Exchange students start year with football and governor

They’ve only been in the U.S. for a few weeks, but two West Knoxville exchange students have already met the state’s highest elected official. Grace Alonso de Armino of Spain and Helya Ahmadi of Denmark met Gov. Phil Bredesen during a tour of the state Capitol on Aug. 16.

Grace and Helya went to Nashville with their host parents, Sue and Lendelle Clark of West Hills. The Clarks are Education First Foundation for Foreign Study Coordinators, and they have hosted exchange students for more than 20 years. On Aug. 28, they held a cookout for Knoxville-area exchange students who shared their thoughts about their host country over hamburgers and hot dogs.

Meeting the governor was closely rivaled by the excitement of attending their first football game, said Grace and Helya. They attended West High School’s game against Hardin Valley Academy on Aug. 27 with Sonja Meissner and Svenja Brakemeier of Germany. All four are students at West this year.

Twelve EF exchange students will spend the school year with host families in East Tennessee. Eleven of them are girls. The lone boy, Roberto Pedrotti of Italy, says he doesn’t mind. He attends Gibbs High School.

They are all surprisingly self-possessed for their age, and none of them would admit to anything more than fleeting homesickness. They stay in touch with their families via Skype, a software application that allows users to talk for free on the Internet. They had a variety of reasons for becoming exchange students, but all were happy for the opportunity to improve their English skills.

“I’ve always wanted to be an exchange student,” said Oda Bjoernsborg of Norway, who attends Berean Christian School in Halls. “I’m very independent, and I like learning about language and culture.”

Grace, the youngest child in her family, followed in the steps of three sisters and a brother who have all been exchange students. Svenja also has a brother who was in the exchange program.

Franziska Prost of Germany, who attends Sequatchie County High School near Chattanooga, is an only child. But her host family has five children, so she’s learning what it’s like to be part of a big family.

“Sometimes the little ones are loud, so I can’t sleep in in the morning. It won’t get boring!”

Learning to live with a new family is one of many adjustments exchange students make. Food is another. While Sonja enjoyed a trip to the Waffle House and Franziska enjoyed the novelty of eating chocolate cake for breakfast on her first morning in Tennessee, the students agreed that most American food isn’t healthy.

Most would like to get a driver’s license while they’re in the U.S. Everything is too spread out for walking to be an option, they said. And they might not get the chance again. In Europe, a license can cost up to $5,000.

They marvel at the conveniences in the U.S. Drive-through windows are uncommon in Europe, and Grace was stunned to realize she could return a faulty product she bought at Walmart. Everyone is friendlier, too.

“People in stores are really nice and helpful,” said Oda. “We don’t have that in Norway.”