Guests from around the world: Junior Harinder Jassal
‘Everyone here is so nice, and my host parents are so supportive and just so awesome.’
Junior Harinder Jassal displays a cheese slicer passed down from her family in Norway.
Q: What is the strangest or funniest experience you’ve had since you were here?
A: The food. Every plate is so huge, as well as the amount of food on it. I can’t even eat half of it.
Q: Are you a native English speaker? What other languages do you speak?
A: No. I speak two types of Indian language, Norwegian and some Spanish.
Q: What have you learned as a foreign exchange student?
A: The rules; I have law enforcement [class] so there are many rules that I didn’t know I had to be aware of when I’m here. The traffic laws here are the same in Norway, but other than that, there are more rules here than back home.
Q: How is school different in your home country? Is it easier? Harder?
A: School is probably easier [at home] since I’m more used to Norwegian, which is my native language. Since I’m not fully fluent in English, learning in America is a bit harder.
Q: Why did you decide to be a foreign exchange student?
A: I became a foreign exchange student so I can learn new culture because I like to explore and travel.
Q: How did you get accustomed here?
A: It was hard. The first week I came here I was so jet lagged that I couldn’t function properly or get used to my new surroundings. I’m still trying to get accustomed here, but so far it’s working.
Q: What were your expectations coming here and did they meet your criteria?
A: Yes. Everyone here is so nice, and my host parents are so supportive and just so awesome.
Q: Do you get homesick, and if so what do you do to overcome it?
A: I know there will be a stage where I do get homesick, but I haven’t gotten to that stage yet. It’s probably going to be when I get into my routine where I’ll be like “I wanna go home.”
Q: How is it like living with your host family?
A: They’re super supportive. They help me when I need it, and they take me to cool places around the city like museums, diners and art galleries.
Q: Do you plan on potentially living here in the future, and if so why?
A: No. I think I’d want to get my studies done in Norway because I’m more used to the schools there.
Q: What do you think you’ll gain from this experience?
A: A lot; many things I wouldn’t be getting at home, like different cultures and people from those cultures…more so diversity.
Nedra Bunk • Oct 27, 2016 at 12:29 PM
Being a host family is as rewarding for you as it is for the international student you bring into your home. You learn about another culture, you provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a teenager from across the globe, and you form a relationship that will stay with you and your family forever. Trust EF High School Exchange Year to ensure that your exchange experience is the best it can be.
We offer:
• A local coordinator who helps you select the right student, and works with your school.
• Great support throughout the exchange.
• Students who have been carefully screened for language, attitude and grades.
• Students who bring their own spending money and insurance.
If you are interested in hosting an amazing student like this one please contact me: [email protected]