For many students, the start of junior year is nothing to stress about. Familiar faces are spotted around campus, and students settle into their classes with ease. Things are different for junior Antonia Kerschner, whose schedule is a whole new experience for her. Antonia is one of the many foreign exchange students on campus, settling into the American school experience for the first time.

“I always wanted to know how it really is to live in America, because I have heard so many things about it, and watched all the movies,” Kerschner said. “I just really wanted to know what it feels like, especially in high school.”

Coming to a new country to study for the school year can be a big step for a student, and schools in Houston have always welcomed several exchange students on campus to study in the American school system. However, life in a new country isn’t always like the movies and can come with a wide variety of challenges and opportunities. Cultural adjustments can be a drastic difference, and language barriers can pose a challenge. New experiences and a chance to make new friends can be one of the motivations to travel overseas for a school year, like junior Arnika Mueller.

“I wanted to try every food here, because Texas is pretty famous for food,” Mueller said. “I also wanted to go to NASA because I have a chance to do that, since I’m in Houston.”

When asked about the challenges that being in America posed, Mueller noted that the little things in everyday life have a larger impact for her than they do for most.

“The small things, like the traffic lights, were different, and that is a huge thing,” Mueller said. “The milk boxes were bigger than ours and so were the refrigerators. Also, things like the mathematics are not the same. The language is also different.”

The biggest adjustment took place inside the classroom. Compared to smaller German schools and a different scheduling system, the switch to the American school system was a big adjustment, compared to the big city.

“I was in a school that had 400 students, which was a huge school. Then I came here and this was really large for me,” Kerschner said. “Here, it was different because you get to know new people in every class and you can choose your classes. I love it because I have so many art classes like choir, theatre, art and design. In Germany, you have 13 classes, but you cannot choose them.”

With a different atmosphere that surrounded the American school system than that of Germany’s, the foreign exchange students welcomed the change and experience. Life in a new country, even for a short while, can be a challenging yet rewarding experience. Mueller explains her first true American high school football game experience.

“There is more team spirit here than in Europe,” Mueller said. “Everyone was in a group and it was a huge community. Since I was in the marching band, I feel that football is so hyped up here. It’s a cool thing, to be there and to play.