(EX)CHANGE OF PACE
The five foreign exchange students talk about their first week of school, places they've been and stereotypes that were accurate
October 14, 2015
Where are you from?
Loreen Wagner: Germany
Nina Grotheer: Germany
Gabriela Schwabe: Brazil
Ondrej Stogl: Czech Republic
Lorenz Schuerk: Germany
Why did you want to be an exchange student?
Wagner: Because I wanted to learn what the life in America was like.
Grotheer: Because my sisters did it and had good high school experiences.
Schwabe: Because it’s so cool to be in another county and have the experience and learning.
Stogl: I wanted to learn the language.
Schuerk: Because last year I traveled to the USA and I wanted to come back to see more.
Before you came to the United States, what were your expectations?
Wagner: I didn’t really have expectations, the only thing I knew about America was from movies.
Grotheer: I thought there would be a lot of fast food and nice food.
Schwabe: I hoped I would know more people. I expected big buildings but not as big as they are.
Stogl: I expected Americans wouldn’t be smart and that there would be more fat people.
Schuerk: Bigger schools, and bigger buildings in general.
When you arrived, how did what you see differ from what you expected to see?
Wagner: I thought there would be more fat people.
Grotheer: I expected bad table manners.
Schwabe: The food is very different. Back in Brazil we eat rice and beans.
Stogl: It was hotter than expected.
Schuerk: Much hotter than I expected to see. And much more land.
How did it fit with your expectations?
Wagner: Very good, I like it here.
Grotheer: I thought high school would be different.
What have you done in the United States so far?
Grotheer: Went to New York and took an Austin bus tour.
Schwabe: I’ve gone to the Alamo, went to a Longhorn game, and went to St. Gabrielle River.
Stogl: Downtown Austin
Schuerk: We went to some state parks and looked at nature.
How was your first couple of days of school?
Wagner: Confusing because the school is so big and the language is different but now it’s getting better.
Grotheer: It was overwhelming because of the size.
Schwabe: Not very good, I didn’t know a lot of people.
Stogl: I had jetlag and there was a time difference. I smiled for three hours when I first got here.
Schuerk: I was a bit nervous at lunch because I didn’t want to sit alone but it was okay because some people said I could sit with them.
What were some of the stereotypes about Texas that you’d heard before you got here?
Wagner: The fast food is bad and there are crazy football games.
Grotheer: That it’s hot, that’s true, BBQ, strict on religion.
Schwabe: A lot of western stuff.
Stogl: Cowboys and horses.
