Every year Milford High School hosts a group of students from all over the globe. These students find that their experiences in the United States educational system vary greatly from what they experienced back home.

Henri Varichon,17, is a foreign exchange student from France. His hometown, Laval, has many similarities to Milford, such as population, according to Varichon. He also contrasted the two by pointing out that everything is bigger here, such as cars.

“[It’s] exciting because it’s a brand new life,” he said. He prefers the education we have here because back in France he didn’t get to pick what classes he wanted to take. Instead, one chooses a path (scientific,economic,etc.) and has classes set for him. This was his first time in The United States and he has been enjoying the experience and hopes to come back in the future.

Similarly, Heon Jae Kim, 16, has been enjoying his experience. “I thought many people would discriminate because I’m Asian, but they didn’t.”

He reported that Milford High is bigger than his school in Seoul, capital of South Korea, but Seoul is bigger than Milford.

Maya Lammert,16, also explained that school is different in Berlin. She said you choose classes until 11th grade, but you have one class with the same people. She reported that you start in Grundschule (elementary school) and work your way to Gymnasium (high school).

“[You] get new friends, learn new language, and new sports,” she said.

Tjark Schella,15, said that our school system is very different and it took him a while to understand. In Husum, Germany– his hometown– he said he does not go to the same class every day.

They like to switch it up so it doesn’t get boring, he said. “I hope it doesn’t get boring here!” He explained that school there ends at a different time. There is no schedule like ours.

He is currently doing football through the high school. He said that it is different because sports are not associated with the school. There are only club sports.

Mrs. Pryor has been the exchange students coordinator for more than 5 years. She said that it’s great for both local students and foreign exchange students to meet people from different cultures and to learn how similar we all are.

Pryor also commented that she really hopes that you get to know the foreign exchange students.

“It really just opens up the world for everybody,” she said.

If you have further questions about the foreign exchange students here or becoming one, contact Mrs.Pryor in Student Services.