Much of Yelm High School’s 2024 class has grown up in school together, continuing to build friendships that date as far back as elementary school. But for two seniors, their journeys didn’t start quite the same.
Marie Essel and Sophie Hurschler came to Yelm from Germany as part of an exchange program. They arrived in late August and will remain in Yelm with host families until graduation.
Hurschler had visited the United States a couple of times growing up as her parents had spent time in the country, but neither she nor Essel had lived in the country before. They didn’t get to choose where in the country they wanted to live as the decision belonged to the host families, but both are adjusting to life in not only a new country, but a new city, school and culture.
“What surprised me is that when you go into a store, everyone is like, ‘Hey, how are you? How have you been?’ In Germany, sometimes they don’t even talk to you,” Hurschler said. “People here are more friendly in terms of opening a conversation.”
Essel, who lived in Hamburg, added that school culture is vastly different in America than in Germany. For example, she noted that it’s uncommon for students of one grade in Germany to hang out with students of another grade. She also said the relationship between teachers and students is remarkably different.
“The teachers are like your friends here,” Essel said. “In Germany, it’s more like a boss and an employee relationship. Every day, they tell you that they are your superior.”
Both students acknowledged that making friends upon arrival was difficult, especially as English was not their first language. They credited participating in after-school activities as a kickstarter for making friends and getting out of their comfort zones. Essel joined the volleyball team, and Hurschler helps with the sports medicine program.
The size of the school and the distance from classroom to classroom were overwhelming for them, as well.
“Here, I have to wander all over the campus. The first day of school, I was so scared. I had my map with me,” Hurschler said. “Every single class is like a new challenge because there’s different people in every class.”
Essel lives on a farm with her host family, which includes a mother, father, aunt, cousin and two brothers. The farm has nine alpacas, one llama, one goat, as well as cats, dogs, guinea pigs and chickens. Hurschler stays with host grandparents, parents and a sister. They both said they felt welcomed by their host families, which alleviated the stresses of the exchange program.
“You have to imagine flying to a different country alone at a young age, going to a family of strangers that you may have talked to over Zoom or email, but you haven’t lived with them,” Hurschler said. “You come here, and you know no one. It’s a new environment, and it’s not even like you moved here. It’s totally different. It’s such a culture shock. You have to deal with so many new things at a time.”
“It’s really fun because they’re caring, and they’re always trying to buy stuff for me that I would like,” Essel said of her host family. “Yesterday, they bought me some socks because I’m always cold. They’re really nice. I feel at home.”
The two German natives enjoy the community aspect that Yelm brings, despite it being a smaller city. They were overwhelmed by the support of the YHS athletic teams, particularly the football team.
“The community, especially for football, is amazing. The school pride is incredible,” Hurschler said.
While it took time for Essel and Hurschler to make friends, adjust to using the imperial system over the metric system and learn what Fahrenheit means, they are excited to be in the United States and in Yelm and hope to make more memories as they finish their high school journeys.
