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Exchange student Margot: One year in Germany, a heart full of doubts!
An exchange student reports on her experiences in Schwerin and the challenges of current exchange programs in the USA.
Exchange student Margot: One year in Germany, a heart full of doubts!
Margot Hoffmann, a 16-year-old exchange student from the USA, returns after a year-long stay in Germany. During her time in Baden-Württemberg and Schwerin, she attended the Goethe-Gymnasium and gained some formative experiences. What was particularly striking to her were the differences in social interaction that she experienced with the Germans. “I had difficulty making friends,” she admits, describing Germans as less open compared to the US. Nevertheless, Margot also made close friends over the course of the year and collected positive memories of the region, especially the beautiful beaches on the Baltic Sea.
Another cultural experience was the German dinner, which was a new experience for her. “The bread and cheese surprised me at first,” she says. After returning to her hometown of Starkville, Mississippi, she plans to attend high school. But not all thoughts are positive: Margot expresses concerns about the future of exchange programs in the USA, especially due to the current political situation and the protests against President Donald Trump, which could also affect international student exchanges. “I would like to do another year abroad, but I am unsure about the options,” she says.
Clarity about exchange programs in times of political uncertainty
Margot's worries are not unfounded. The decline in the number of German students traveling to the USA reflects the uncertainty. According to a report by the South German newspaper The number of trips to the USA fell by 28 percent compared to the previous year. This leads to some young people moving their year abroad to Canada. Certain schools in Bonn even have to cancel exchange programs because US partner schools are no longer participating. This is also related to the political situation in the USA and the influence of Trump's administration.
Another sign of the tense circumstances is that funding for exchange programs has been frozen. The Parliamentary Sponsorship Program (PPP) and the German American Partnership Program (GAPP), both of which are supported by the Pedagogical Exchange Service (PAD), are affected. While the PAD does not see a significant decline in exchange programs as they are often planned well in advance, concerns remain about possible future developments.
Despite all the circumstances, the popularity of the USA remains high
Despite these challenges, the fascination for the USA remains unbroken. Many young people are still interested in an exchange. According to the US Embassy There are numerous programs that enable German students to discover vibrant US culture and the English language. These programs not only offer numerous resources and funding opportunities, but also an alumni community that promotes exchange among former participants.
The USA currently enjoys status as the most popular host country for German students, although competition from other English-speaking countries such as New Zealand, Canada and Australia is increasing. The cost of a year at a public school in the USA is between 9,200 and 16,000 euros, which represents a significant investment for many families.
However, after Margot's experiences, it becomes clear that the exchange between cultures remains of great importance even in stormy times. It remains to be hoped that the tide will change soon and positive changes will be introduced for exchange programs.