10 Lessons I Learned as an Exchange Student in the USA

Hey guys,
today I am coming to you with a video all about my exchange year in Texas, in the USA. Six years ago I lived in the US for 10 months as an exchange student and went to high school. I wanted ti share all of my tips and lessons with you future exchange students so that you would know how to avoid the mistakes I made as a German in the states.
If you are a former exchange student, please let me know whether you agree with my list and whether you would add any more tips down in the comments below.
Lots of love,
Laura

[@georgemortensen7623]

What a bright young woman. It would appear she has learned more than a new culture. She's learned about herself. You go, girl.

[@honey27003]

Thank you so much! I think that is an aspect of exchange years that not many people think about before they leave. The fact that you learn about so many new things and get to know so many new people but most of all you get to know yourself better

[@miamengkrogen952]

i’m going on exchange this year to the u.s. i have never been there so this video was very helpful

[@honey27003]

Hey :) That´s amazing! I hope you´re excited already. Do you know which state you´re gonna be in? PS: I had never been to the US before my exchange either so don´t worry about that

[@hannahcrps]

hope you’ll love it here!! it’s not as bad as you think and it’s really fun once you get used to it :) just be careful

[@user-wr9ej6xe4j]

Small towns are good in way, in that its more of a laid back kind of life. But yes shes right in a small town with few people they gossip more about things that are rumors or not true because there isnt as much to do in those areas

[@honey27003]

@@user-wr9ej6xe4j very true! I actually quite liked being in a small town. Just make sure you don´t do anything worth talking about

[@richardsbrandon5027]

Good luck & welcome to America!! Glad to have ya.

[@nwmonk3105]

I was stationed in Berlin many years ago with the US Army, and I would like to congratulate you on having a spot on native US accent. The German comes through a little but only to a trained ear. Anyone else would think you’re a native speaker! 😁

[@honey27003]

Thank you so much! Some days my English is better and some days it's worse. But I have learned to be fine with the imperfection. Just gotta do the best you can.

[@crunch1961]

Laura - This is a great list of 10 lessons for exchange students. As a local coordinator for exchange students, I was impressed with your sharing such great advice. It is not my experience that #3 is as bad as it was for you because some schools may not have the type of people that spread false rumors. But, it is a possibility, and you handled it well. Getting involved, saying yes, and keeping a diary are all superb ideas, and I wish every exchange student could watch this before coming. I'll be recommending it. Great job!

[@honey27003]

Thank you so much! First of all, thank you for the work you are doing! Secondly, please feel free to recommend this channel to your students and also let them know that if they have any questions or any other topics they would like advice on they can just let me know. I hope I can help out as many kids as possible so that they can have a great experience

[@noahkane26]

This is my first video of yours I’ve come across. I know Germans (especially younger generations) learn English growing up, but even so, I have to say that your accent is impeccable. There’s very little difference in pronunciation! You almost sound American!

[@gayauzivert9221]

I’m doing my exchange year in Germany now (I’m from Italy), and thanks for the 9th lesson. I’m really having an hard time making friends, and I was feeling desperate for trying to talk with anyone and knowing that it isn’t the best thing. I hope that things would get better.

[@katlizski]

My family is hosting a foreign exchange student from Italy and I found your video, I hope we can help her the best we can and she enjoys her time here.

[@honey27003]

That´s amazing! I am so glad you decided to host. Are there any questions you have or video ideas you think could be helpful?

[@user-ks3ol3lw3b]

Opinions: my late father told me "Never talk politics or religion." When he meant was, don't do it in casual, friendly situations. You're just creating the possibility of conflict when you could have had a nice interaction. In social situations, you aren't going to convince anyone, and they aren't going to convince you, so why bother? Find the best in people, even if you differ strongly in one particular way.

[@bmonk42]

I went on a US exchange more than 25 years ago, but I have to agree with so many things mentioned in the video!

[@tombrown5924]

Seen your video years ago and I am Glad to see you are doing well after all these years and have grown up to be a successful beautiful young lady. Now that things are opening up I can not wait to visit Germany with a few friends from Germany who live here in the states. My family immigrated from the Alsace area and they are going to take me there and I can not wait. Ich wunsche Innen das Beste im Leben AL

[@honey27003]

Thank you! You have no idea how much I appreciate that! It feels so good to know that somebody is still watching that knows me from all those years ago. You really should come and visit Germany once life has gone somewhat back to normal again. There are so many beautiful places to explore. If I have learned one thing during this pandemic it´s to never take life for granted so i can´t wait to travel again starting with my semester abroad in September. Can´t wait to see whether my exchange from six years ago has changed me in the way I will approach this new chapter.

