From Germany and Spain, to the United States, Dana Wittenberg and Garazi Borregon are here at our school, for a once in a lifetime experience. Being a foreign exchange student. They’ve been here for about six months already, and about four more to go. Now that the first semester is over, let’s see how everything has been going for them.

There has been a lot of adjusting and meeting new people throughout the first semester. Making friends, joining teams, and really becoming a Lebanon Tiger, has been some of the major parts, and most impactful.

“I joined the cross-country team, and I got to know a lot of new people. The fall sports season was probably the most fun for me because of the football games. I’ve never gone to one before and it was just awesome. I really like that you have after school sports, because it’s also a very good way to escape out of a stressful day,” said junior Dana Wittenberg.

“My first semester went well in general. I like school because the subjects are more fun than Spain’s, and both the teachers and students are nice,” said junior Garazi Borregon.

Last year, there were lots of experiences they got to endure outside of school like holidays, events, and traveling. Along with their most memorable moments.

“I would definitely say homecoming and Thanksgiving are my most memorable parts of this experience. These are both things that I don’t have in my home country (Germany). Homecoming was really fun, and I went with a few friends and we had a good time. Thanksgiving for me was just awesome. I learned how and why you celebrate it,” said Wittenberg.

“I think the most memorable part of my experience has been the new people I met and also the new things I tried, and new places I saw,” said Borregon.

Through these experiences, they also got to compare the differences from Spain and Germany to here. Like the school, cities, and even transportation. These things can really make people realize how different places can be, in the simplest of ways.

“In the United States, shops are open on Sunday’s, which was completely new to me, because in Germany, everything is closed on Sunday’s. Another big difference is public services. In Germany, we have a lot of public services like trains, buses, etc. I take a public bus every morning to my school, and can easily take a train to a bigger city, or country. When I came to the US, I was surprised that they don’t have public services if it’s not a big city,” said Wittenberg.

“I think the biggest difference would be all the things there are at the high school to do. In my home country, I didn’t have any sports to do after school, at the high school, or other activities. We don’t even have dances, so that was also new to me,” said Borregon.

Although they both have enjoyed this experience, it does come with difficulties. But the memories and good times, exceed the bad with better ones still awaiting.

“It’s definitely one of the most adventurous experiences that I’ve ever had. It was a big dream for me to spend a foreign exchange year in the United States, and sometimes I can’t realize that I’m really here. It was one of the best decisions to do an exchange year, but it was also one of the hardest ones,” said Wittenberg.

“I feel good about my experience because even if there have been moments where it can be hard, because I miss people, all the friends I made here and the fun I had trying new things makes me feel good about my exchange,” said Borregon.

As the second semester begins, their time spent here is slowly coming to a close. Learning about a country from different perspectives is truly fascinating, and a crazy thing to go through. Let’s see what they have to say for the upcoming semester.

“I have so many things I look forward to, but I think I’m most looking forward to the sports during the Spring season,” said Wittenberg.

“This semester I’m looking forward to having the best time I can in the months I have left, and making as many good memories as possible,” said Borregon.