This school year is far from routine for Eva Glanz (right), junior, and Isabel Nuveen (left), senior. Both are foreign exchange students who traveled around the world to attend a year of school in North Branch.
Eva, from Hamburg, Germany, and Isabel, from the Netherlands, are making the most of their year abroad - learning new things and having new experiences. They are attacking those experiences with vigor, seemingly very much aware they are making memories and friends to last a lifetime.
Eva and Isabel were asked to share experiences and insights they have gained this year.
Q: How did you end up at NBAHS?
Eva: I ended up here after applying for an exchange program in the U.S. The organization searches for a family anywhere in the U.S. My host family picked me, and they live here, that's why I am here.
Isabel: My organization matches students with host families based on personality and hobbies. The school I go to depends on the district where my host family lives.
Q: You are active in extracurricular activities. What sports do you play?
Isabel: Back home, I speed skate and play tennis. During the fall season, I joined the tennis team and had a wonderful experience. The girls were super kind, and we had a great season. We even made it to section finals! In the winter, I tried basketball, though I had never played. It took time to get used to everything and understand the game, but now that the season is ending, I am so glad I joined. I met many new people, and I found that I really enjoy playing. For spring season, I will most likely try Track and Field.
Eva: I did Cross Country this fall, now I am playing Basketball and in the spring I want to try Track and Field. My host mom has horses, so I ride sometimes with her. Back home I danced for five years and boxed for two. I am also a girl scout and I really enjoy hiking with them and spending time in nature.
Q: You both served on the Prom Committee. What do you enjoy most about sports and serving on the committee?
Eva: I enjoy sports because it's a great way to meet new people, be part of a team, and just have the experience of playing a sport because we don't have high school sports back home. I like the challenge because I never did any of these sports before. Prom Committee is fun because I can help create a great prom and see how it is planned. It is going to be my only prom, so I want to make it great for the other students and me.
Isabel: What I enjoy most about sports and activities is meeting new people and staying busy. I want to make the most of my year here and experience as much as possible.
Q: Do you ever get homesick?
Isabel: I do sometimes get homesick, which is normal when away from home. When it happens, I try to stay busy and keep my mind focused on good experiences.
Eva: Sometimes I really miss my family, friends, and my normal and everyday life back home. But that is totally normal. I enjoy my experience here and try to make the best out of it. Sometimes in exhausting or boring moments I feel homesick, but it's easy to stay in contact because of phones so I don't feel I’m missing too much.
Q: Key takeaways from this experience?
Eva: Always follow your dreams. Even if it scares you, do it because it will make you a stronger person. I learned we are, all over the world, the same just with different stories and cultures. But we can connect if we want to. I learned a lot about myself and how I feel and behave in different situations and settings. It is important for everyone to see the world, different cultures, lifestyles, and people; to learn and understand how we can solve big problems together and empathize with other people and lives.
Isabel: This year has taught me to step outside my comfort zone and be more confident in myself. It has allowed me to better understand different kinds of people and learn about new cultures, including differences in religion and social norms. This experience has helped me see the world from a perspective very different from the one I had at home. One of the biggest takeaways for me is the relationships I have built here with people from many different backgrounds. At the same time, being away has made me appreciate the friendships and connections I have at home even more.
Jenna Battaglia, the NBAPS Accountant who also works with the Prom Coordinator, has been in a position to observe Eva and Isabel, and is impressed by the way both have embraced this experience. “Mark Twain once said that ‘twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did.’ Eva and Isabel have chosen to make the most of their time here,” said Battaglia, adding, “this journey is providing both with the tools to grow into strong leaders. Through collaboration, creativity and innovative thinking, both girls are applying their skills to various groups across North Branch during their time with us. Their futures are bright!”