[@traveller2810]

2 days ago came back from the UK. In short, I embraced a new life. I wish, I’d be an exchange student once more again. This is something!

[@BamaBlitz14]

Excellent advice, all of it.

[@honey27003]

Thank you so much! Let me know if there is ever anything else you would like me to talk about

[@DA-db9bi]

I had an amazing high school experience the best 4 years of my life. I’m so blessed to be from the US of course it depends on the high school you go to.

[@honey27003]

Overall, I also had an amazing experience

[@aleksandra4811]

thank you for this amazing and helpful video! I will probably go on an exchange this year and I would love to hear more about your experience

[@honey27003]

Thank you so much you have no idea how much it means to me to hear that! Where are you looking to spend your exchange? And is there anything in particular you would like me to talk about that might help you out?

[@aleksandra4811]

@@honey27003 well I'm not sure where since I applied for this scholarship and I didn't get the official results yet, I think it would be great to listen to some stories or some tips how to survive the first month haha like the first week at school with friends and teachers and the host family

[@honey27003]

@@aleksandra4811 Definitely! That´s a great idea, I will make a video all about in in a few weeks!

[@channingbloom7125]

i know im pretty late on this but i hope your doing good if your in the US

[@abbylicious1994]

Omg I did my exchange in Montana and I can relate to these soooo much!! 😃

[@honey27003]

Really? Where are you from? I feel like a lot of us that were staying in small towns and rather conservative states had similar experiences. I know I learned a lot from it but every time I go back or talk to people that I know that live there I always learn something new about customs and unspoken rules etc.

[@philipgates988]

What part of Montana?

[@honey27003]

@@philipgates988 Hi! Not Montana but Northern Texas. About an hour away from Dallas

[@abbylicious1994]

@@philipgates988 I however was in Laurel, right next to Billings lol

[@richardsbrandon5027]

@@abbylicious1994 What is/was Laurel like? What is Montana like?

[@e.a.6136]

This was very interesting, thank you! I‘m actually pretty scared that when I hopefully go to my exchange year to France I won‘t be able to communicate because my france isn‘t perfect. Trying to learn it!

[@honey27003]

Don't worry. Nobody starts their exchange year being perfect in their target language. It's one of the greatest feature of an exchange year: improving your language skills so much. However, if you are worried, I actually have a video on how to improve your language skills coming out a few weeks from now so definitely keep your eyes peeled for that!

[@infantryshooter]

Well done, thanks for sharing that. I am contemplating hosting a student; my wife and I are older and have room in our house and hearts for an exchange student. If I may, I have some questions... What was your relationship like with your host parents? Did you integrate into their family? What was the coolest thing your host parents did for you? What was the worst thing? Any particular house rules that seemed unreasonable? If I do this, I want to get it right; more information is better, and it takes up zero space in the rucksack. Thanks in advance!

[@honey27003]

If it is okay with you, I would love to incorporate your questions in a future video of mine so I can answer them in a bit more detail. Generally speaking I would say hosting is a great idea. If you and your wife are on the same page and love the idea then that´s already the first and most important step to making sure that your host student is gonna have a good time. I think I might do a host family Q&A very soon and also say a bit about my personal experience

[@infantryshooter]

@@honey27003 Thanks for your thoughtful replies! I think it's wonderful if you want to use my questions in a video. One of your videos mentioned working through being homesick. One practical observation is that keeping your self BUSY is the best defense against becoming homesick. Idle hands lead to an idle mind, and then thoughts run where they want. Stay focused and stay busy. I was always busy in Germany, sometimes not always with behavior that endeared us to the locals, but always doing something. (Any bad rumors that you may have heard of immature young soldiers drinking too much and acting like fools, are all true... Not proud of any of that...) The worst time was Christmas of 1984. I was about half way through my time there, lots of guys went back to the US on leave, and man, that time was bad. I did take leave (official permission to be absent from duty) in the summer of '85, grabbed my ruck, and hopped the train to Munich and headed south, ending up in Innsbruck. As we say in rural America, 'you got to make hay while the sunshines', meaning to take advantage of opportunities that are in front of you now, because those things won't remain available forever. Thanks again for your replies, I look forward to additional videos you make regarding this topic. (No reply necessary) Ken

[@miloyoca]

@@infantryshooter the video is now uploaded, just to reminder you. kzbin.info/www/bejne/enWXhqqunbt1raM

[@user-fq7tv2lo6e]

Good info !! Moved from the EU to a southern state, indeed a friendly conversation and somebody acting nice to you does not mean they won't talk shit about you as soon as you turn around. In the EU if you have friendly conversations it is most of the time a sign you truly like each other, otherwise you would not waste each other's time.

