BROKEN BOW, Neb.— Students from Germany and Denmark are heading home this week after spending the school year in Broken Bow, but they say the experience of living in rural Nebraska is something they will carry with them for years to come.
Melissa Oner of Germany and Linnea Lund of Denmark arrived in Nebraska last August as part of the EF High School Exchange Year program. After nearly nine months of school, activities, and life with their host family, both students will leave today (May 19) to return home.
The two students reflected on everything from American school traditions to adjusting to live in a small Midwestern town when they spoke with KCNI/KBBN recently.
Their first impressions of Nebraska came after traveling through New York and Denver before landing in Kearney.
“We got picked up in Kearney and it was very rural,” the students said while laughing about their surprise at how quickly they met their host family at the airport.
Both said having each other nearby made the transition easier, but credited their host family for helping them feel welcome and introducing them to as much of American life as possible.
“It’s just a normal family in another country,” they said. “They tried to show us as much as possible with the time that we had here.”
The girls got involved in a variety of activities at Broken Bow High School, including cheerleading, HOSA, and track. They also experienced traditions they say stood out.
“I think prom and homecoming was really fun to try,” they said. “We have formals at home, but not at all as big as prom.”
Graduation ceremonies, complete with caps and gowns, were another memorable experience that differed greatly from traditions in their home countries.
While they enjoyed their time in Nebraska, the students admitted there were some things they missed from home, especially public transportation.
“At home it would be easy just to take the bus into the city and go shopping,” they explained. “Or take the bus to your friend’s house.”
As their time in Nebraska comes to an end, the students are also encouraging local families to consider opening their homes to future exchange students.
“If you’re a family out there that’s interested in hosting, you should 100% do it,” they said. “It’s an amazing experience also for the host families.”
According to EF High School Exchange Year, the program has matched more than 100,000 exchange students with American host families since 1979. Each year, nearly 3,000 families across the United States host students ages 15 to 18 from more than a dozen countries throughout Europe and Asia.
Students accepted into the program must meet academic and language requirements and complete interviews, recommendations and orientation programs before arriving in the United States.
Families interested in learning more about hosting an exchange student can contact International Exchange Coordinator Ashley Weets at [email protected] or by calling 563-249-0101.
