Our school welcomed a special addition this year with sophomore Adrian Jansen, a foreign exchange student from Grevenbroich, Germany, a small city near Cologne. Adrian speaks three languages—Latin, English, and Dutch—and is here through a foreign exchange program that lasts until the end of June. He has already made a lasting impression with his open-mindedness, positive attitude, and enthusiasm for new experiences.
Jansen has quickly adapted to life in the U.S., his first impression was that “everything was very big” and a bit overwhelming. “I got a little lost, but I like it here and the people are very nice and welcoming,” he shared. He arrived in the country two weeks before school started, spending a few days in New York. Unfortunately, he didn’t get to explore much due to a sprained ankle, which kept him resting in his room.
Despite the setback, Jansen was eager to dive into school life and decided to join the cross-country team, a sport not offered in Germany. “I thought it would be fun, and I wanted to try something new,” he said. His willingness to jump into unfamiliar territory reflects the adventurous spirit he brings to his time in the U.S.
Jansen also shared some insights about the differences between the American and German education systems. In Germany, students have more classes—around 13 subjects, including German, English, Math, P.E., Religion, Music, Art, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. The school schedule is different, with a more varied daily routine than the set structure we are used to here.
When asked about cultural differences that surprised him, Jansen mentioned, “The thing that shocked me the most was that you guys eat salted popcorn. In Germany, we only have sweet popcorn.” It is the little things that highlight the fascinating contrasts between our cultures.
Jansen’s favorite experience so far has been a trip to Lake Havasu in Arizona, where he and his host family enjoyed jet skiing and the beautiful weather. “It was a lot of fun,” he said with a smile.
With a Dutch mother and a German father, Adrian has grown up with a rich blend of cultures, and his time here in the U.S. is adding to that mix. As he continues his journey with us, we look forward to hearing more about his experiences and learning from his unique perspective.
We are excited to have Jansen as part of our school community and cannot wait to see what the rest of the year holds for him!