[@raymondmiller5098]

Americans are often very superficial (and I say that as an American).

[@user-fq7tv2lo6e]

@@raymondmiller5098 could also be explained as EU people being gullible ;) I think its just a cultural diff that can cause some misunderstanding

[@ArtsyMagic239]

Oh, I can definitely relate to the hanging out with guys part. One of my best friends was a guy and everyone assumed/wanted us to get together in high school despite us not being interested in dating at all. Can't say this for him but I'm straight and somewhere on the ace spectrum, still trying to figure out if I'm either demi, gray, or ace. I'm more likely to play video games with friends instead of going on romantic dates. Trust me, people wanting drama.

[@honey27003]

Yes, people just want something to talk about for their own entertainment. It's just a shame that non-romantic relationships that could be really beautiful get ruined by the rumors sometimes

[@faisalrazzaq6002]

@@honey27003 Romantic relationship is natural and exciting between guy and girl so people incline toward that. 😜

[@sophiasjourney7190]

wow your English is so good

[@honey27003]

Thank you so much! It´s still a work in progress and I definitely notice myself making mistakes but I don´t mind it not being perfect. It´s not my first language after all

[@astrogatorjones]

Ya, small town Texas. That's a tough audience... not every one for sure but. Ya. Its probably the extreme in the US.

[@user-tx9gs5ef8o]

My house is 3.5 miles from community college and I’m very interested in doing this. I already got approve to host but the thing is the college in my area is not that big. My 2 kids went there for 2 years for associate degree and eventually got accepted to top public universities. I hope to get students host.

[@melodiqs674]

this video is very on time, I'm going on an exchange this year (July) and all of these tips will probably help a lot

[@honey27003]

Hi! Thank you so much! That sounds amazing I hope you´re excited already. I am actually planning to film a video on what to bring for your exchange very soon so I´ll post it in the next few weeks :) I am also thinking about filming a video on all the things you need to know when going to the South as things a very different there in certain aspects. So you actually gave me a great idea here! Watch out for that as well. Any other things you are interested in or questions you have that I could answer in a video?

[@melodiqs674]

@@honey27003 Yes i’m already super excited!! And no that’s all i have to ask specifically but i’d love love to hear more about your experiences in general, anything you have to share at all~ i’ll be waiting for your upcoming videos!

[@richardsbrandon5027]

Good luck in America & glad to see ya!!

[@juliastaggs9360]

i live in arkansas!

[@richardsbrandon5027]

@@juliastaggs9360 And not very many others do!! hehe, :)))

[@alisonn9580]

Omg I resonate with you so much! And btw where did you stay for your exchange? I was in austin which is quite a liberal place so there isn’t as much judgements about the way you dress compared to other places in Texas ig.

[@honey27003]

I stayed in a very small town about an hour away from Dallas so life was rather conservative. I think it would be very interesting to experience life in the area where you lived to be able to compare

[@NinaZuccaro0824]

As an American, I recommend anyone study in a major city either in the north east or anywhere near the west coast. States like Alabama, Texas, Mississippi, and other states in middle-south US aren’t as open minded and accepting. A lot of these tips and lessons seem to have a lot to do with her studying in Texas, a super conservative area. People who live in cities like Pittsburgh (my city!), New York, Atlanta, Miami, and other cities you may have heard of are very diverse and open minded. You will thrive there!

[@honey27003]

I think it could definitely be easier for exchange students to integrate into these areas, however, I also think there is a lot to learn in areas where the culture might be more different from what you are used to at home. I spent my year in Texas and definitely learned a lot and had a great time. There are upsides and downsides to anything I guess

[@hayleyam28]

It might really depend too. If you are in the bigger metro areas like Houston, Dallas, El Paso, or Austin, it's very different politically/religiously than smaller towns.

[@minecraftisgod9235]

In the south we are taught to respect and be friendly we are way more friendly then and other area in the us

[@mabecat9581]

I seldom heard a german citizen speak english in that fluent and comprehensive, convincing manner you do.

