Flourishing in unfamiliarity

Freshly off the plane, she goes straight to school orientation. Before learning the ropes of the school and meeting the staff, she soaks it all in. She meets her host family, including two younger boys, one being 4 years old and the other is 3 years old. She gets settled, letting the jet lag finally affect her.

Even though it wasn’t her first time leaving Germany and being away from her family, this is the longest period of time junior Elea Krummenauer will be on her own. In a new country, new school and new house, she thrives under the unfamiliarity.

“First day was really confusing, meeting your new family that you didn’t know before,” Krummenauer said. “You’re really tired from the flight and you’re just not functioning and hungry at the wrong times because of the seven-hour difference. First day of school was also really confusing because I don’t have host siblings my age here. I didn’t know anybody so I was just rushing around here, trying to find my classroom.”

The year before, Krummenauer did a shorter version of the exchange program in England for three weeks. She doesn’t let herself become lazy or idle, understanding that these trips aren’t only a fun vacation, but a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience.

“I love traveling and seeing different cultures, [it] is really important to me, so this was the best [way] to do it,” Krummenauer said. “It’s not just chilling here for a year, it’s like I have to be independent and responsible. You grow a lot.”

School is first on Krummenauer’s list of priorities. After meeting her during orientation, Algebra 2 teacher Julie Williams had a soft spot for the foreign exchange student. While math courses tend to confuse a fair amount of students, Williams has seen no conflict between Krummenauer and the subject.

“I think Elea has done a great job transitioning into the American culture,” Williams said. “She seems no different than any of my other students socially. I have not seen any struggles from her. She told me she is horrible at math and it was the one subject she worried about learning over here in America, [but] she has done amazingly well in my math class.”

While not in school, Krummenauer stays with her host family. Living in a house with two toddlers can be difficult, but she has taken a liking to the younger children. As well, her host family does their best to make her feel like she’s at home and safe, taking her to concerts, sporting events and other family trips.

“It’s very brave and remarkable for her to do something like this,” Krummenauer’s host father Eric Lewandowski said. “We try to give her advice and tell her how we normally handle situations. I think she picks up a lot just from watching us and sometimes asking questions about our customs. We offer to talk to her about any difficulties she is having.”

While only six months through the program, Krummenauer continues to enjoy this opportunity. She strives to make new friends and continues to excel in her classes. Her teachers and host family will miss the bond they’ve made with her when she leaves, but are excited for her to continue her education and grow into her strengths.

“[I will miss] my host family, definitely,” Krummenauer said. “My friends, a lot of the Mexican food [because] in Germany, we don’t really have Mexican food. [I’ll miss] just living here in America.”