of Germany, is staying with the Stanchfield family. Schwanke admits to sometimes missing her family and friends, but also missing things she was used to back home, such as her hobbies and the weather.

Schwanke noticed that people at Orono are very nice and open. She said this is much different than people’s mentality in Germany. This alone has allowed Schwanke to make many new friends and join new activities such as the cross country team.

“I can’t wait to teach Germans about the experiences I have had and what I have learned. The things I have learned I want to carry with me back home,” Schwanke said.

She is thankful for this experience and everything that goes with it. Being a foreign exchange student allows Schwanke to be an ambassador of the German culture. She is looking forward to sharing her experiences here with the people back home.

“I miss all of the things I’m used to: the people I’ve known my entire life, the locations of things. It’s not that I don’t like it in Minnesota, it’s just different. Now that I have been here for a little while I am starting to get used to things,” Schwanke said.

The foreign exchange students love making new friends and trying new things, after all, that is what their experience is all about.