[@honey27003]

Thank you so much. I take that as a huge compliment!

[@mabecat9581]

@@honey27003 Das kannst du ruhig auch - es war nämlich genauso gemeint. Du klingst nahezu wie ein native speaker. Nur wenn man länger gaaaaanz genau hinhört vermutet man deutsche Herkunft. Sag mal, wenn du vor 6 Jahren in den USA warst: Ist es dir damals auch aufgefallen, dass deutlich mehr Mädchen Hosenträger (suspenders) anhaben als hierzulande? Hier war das ja nie groß verbreitet, aber da war es so um 2014 herum mal echt ein Trend. In Canada genauso.

[@honey27003]

@@mabecat9581 Ist mir tatsächlich an meiner Schule nicht aufgefallen was aber daran liegen könnte, dass meine Schule sehr streng mit dem dress code war und das daher vielleicht gar nicht erlaubt gewesen wäre. Mir ist aufgefallen, dass jedes Mädchen diese Nike shorts und die braunen Latschen hatte das war wirklich auffällig

[@mabecat9581]

@@honey27003 Könnte sein. Texas ist auch nicht unbedingt repräsentativ für die USA, vielleicht ähnlich wie Bayern hierzulande. Allerdings habe ich hier auf y t auch videos gesehen, wo Mädchen aus dem school bus mit Hosenträgern steigen. Hast du z. B. auch mitbekommen, dass allen Ernstes Räuber und Gendarm (cops and robbers) als Pausenspiel verboten worden ist? Das war hierzulande bis zur 6. Klasse Kult bei uns, wobei wir meist die Variante "Mädchen fangen Jungs" hatten. :)) Hast du das auch so gerne gespielt? Ich habe das früher regelrecht geliebt.

[@honey27003]

@@mabecat9581 ja das haben wir auch gespielt als wir klein waren hahaha. Das stimmt auch. Texas ist wirklich das Bayern Deutschlands

[@deedonnerramone4757]

There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about. Oscar Wilde

[@dekai7992]

Maybe true for people acting in the public space, but for ordinary people it very much depends on the kind of talk, honestly.

[@__josefinacosta]

omg you like one direction, im so happy i found ur youtube channel. HI

[@honey27003]

Hey! YES I absolutely love One Direction! Went to the Take Me Home Tour for my first real concert when I was 13 and am waiting for a reunion someday.

[@Mia-ks8wu]

@@honey27003 so cool! my hostmom sent me this because i’ll get to them in Texas in only a week and she thought this might be helpful and when you mentioned 1D i got so excited because today is the 11th anniversary 😍😍😍

[@honey27003]

@@Mia-ks8wu Oh wow I can´t believe it´s been 11 years. They were such babies back then. That makes me feel old now lol! They need to get back on stage together. Where in Texas will you be living?

[@Mia-ks8wu]

@@honey27003 in the houston area! i’ve been playing volleyball for years now so i’ll try to join the the team there as well. but i was told that they play very well and it’s unlikely that i’ll make the team.. however if i don’t make it i have a secured spot as the team manager and will be allowed to train with them in the off season 🥳 and by the way i loved your video! i think i’ll come back to it when i’m there just to remember all the things you mentioned. they seem very helpful, thank you!

[@honey27003]

@@Mia-ks8wu Amazing! Usualle they let exchange students play on the team. They tend to have three levels: varsity, junior varsity and freshmen. They even let me play and I had never played volleyball before in my life and was horrible at it. If all else fails team captain is a nice option but I am sure you will make it onto the team!

[@Panchitobear]

Americans don’t want to offend anybody because it’s your thing, as long as you are not doing it illegally. Just be yourself and who cares about others.

[@honey27003]

I agree that it is most important to be yourself no matter what you do or where you are. A few tips can just sometimes help you out considering the cultural differences etc :)

[@Panchitobear]

@@honey27003 also, People here I noticed do not want to say something to offend others w/c might lead to confrontation or argument is that the gun ownership here, life here is stressful, fastpace and overworked, so i just careful who I am dealing with. But mostly, If you know them, they normally accept criticism or whatever, They are open minded and liberal , at least here in California

[@honey27003]

@@Panchitobear yea I think once you get to know someone better it becomes much easier to talk about more difficult topics!

