There are two new foreign exchange students for the 2024-2025 school year, Charlotte Ars from Belgium and Lisa Vizzari from Italy. They are both staying with Keith and Marta Yedinak for the year.
“It’s my first time in the United States and it’s been a dream. It’s been my dream to live like in the movies, an American high school, and American stuff,” Vizzari said.
It is Ars’ first time in the United States too, and both have wanted to come to the United States for a while, Ars for future schooling as well.
“It was my dream, and I need to speak English for my studies later, for university, I have to speak English,” Ars said.
There have been many differences noticed by both of the new students, including driving age, drinking age, and walkability.
“(Berlin) is way smaller than my hometown, and it’s different because in Italy, we don’t have a lot of space, so everything is near,” Vizzari said. “If you want to go to the store, you go downtown and you walk around and here I can’t do anything because I don’t have a car and you cannot walk anywhere.”
While there are many contrasts for Vizzari, for Ars, her new home is more akin to her old one.
“(Berlin) is similar because I live in the countryside in Belgium, and we have farms and lots of things like that. It’s not different,” Ars said.
Another change in the environment has been the different culture in school systems.
“In Belgium, we can leave when we want, but we can’t be friends with the teachers, we can’t speak during class, we can’t eat or drink in class, and we don’t have electives,” Ars said.
Along with the differences in etiquette in school, studying and homework is different for the exchange students.
“In Italy, you choose your school when you’re 13 and you have to stick with that school for five years and the school has subjects and you do the same subjects every year,” Vizzari said. “The teachers here are much more friendly and they leave you time for homework when in Italy they just talk for an hour then give you so many pages to study. We finish school earlier but then we have many hours to study at home alone, and here I don’t study so it’s good.”
Their host family, the Yedinaks, have done much to welcome the girls to Berlin and the United States.
“My host family is great, they’re so nice and I love them because they want us to enjoy, and they’re doing everything they can to make this experience great,” Vizarri said. “Every Sunday we have an international dinner, like once it’s going to be Mexican food, then Italian, then Belgian, then American, and that’s our little tradition for now.”
While their host family does what they can for the girls, they also get help from fellow students and friends during school. Senior Kaydance Selissen has been a big help for Ars in the new school environment.
“I have her in resource second hour and third hour for Writing for Pubs, so if she ever asks me ‘How do I get to this place?’ I’ll show her where it is, or I’ll just show her around, stuff like that,” Selissen said. “I also help her sometimes with her homework because she doesn’t really understand it, for example in English she might not understand a phrase and I’ll tell her what it means and how to make it into a sentence.”
But it’s not only school-related issues that Selissen helps with.
“I have her on social media and she messages me when she needs help, even with things not school-related, and if there’s an issue, I’ll be there,” Selissen said. “I told her that I’ll be her friend and I’ll help her around with anything she needs and she’s become really close to me and trusts me so I feel that that’s easy.”
Going to the other side of the globe for school can be a difficult but rewarding experience, especially when thinking of friends and family back home.
“They are so proud of me, and my friends and family. We aren’t sad, but they miss me,” Ars said.
Ars and Vizzari stay in touch with their friends and family every day, but it can be difficult with the seven-hour time difference.
“My friends and family are very supportive. They’re happy for me because they knew I wanted to come. Of course, they’re sad because they miss me and I miss them, but they’re happy for me,” Vizzari said.
Both of the girls say they are excited to be here and experience a new way of life for the year.
“I’m happy to be here because the life is different, it’s easier here,” Ars said.
Vizzari is especially looking forward to meeting new people and making new friends
“I want to do a lot of things and know a lot of people, so please don’t be rude with me, and please speak slowly, because I don’t understand!” Vizzari said.
