In the beginning of the new school year here at Anderson High School, numerous incoming students enrolled and got to begin their high school journey. Among those new students, there also came those who were new to the United States of America via the foreign exchange program. Last year, Anderson High School hosted 8 foreign exchange students before 2 withdrew, including Lara Kugler from Germany and Thanadech “Poon” Sinacharoen from Thailand.
This year, the school gained 7 new exchange students. Madita Chmura, Sarah Friesen, and Bennett Nedden all hail from Germany. Dirkje Brandsma is from the Netherlands, Kenzo Palhares is from Brasil, Nico Arquillos is from Spain, and Cindy is from Taiwan.
In an attempt to learn more about these students and their home countries, AHS Tribecast members Jacob Robert Perry, Cinthya Lopez, and Jesiah Harris sought out to interview each of them separately on camera. Nico declined to interview. The video of each filmed interview can be found on the official AHS TribeCast Youtube channel.
When asked to describe where they were from, most responded that they lived in the countryside. “I’m actually from a very small town in the west of Germany, it’s in NRW,” said Sarah Friesen. “My town is called Paderborn, but I think the city that’s most popular that most people know that’s close to it is actually Cologne, which is still 3 hours away but it’s pretty close.” Friesen is not the only student from the North Rhine Westphalia region. Bennett Nedden is from a more populated area of the same state. “[I’m] from Western Germany, from North Rhine-Westphalia,” said Nedden. “It’s like a state in Germany, a federal state. I’m from Düsseldorf, it’s near Cologne, maybe you know Cologne.”
About 4 hours away from Düsseldorf resides Madita Chmura. “[I’m from] the middle of Germany, it’s in lower Saxony,” said Chmura. “It’s called Göettingen. Nobody’s going to know that but it’s a cool town.” Only about 2 hours away from Düsseldorf is Dirkje Brandsma. “It’s a city called Breda and it’s very much in the south so it’s like, 15 minutes away from Belgium, I think,” said Brandsma.
On the vastly different continent of South America resides Kenzo Palhares. “[I’m from] the countryside of Brasil, from a city called Uberlandia from the State of Minas Gerais,” said Palhares. “It’s like a big city but like, all over the city there’s like, rural areas, so it’s like more in the country.”
Despite the differences in both country and continent, one thing has brought these students together: the town of Anderson, Indiana. The foreign exchange students were quick to talk about what they like about the town and its inhabitants. “It’s been great actually, all the people are very nice,” said Brandsma. “They step up to you and talk to you.”
They were also quick to notice the size of Anderson and how it’s built. “I think the town’s infrastructure is pretty similar to my home town with the fields outside and inner city,” said Friesen. “It’s pretty similar but it’s way bigger and I think if you’re with the right people it’s a lot of fun.”
The foreign exchange students noted several differences from their home countries in their interviews. A major difference they pointed out was the school system. “I think the hugest difference is in school,” said Nedden. “It’s like, we have 15 subjects on the whole week spread and we don’t have Chromebooks, so that’s very cool.” However, some students noted simple lifestyle changes.“I think the most different is the place here is really big, in Taiwan we just have all roads but we can buy everything nearby, it’s convenient,” said Cindy.
Despite being from different countries, the foreign exchange students are actively making an effort to be known for more than just being foreign through things like sports. “Yeah, I want to get here on the swim team,” said Chmura.
Soccer continues to reign supreme as the most popular sport in Europe and South America, and it shows, with many of the foreign exchange students expressing interest in joining the school soccer team. “I would be looking forward to joining the [soccer] team,” said Palhares. Both boys and girls alike showed their passion for the sport. “I actually play soccer, like I do here,” said Friesen. “I’ve played for 1 ½ years but my team sucks.”
To conclude the interview, the foreign exchange students were asked if they missed anyone or anything from home. Some students responded that they missed their loved ones. “Friends and family, maybe my sister cause we were like, best friends,” said Brandsma. “I think just the people.” Some mentioned missing the simple things that were close by. “I think just the convenience store,” said Cindy. “The store in America is really far away from where we live.”
The foreign exchange students of 2025 look forward to the memories waiting to be created whilst being in the town of Anderson, IN. If you end up running into them in school, don’t be afraid to say hello and be their friend.