[@harleyyyyy2706]

i feel like this advice might chance depending on the place in america you are at

[@jananavales]

Hi! I'm writing a book about a foreign exchange student in the USA and have been searching the internet for more information on how it is but everything is legit so vague, but then I found this video. Thank you so much, it was super helpful! But do you mind if I messaged you to ask more questions? I really don't know where else to ask and I'm scared to get things wrong.

[@honey27003]

Yes, sure! You can contact me via Instagram

[@jananavales]

@@honey27003 Sorry, to bother you, but I'm not sure how to access your Instagram account? And thank you so much for agreeing!

[@honey27003]

@@jananavales I always put my instagram handle on my end screen. It's @overthinker_TV

[@jananavales]

@@honey27003 Sorry, don't know how I missed that! But I sent you a message :)

[@vukmaglov]

When Your a exchnage student ! Do you study with other exchnage students or you joined a normal american class?

[@abeekfreddy2203]

Hello, and thank you for your advice. Can you explain how to register, especially if you are from Arab countries, and can I communicate with you?

[@Panchitobear]

You talk more American than me and I’m here in US for 20 years now.😕

[@honey27003]

Thank you! Some days my English is better and some days it is worse. Which country are you from?

[@Panchitobear]

@@honey27003 I’m from the Philippines, oh by the way, Did you say you came back to US 2 years ago for another 10 months, did you go back as a foreign student again?

[@honey27003]

@@Panchitobear Oh Philippines that´s awesome! No I just went back to see my friends and hostfamily again but only for a few weeks. I am going to be studying abroad in the UK in the fall though

[@wora1111]

@@honey27003 Oh, so you will be "the American girl" there because of your accent (•‿•)

[@honey27003]

@@wora1111 I actually got asked whether I was Canadian or American. I take that as a compliment considering English isn't my first language

[@John.bww03]

How did you learn to have such a good accent? Are your parents from the US or so?

[@heshn]

Nice 👍

[@honey27003]

Thank you so much! Any other videos you would like to see me do?

[@heshn]

@@honey27003 What are the schoolerships for exchange program in the USA???🤔

[@honey27003]

@@heshn I actually have a video that tells you all about how to afford your exchange year :)

[@heshn]

@@honey27003 Could you please send me the link to that video?

[@honey27003]

@@heshn kzbin.info/www/bejne/bonPoaiNaqqfY80 There it is :) It´s also easy to get to when you go to my channels page :) Enjoy!

[@xghost2522]

I think it all depends on what state you go to because every state is different from each other. Midwestern people generally have more of Minnesota Nice aspect of it.

[@honey27003]

Very true. Each state has its unique characteristics

[@najatichenti9344]

i want to be an exchange student but the problem is that im 12 years old i wanna have a host family but idk any help ?

[@honey27003]

Hi! If you#re okay with this, I will also mention this in a future exchange student Q&A of mine. I think you are exactly like me. When I was your age, I couldn't wait to finally start my exchange year. However, most organizations will not let you be an exchange student until you are 14 or 15 years old. What I did to pass the time was I started planning. You can order lots of free catalogues from different exchange organizations and figure out which one is the best for you. You can start thinking about finances with your parents and watch youtube channels like this one that help you prepare for when the big day comes and you finally get to start your exchange year. Trust me, in a few years time, it will be worth the wait and you will be glad to be a bit older. Maybe your school offers a few short-term exchanges in the meantime as well. Let me know if you have any other questions!

[@Nitaniig]

Hey, so I really want to do an exange year im the US and I was just wondering with what company you went. At the moment I have a company I really like but I would like to know with what you went to maybe get to know a new and maybe better one :) And I'm sorry if there are any spell or grammer mistakes.

[@honey27003]

Don´t worry, your English is amazing! The organization I went with was CIEE on the American side and Experiment on the German side because I got a scholarship. If not I think AIFS is a good one too but it depends which organizations send exchange students from your country. Where are you from?

[@Nitaniig]

@@honey27003 I'm also from Germany and also thank you for the information.

[@honey27003]

@@Nitaniig Ich würde dir wahrscheinlich AIFS und Experiment e.V. empfehlen. Mit Experiment habe ich selbst gute Erfahrungen und AIFS hat mir auch gut gefallen

[@wora1111]

@@honey27003 Und dann gibt es auch noch YFU. Die Arbeiten auch mit dem cbyx/PPP Programm.

