Owatonna High School offers foriegn exchange students to become a part of the high school community.
Leah Henry is a new foreign exchange student at Owatonna High School this year from a city in Belgium called Bolland. Henry said, “[I came to the US for] the American dream and what we see in the movies.”
Henry will have three different host families during her time here in the United States, and she will stay with those families for multiple months at a time. Henry is with her first host family until December. Henry said, “[They are ] so fun. I love them. They are so nice. I couldn’t imagine being with a better family because they are so great.”
The biggest adjustment for Henry to make coming to the United States was her language. Henry speaks French. In Belgium, she was learning British English so learning American English was a huge adjustment for her. There are big cultural differences in friendship in Belgium. Henry said, “In Belgium when you talk to people it’s because they are your friends, you don’t talk to people you don’t really know and here you talk to everyone you don’t know, but you talk to them.” This is how Henry got to meet new people and make new friends. She learned that to meet new people you have to expand beyond a close circle. That is something out of the ordinary for her because in Belgium that wasn’t normal.
Henry is a junior here at OHS but in Belgium, she has graduated already. The biggest difference for her is the time in school. Henry commented, “The schedule [is different] because in Belgium we have days where we start school at 8:20 and end at 4:25 so it is longer.”
Acrobatics is a big part of Henry’s life back in Belgium, but since coming to the United States she has chosen to try new things at OHS like cross country. Henry will also be doing gymnastics and is excited for that to be in season.
OHS has continued to welcome foreign exchange students throughout the years. Read more about OHS foreign exchange students on ohsmagnet.com throughout the school year.
