Foreign Exchange Students

Pauline Beck is a sixteen year old Senior, much like many of the other exchange students. She comes to Santa Rosa from Colmar, France.
"I love art," Beck said. She enjoys both preforming and visual arts, from ceramics to drama class. In her spare time, she dances at Ellington Hall. Pauline also plays guitar, writes her own songs, and plays a few pieces on the piano.
When asked what she thought about the SRHS campus, Pauline replied, "I love it! It's a pretty school, very stereotypical of an American high school. It looks like a high school from a movie."
Pauline finds the students pleasant as well and likes the lack of trouble around school. She says that everyone is kind. However, she finds that language can be a barrier when making friends.
When asked if getting used to a new school and country is difficult, she answered simply, "You have to adapt at different times with diferent people, but it's not so difficult."
Senior Chih-Yu Chen has come to SRHS from Taiwan. She really enjoys dancing as well as singing, but doesn’t have an interest in sports. She also likes the fact that in the American school system, students are allowed to choose their classes. According to Chih-Yu she wasn’t allowed to choose her own classes or schedule in Taiwan.
"My favorite class is choir," she said.
Janis Shwarz is SRHS's sophomore exchange students from Blackforest, Germany.
He loves Santa Rosa High's school spirit and says that most of his classmates are "easy going, open, nice. I like the attitude of the people."
When asked if he was homesick, he responded "I am not homesick. I'm active and busy, and don't get bored."
Janis has spent a lot of his childhood traveling, so while exciting and new, his stay in California isn't as nerve-wracking as it has been for other exchange students.
Janis was very active in Germany. He said, "I go mountain biking, and swimming. As well as snowboarding and skiing most months. I am also a certified lifegaurd in Germany."
Amina Oemer is a senior. Having come from Kolbotn, Norway, she says that the people and weather here are extremely different. She is an active student at SRHS, and is already part of the school’s tennis team.
When asked how SRHS differs from schools in Norway, she responded, "It's bigger and there are more choices for classes. You have school dances and school teams."
During her stay here, Amina has a long list of things she wants to do in California, like go to Disneyland, walk around San Fransisco and visit a winery.
When asked how she's enjoying her stay here, she responded, "I miss my home and friends, but it's worth it. I get new experiences [everyday]."