[@honey27003]

@@wora1111 Ja CBYX hat ein paar Partnerorganisationen auf der Deutschen und der Amerikanischen Seite

[@williamolsen8464]

2014-15? I graduated from high school in 2015. I feel old 😂

[@honey27003]

Same. I graduated high school in 2017 and already feel so old :D

[@dawnmiller6899]

That’s just in the Bible Belt area of the south. As far as your manner of dress. No one would think holes ripped jeans or showing shoulders would be inappropriate anywhere else. As far as people talking behind your back that happens everywhere. Haters are everywhere.

[@honey27003]

That's very true

[@cassiemorris458]

Have you made a video about things for American families hosting a German exchange student to know? We will likely have a German student with us this fall and it's my understanding that communication styles are very different (Germans tend to be more direct and don't always have the over the top politeness that Americans do) and teens are used to a lot more freedom. I just worry about clashes in communication style as I tend to be a sensitive person but don't want to misinterpret how they are talking.

[@honey27003]

That's a great idea! I will definitely make a video on that. I wouldn't worry too much though. Mots kids are really shy in the beginning and you will want them to be more outgoing and direct. Once they get more like that it's usually a sign of them warming up to you and trusting you enough to be completely honest. But there definitely are some cultural differences on how our two cultures go about communication

[@marie_4075]

can somebody recommend me organisations, where I can go to a US high school even after my a-Levels? :)

[@honey27003]

Unfortunately, I cannot recommend you any UK organizations as I have no experiences with them but I think most exchange organizations will let you go right after A-levels. If you're too old I recommend volunteering programs or choosing a study abroad year at university. Maybe AIFS also works in the UK, I have heard good things about them

[@marie_4075]

@@honey27003 okay dankeschön!

[@Incognito8153]

are you rom west part of germany or from east?

[@Mayagick]

Brilliant, all true. Been an Erasmus Student. I see you don't want to dip into gun violence, esp in Texas. And probably you cannot convert a gun nuts. Despite the casualties that hobby inherently comes with. How they cope with German brutal honesty or what's about the dip after first get to know you phase, get into routine?

[@honey27003]

Yea I have learned to accept cultural differences. Tbh I feel like most german exchange students refrain from being brutally honest because they tend to be very shy just like all other exchange students. It's more now that I would be comfortable enough to be brutally honest

[@petercathain3326]

@@honey27003 I see you likely made the mistake that many Europeans, especially Germans, make where they feel entitled to start lecturing Americans about perceived flaws in our society - as soon as they get off the plane. Every international traveler has at least some dislikes about the society they visit - but most show basic respect and manners and keep their opinions to themselves instead of haranguing the locals. You Germans really need to work on this.

[@petercathain3326]

@@honey27003 Also, when living in another country, it is considered appropriate to adapt to local cultural norms. So this would mean leaving behind the bizarre German inclination towards 'brutal honestly' and developing something that Americans (and the rest of the world) value quite highly - tact.

[@honey27003]

@@petercathain3326 Hi Peter! Thank you for your comment. Every culture has their own rules and modes of behavior. I agree with you that you should always try to adat to your new surroundings and its important to respect their way of living. But remember it can be challenging and it takes some time. It really takes a few months before you can really understand why people choose to live differently than what you have been brought up to live like. And we can never fully get rid of the culture we were born into. We just need to try and be respectful

[@honey27003]

@@petercathain3326 I think this mistake is not a German flaw but generally speaking a flaw that everyone has when traveling to different places. I remember I had my American friend visit so I could show her Europe and everywhere we went she would say things like: "This is weird". This lasted for about a week. During the second week I decided to point it out to her. Once she noticed she realized that it was quite rude. What we learned along the way was that not everything we don't know has to be "weird". It's just different. And that's okay. Because how boring would the world be if we were all the same?

[@atharvkabra8600]

how did you apply can you help me as I to want to study in American high school

[@honey27003]

I applied to a scholarship for Germans called the PPP and they gave me an organization. If you give me more details, I can help you. The first thing you should do is google organizations in your home country which offer high school years in the USA and then compare them by price and read about people's experiences with them. Once you have decided which exchange organization to go with, you will apply on their website

[@nathxlie_b1663]

You´re english i so good! You don´t have a german accent at all

[@honey27003]

Thank you so much!

[@estellam7699]

I’m from the US and wearing ripped jeans and having or having skin showing is entirely your choice. I’m sorry you went to a place where you felt you couldn’t dress a certain way because it was “inappropriate” or “distracting” many conservative ways of thinking suppress woman and this is usually more prevalent in certain places (the south) but not all places in the US are like this.

