Imaging spending a year in another country, learning their language and culture. This is the reality for junior Sarah Placke.
Placke spent a year living with a host family where she immersed herself in the German culture and spoke in German the entire time. She also went to school for the duration of her stay there and, as you can imagine, it was very different from the school systems here.
“It [was difficult] because it was a much harder course than America,” said Sarah Placke.
Unlike in America where students take seven classes, over in Germany they have to take 16 classes a year.
“Other times I was left out because I did not know what I was doing in class,” said Placke.
When Placke was not working on her course material, she was riding to the nearest candy shop on her bike. Transportation in Germany is also a lot different from America. In Germany more people walk and bike because the area is so small and bikes allow the denizens to park on the sidewalks and make their way through the small streets. This was a cause for an adjustment.
“I was carrying a package [on a bike] and a car came around the corner and I fell over,” said Placke
When she was not falling off bikes, she was getting lost in England. During her stay in Germany, the students involved with Placke’s host school took a trip to England, and while Placke was there she got separated from her group.
“The teacher was pretty upset, but after a year [laughed] about it,” said Placke.
While she was in Germany she was also there for part of the World Cup. While the players where in Jena, Placke, the only American in the German city at the time of the game, was able to see them play with her friends.
“I went to the public viewing with the American flag on my back, and my friends got to see my reaction when Germany scored the goal that won the game,” said Placke.
Weather she was riding her bike, watching a soccer game, or visiting Dresden, Germany’s most beautiful city, it was an experience to last a lifetime.
“It really opened my eyes to German culture,” said Placke.
It was not just the cultural experience she took with her; but also the bonding with her host family which she took back to America.
“It was like being with my real family, we still keep in contact,” said Placke.