Learning overseas

She sits in her desk with her palm under her chin and hair resting on her shoulders. The school announces there will be a foreign exchange program offered. Her eyes go wide at the opportunity given to travel and learn abroad. She looks into the distance, asking herself if she should take the chance.

Junior Patricia Freitag is a foreign exchange student from Switzerland. Last year, she applied and took the chance to learn abroad to expand her learning and gain knowledge of other cultures.

“I thought it was a good thing to get away for a year and go somewhere different,” Freitag said. “You grow as a person because you’re away from what you have learned your whole life.”

Although studying abroad would make her lose school credit back in Switzerland, she didn’t hesitate for the opportunity. She went through a student evaluation process and was flown out to Texas for school in August.

“I had to find the organization that does it, apply and fill out the application,” Freitag said. “My family supported me but they worried for me being away for so long. My friends were sad and also happy for me.”

While being in the states miles away from home, Freitag usually feels down because of isolation. Not having her family beside her is a reason why being away is so difficult.

“Being away from home is not that easy,” Freitag said. “I thought it would be easy but it isn’t. [Although], [it’s] not always [hard]. [Those difficult] times are just when I’m feeling down.”

Freitag has noticed American culture isn’t different from the culture in Switzerland. Although, the materialism of American culture surprised her as well as how distant locations are from each other.

“Generally when there’s a new version of something, you want it even though your current version is working just fine,” Freitag said. “[Also], Switzerland is smaller. It’s weird being in the United States because everything is so huge and you can ride for four hours and be the same state.”

When looking at Switzerland’s and America’s education system side by side, they contrast mostly in scheduling and work. The classrooms in the United States tend to be diverse as they contain students of all colors and new students each class period.

“In Switzerland, you have the same people each period [and] our schedule is different every day,” Freitag said. “Lessons are usually 45 minutes and the most classes you can have in a day is nine.”

Although Freitag is a foreign exchange student, she felt as if she blended into the school easily. People rarely know she was from another country.

“I met Patricia in second period sociology,” senior Carol Lara said. “She sat next to me. I thought she was an American with a cool accent.”

Sociology teacher Sefrah Hernandez was surprised to learn Freitag was a foreign student. Because Freitag will leave to go back to Switzerland toward the end of the school year, Hernandez would like for her to learn from this experience.

“What I’d like for Patricia to keep doing what she’s doing because it’ll take her far in life,” Hernandez said. “I would like for her to keep voicing her opinion and listening to the other side of discussions, like she had during the nine weeks. I loved that she slowly started opening up and having something to say for every discussion question we had and listened respectfully when others voiced their opinion as well.”

After leaving the United States, Freitag aims to apply what she learned back in Switzerland. She has improved her English since America relies heavily on the language. Her experience will benefit her in future careers.

“In Switzerland, when you apply for employment, you have a higher chance of being chosen over someone else because your application will show you’ve lived and experienced places outside Switzerland,” Freitag said.

Throughout her time spent in America and in school, Freitag has built relationships with other students. Even though she will return to Switzerland at the end of the school year, she will not forget about the bonds she’s made with people in Texas.

“There’s many different types of people here,” Freitag said. “Most of them are pretty nice and make you feel welcomed. I’ll miss the good times I’ve had here and the people I shared them with.”