[@honey27003]

Yes, there are definitely huge differences in what is considered appropriate depending on where you live. In my case, the school actually prohibited you from wearing ripped jeans for example so that I didn't have a choice. It is just something I wanted to make people aware of since many exchange students will come from countries where dress codes are not a thing at all. I love that you (and others) help to add to my personal experience though. This is what this channel is all about. To share knowledge and to help each other out. So huge thank you for that! I am curious: are you going to be an exchange student or how did you find my channel?

[@nataliedeyton6829]

Most schools don’t allow rip jeans

[@karmicobsession1636]

the ripped jeans rule is in most schools

[@fluffyunicorn57]

@@nataliedeyton6829 Seriously? I've never experienced that.

[@ninadjordjevic3218]

Do you have any tips about the language? I'm insecure and I think I'll go blank lol

[@honey27003]

I think I might make a separate video about this so I can talk more in depth about language skills and confidence if that is alright with you. However, from how you phrased this question I think you will be fine! When are you starting your year abroad?

[@ninadjordjevic3218]

@@honey27003 That would be great! The thing is that I have a family there and I'm planning to go to the USA next year for 4 months..It's just a feeling i have that I'll go blank and have nothing to say and express myself :)

[@honey27003]

@@ninadjordjevic3218 I will definitely talk about this more. It's probably something others are struggling with as well

[@ninadjordjevic3218]

@@honey27003 Thank you for the feedback! Looking forward to watching your videos!

[@pcojedi]

great video and that is from a Texan :)

[@honey27003]

Thank you so much! Which part of Texas are you from?

[@pcojedi]

@@honey27003 Born at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio TX ( The Alamo City), raised at Fort Hood by Killeen TX, Graduated from Tarleton University at Stephenville TX and now live in Huntsville, TX. Definitely a Proud Texan :)

[@honey27003]

@@pcojedi Oh cool, so you lived in lots of places! I always wanted to go to San Antonio but unfortunately, it never happened :/

[@pcojedi]

@@honey27003 also lived in Mannheim for 3 years when I was very young. My whole family loved Germany. My father was in the army.

[@honey27003]

@@pcojedi That's so cool! I love how many Americans get to spend some time in Germany that way

[@gtp3185]

I sent an email to Aspect Foundation to see if they have an office in my country, If they do they will squeduele a interview,i hope they do

[@honey27003]

I wish you the best of luck! Let me know how it goes

[@gtp3185]

@@honey27003 well,last night i recieved an email from them saying that they dont have a partner in my country,but before them i emailed ASSE,they told me that there is the FLEX program in my country and that i should contact them, unfortunately the application period ended in the 15th of October,i will apply next year and from what i saw it is free because it is sponsored by the US goverment

[@honey27003]

@@gtp3185 Yes, they always set these deadlines very early. However, the program you mentioned sounds good and this gives you a bit more time to prepare

[@Incognito8153]

As a German can you explain why it's so difficult to become friends with local youth and most people are closed when they see auslender

[@chrismosstx]

American teens today tend to be shy. Say hello!

[@swayjoker7906]

Wait so we‘re not allowed to wear ripped jeans and stuff like that everywhere or just not in school?

[@honey27003]

No, the dress code is just for school. In your free time you can wear whatever. However, if your host family is rather conservative you should be mindful of that as well. Also watch what you wear if you end up going to church

[@cenotemirror]

Also be aware that it is a big country and what sort of dress is considered acceptable will vary by region and culture. Small town Southern California is not the same as small town Georgia, and small town Georgia is not the same as Atlanta. As she said, when in doubt, Pay Attention: look around at what other people are wearing, or aren’t wearing, and try not to deviate from that. If nobody else is baring their shoulders you probably shouldn’t either. Also don’t be shy about asking your host family what would be right for a setting, they will know and be happy to tell you.

[@iremozbey2049]

American families allow you to get a boyfriend, hang out with him and bring him home, etc. Does it allow? Can they make rules for you?

[@honey27003]

Very good question! Every host family has their own rules so you should definitely talk to your host parents about this. I will say that most organizations will prohibit you from having sex and a lot of host families won´t allow boyfriends ( or boys in general) in your room. If you can avoid it I would suggest not darting when abroad but of course things happen sometimes

[@alpenroseable]

all this advises gave the duke to Hamlet wenn he walked to paris

[@honey27003]

very interesting!!

