This year, Owatonna High School is home to quite a few exchange students. Which you will be introduced to in these next few months. The first one being a very special guest, 17-year-old Emilie Storheil, a foreign exchange student from a tiny Norwegian town of just 800 people.
Storheil comes from a close-knit family with one younger brother. She misses her family more than anything, but is excited to make a family through the Owatonna community. Back home, she loves soccer, working out, and spending time outdoors—interests she has continued here at OHS as a member of the girls’ soccer team.
One unique part of Emilie’s culture is Norway’s traditional national costumes, which are proudly worn on May 17th—Constitution Day. It is her favorite holiday, and one she says she will miss the most while she is away. She is excited to experience thanksgiving and a more hyped up halloween though. Food, of course, has been another big adjustment. Emilie is gluten-free and misses Norway’s fiber-filled bread, with a laugh she says, “American bread has been a lot more full of sugar.” She also craves European candy and says, “The first thing I’ll do when I get home is hangout with my boyfriend and eat candy.”
The decision to study abroad is especially meaningful and unique for Emilie. Her father was also a foreign exchange student in Owatonna Minnesota, and incredibly, she is staying with the very same host family, Ron and Debbie Ensley, that once hosted him years ago. Following in his footsteps, Storheil wanted to step out of her comfort zone, meet new people, and collect new experiences.
Of course, there have been challenges. She is adjusting to the heavy homework load with little time to complete, balancing soccer and school, and navigating the language barrier. Which is ironic because her English is outstanding. She has also been surprised at how much Americans rely on cars compared to Norwegians. Emilie is grateful for the friendships she has made, especially with her teammates and classmates like Addie Gerdes.
Before settling in Owatonna, Storheil started her U.S. adventure with an exchange program in New York City. This Christmas, Storheil’s looking forward to a trip to Florida to experience Disney World and Universal Studios, and she hopes to make it back to New York again in the future.
For now, she is embracing every day of her stay in Minnesota. Storheil says, “I hope to get out of my comfort zone. Just like being able to go up to someone and make a conversation happen or ask them to hang out especially in America as my English evolves.”
Emilie Storheil will return to Norway in June or July, but until then, she is bringing a little piece of Norway to OHS. She is eager to make the rest of her stay unforgettable.
