October 2010 - Trout Lake School

. . . . . . .HIGH SCHOOL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Karlotta Sowinski is from Hasleunne, Germany, which is a town close to Bremen. In TroutLake, she is living with the Cox family. Her school is very similar to ours, but she said that it ismuch more difficult and they expect more from students. “I wanted to come here so that I couldimprove my English, and take a break from family.” Karlotta described how thankful she wasand knows how big of an opportunity this is for her. She misses her friends, nature at home, andpotatoes. “We eat them with every meal,” she told me. “I haven’t eaten potatoes once since I’vebeen here!” She is playing volleyball, and she likes the school and all of the kids.Anna Klahn is from the outskirts Hamburg Germany. She is being hosted by the Templeton’s in TroutLake. Anna wanted to be an exchange student because she wanted to improve her English and learnabout American culture. In Germany, school went until 2:30 p.m. and had much of the same curriculumas we do here, although there was much more to do. “The people here are very open and friendly,”she described, “and I knew English since 3rd grade, so that is not too bad.” Anna misses her friendsand family, and of course her favorite food, Doener. Doener is meat and salad in a bread pocket withtzatziki. Anna is paying volleyball, and fitting in with kids here nicely.Helene is from the town of Kristiansand, Norway. Here, she lives with fellow exchange student Annaat the Templeton’s. She wanted to become an exchange student to “experience something that is newand different,” as well as to perfect her English. Helene says that school in Norway is much more difficult,and that here is very easy in comparison. She thinks that people here are very open, much nicer,and very polite. She misses her family and friends, but really misses the Norwegian candy, such assalty licorice! Helene is playing volleyball, and is enjoying this big opportunity that has been presentedbefore her.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . October, 2010 | 31