[@genius6084]

Bitte benutz statt diesem Apostroph ` diesen hier ' , das regt mich enorm auf 😂 z.B. it's statt it`s, ist mir nur aufgefallen lol

[@honey27003]

haha ja ich hoffe ich denke in Zukunft dran :) Ist so eine Angewohnheit

[@caliscribe2120]

I enjoyed your video much, however I disagree with one of your suggestions. I know it's easier for me since not in high school (I'm way past that age) and not in "the line of fire" of gossip and intense peer pressure; I believe you or anyone should be friends with whomever or wherever you want. Again I know I'm not in your position., but I think a big middle finger or "f you " to the offending parties (or another more socially acceptable response) would be wholly righteous (both in the literal and slang definition).

[@honey27003]

From where I am now I totally agree with you. But I think when you are that young and in such a difficult situation I think applying these tips can save you some trouble. High school is just a whole load of emotional and hormonal confusion that leads to some very petty behavior in general lol

[@sophiadebar382]

“Don’t talk about controversial issues, I learned this the hard way” Me: ah it’s not that bad, honestly as long as you don’t talk about gun control- “I made the mistake of giving my opinion on gun control” Me: oh

[@sandrinhacuzzuol2016]

opa bão co ces

[@honey27003]

Sorry, I am afraid I don't speak that language

[@sl2115]

wherever you were it sounds awful

[@honey27003]

I actually really liked it there. But every new place comes with new and unique challenges

[@AMC08]

nah bruh where I’m from ppl show shoulders and bellies and ripped jeans and it’s crazy lol I’m from ohio so maybe that explains it

[@sidibouarrakia8706]

hallo, please take me web site for exchange language for students.thanks

[@honey27003]

If you would like to learn language skills online I recommend Duolingo. However, I also find watching youtube or Netflix in English or reading books can really help as well

[@sidibouarrakia8706]

@@honey27003 thanks, you know web site for penpals student university.

[@honey27003]

@@sidibouarrakia8706 I think a lot of people use the website students of the world. I know some people who have actually found their life partners through that

[@sidibouarrakia8706]

@@honey27003 thanks, and take your smile

[@grabir01]

Romantic? 16 years old. Tip. Go to a private school and work on mastering the 3 r' s

[@honey27003]

You'll have to explain further

[@grabir01]

@@honey27003 You are a highly intelligent woman. You will figure it out. Axiomatic. Genau.

[@honey27003]

@@grabir01 Thank you. I'd still love for you to just explain. That would make the communication much easier. I know what the three r's are, I just don't know what you're implying

[@pmla24]

I grew up in Houston, Texas and moving to Germany in January. The dress codes are ridiculous in Texas and always targeting women in general. Gossip is real and people pretend to be nice but unfortunately don't always have good intentions. Everyone talks about southern hospitality but it's pretty much fake most of the time. I'm sorry people were so unkind. 😔

[@honey27003]

Most people were really kind. I guess in these videos my experience can sometimes seem more negative as I am trying to create awareness of things that could possibly go wrong to inform the exchange students of the future. However, most people were really welcoming and I definitely experienced the southern hospitality. It's just that the negative experiences can sometimes stand out more

[@pmla24]

It's understandable. I'm glad not everything was negative and you did have a good experience overall. 😌

[@AP-RSI]

You confirm my opinion about (almost) all Americans! ;-)

[@jackhinder6813]

She's the most beautiful girl i saw today.

[@lebbanator]

Your first mistake was going texas

[@honey27003]

hahaha I actually think it was great that I was placed there because it's not a state I would have chosen myself. If I hadn't done my exchange there, I would have missed out on getting to know the place and on learning many valuable lessons I think

[@lebbanator]

@@honey27003 yea I'm jokeing some of my closes friends live in Texas there nothing actually wrong with other then it's really freaked hot other wise it seems like a good place to live

[@honey27003]

@@lebbanator you're right, it took me a good while to get used to the heat

[@jdktoo]

would u marry me?

[@honey27003]

very kind of you to ask, I take that as a compliment

[@noellewest4347]

50 states in that country and you went to Texas? As in... TEXAS? Most important tip (in my opinion): Don't give your opinion so freely on controversial issues, namely guns in Texas. Second most important tip: Don't go to Texas. Actually that's my tip.

[@yxtsama]

Which state or area would you recommend in the US? Would you prefer big cities or urban areas personally?

[@noellewest4347]

@@yxtsama I wouldn't recommend the US, full stop.