Metro East Lutheran High School Welcomes European Exchange Students
Pictured from left to right: Aino Pekkarinan (Finland), Barbara Walther (Switzerland), and Fabian Janda (Germany)
Metro-East Lutheran High School, Edwardsville, IL is pleased to welcome three European Exchange Students for the 2009-2010 school year. For many years, MELHS has welcomed exchanged students, however this is the first time the high school has hosted three students at the same time from European Countries. All three students live with local host families and participate in a variety of activities both at school and with their host families. Fabian Janda, Aino Pekkarinan, and Barbara Walther are from Germany, Finland and Switzerland respectfully.
The United States has always been a hub for immigration. People come from around the world to experience the unique blend of culture that this country prides itself on and in addition leave their own impact on our culture. The three foreign exchange students attending Metro-East Lutheran High School this year are no exception. Each of the students is unique in their reasons for choosing to attend high school in the United States for a year. While they come from three drastically different countries, these students have one united goal in mind, to learn more about American culture and have an impact on the lives of students at Metro-East Lutheran High School.
Aino Pekkarinen has come to Edwardsville from her home in Finland. She chose to spend this school year in the United States because she has had previous experiences in this country and has friends who have given positive reviews of the United States. When comparing the lives of students from the United States with students back home in Finland, Aino mentioned several differences. In Finland, there are no lockers, rather commonplace items in school hallways. Classes are also much shorter, with one class being fifteen minutes long, and lunch being one hour. There are also no detentions, and computers are used much more in school.
When discussing the social aspects of student life, Aino said. “Well, Americans are MUCH more social than Finnish people. You speak a lot and you speak all the time. You are also very polite.” She also said that many students in her school do not really participate in activities outside of school. While students do participate in sports such as ice hockey and soccer, going to the movies, a rather popular activity among students in the US as well, is very expensive and requires that the tickets to be bought in advance. Aino also dances, acts and sings in a choir. According to Aino, “These are not common activities for Finnish people.” Her favorite thing about life in the United States is, “I like everything about the United States! I like it here because it is so different. I will have lots of new experiences when I go back to Finland!”
Barbara Walther has come to the United States from Switzerland to learn English, for personal growth and for the adventure of travelling abroad. Barbara says in Switzerland students participate in many of the same activities outside of school that they do here with an extra emphasis on winter sports, due to the Swiss Alps. Social interaction is completely different in the United States. Here, she comments, people are much more exuberant and seem to throw compliments around without a care in the world. People in Switzerland are more reserved where things like that are concerned, which, makes the compliment more meaningful. Walther said her favorite aspects of life here are, “Some parts of life are easier because shops are open late and people can go everywhere with their cars.”
When asked about educational differences she named a few of the many differences such as classes start earlier and finish later in Switzerland, the classes are not as rushed, and there are longer break periods and lunch periods. In addition, the students do not move from classroom to classroom, the teachers do. Classes in Switzerland are organized by skill level, and the courses over here are easier than the courses she takes back home.
Fabian Janda travelled from his home in Germany. Fabian decided to come to the United States this year to improve his knowledge of English, for the experience, and because he loves the US. When discussing the differences between United States and German classes, Fabian said, “German students also spend the entire day in one room. Like schools in Finland, there are no lockers. “He also noted that there is a lack of school spirit at his school in Germany, and there are no school sports. Anyone wishing to participate in athletics would have to do so on his or her own time. Outside of school, students participate in a number of activities, including going to movies, playing sports and going to parties or nightclubs.” He goes on to say, “I think the American people are nicer than Germans. They are more open.” This is Fabian’s second experience in the United States having spent two weeks in Los Angeles last year. That experience influenced his decision to come here. His favorite part of life in the United States is, “Everything! But especially school.”
Despite their cultural differences, Fabian, Aino, and Barbara have come to the United States with one united goal. They have come to learn and expand their horizons by immersing themselves in a new culture and environment. Their decision should be applauded, and America should welcome these new arrivals with open arms, no matter how brief their stay, as they provide a shining example of the traditional values honored and respected by this humble country.
About Metro-East Lutheran High School
Metro-East Lutheran High School is a high school located in Edwardsville, IL, and is owned and operated by twelve congregations of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. The purpose/mission of Metro-East Lutheran High School is to provide a quality, Christ-centered education in an environment that enables students to find identity, meaning, purpose and power to live out their varying roles as the people of God in a complex, changing society.
For more information on this story, please contact: Terri Mize at 618-656-0043 ext 122 or terri.mize@melhs.org • Metro-East Lutheran High School is located at 6305 Center Grove Road • Edwardsville, Il 62025 • Main (618) 656-0043 • Fax (618) 656-3315 • Daniel Kostencki, Principal • www.melhs.org
