Foreign exchange students, Alex Andric, left, of Oslo, Norway, and Tim Oschitzki, right, of Berlin,
Germany look over the atlas in the Cumby High School Library. Both are spending this school year
attending high school at Cumby High, as part of a student exchange program.

 

 

Foreign Exchange Students Find Life In Cumby
Both Exciting and Different From Homelands

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

Can you possibly imagine the "culture shock" it would be to come from Berlin, Germany (with a population of over 3 million), or Oslo, Norway (with a population of approximately 800,000) and "land" in Cumby, Texas? One would think that would almost be equivalent to "landing on a foreign planet!" However, for two foreign exchange students, life has become very exciting, after arriving in Cumby, on July 29th, 2010.

"Really, it has been loads of fun!" exclaimed Alex Andric, from Oslo, Norway. "Yes, I've lost about 15 pounds just simply from playing football and going through two-a-day training with the Trojans, in the 100 plus degree, Texas heat!"

"And, the food has been quite different here in Texas, but in a good way," inserted Tim Oschitzki, from Berlin, Germany. "It's much more spicy and I've learned to like Tex-Mex, since arriving here!"

Alex and Tim, both 17 years old, are participating in the "Face the World" Program, that includes studying for a school year in the U.S. Both explained a rigorous process of application, before being accepted to participate in the program, back in March 2010. It was a process of numerous interviews, health exams, significant grade-point averages, and having the personality to accept new challenges and embrace new cultures.

Tim and Alex explained that they will study with the Class of 2011 at Cumby High School and graduate in June 2011. Both indicated that their parents plan to come to Cumby for graduation exercises and meet them at the end of the school year, and then they will have approximately 2 weeks to tour points of interest in the U.S., before returning home. In Oslo, Norway, Alex will receive credit for his year of work in the U.S., but Tim must attend school for two more years, before he will actually graduate from high school in Berlin. "But, it's worth it," exclaimed Tim. "We're learning so much and seeing so many things, by sharing this experience!"

Both Alex and Tim had previously traveled to the U.S., for brief visits, but had never stayed for an extended period of time. "I'd traveled to San Francisco, to visit with relatives a couple of years ago," indicated Tim. "But, hopefully, I can travel  back through Washington D.C., and other points of interest, next summer, before I go home."

"My father had to come to Dallas, last summer on business, so I left home early and came with him, as we went to New York, Las Vegas, and Dallas, before, I arrived in Cumby," explained Alex. "But, hopefully, we can also travel to several other places, before I return to Norway."

 

 

 

Alex and Tim are sharing the home of Scott and Lena Moore and their family, this year in Cumby, and will more than likely travel to Florida, possibly for Spring Break, and are hoping to see a Ranger Baseball game and will be attending a Dallas Cowboys Football game, while in Texas, with the Moores. "This isn't the first time that we've hosted students in our home," advised Lena Moore. "But, Tim and Alex are great and it is such a unique experience for our own two children, Monica, 15, and Trevor, 6. They have two new big brothers and are certainly learning as much or more from Alex and Tim as we're teaching them! It is a wonderful program!"

"One of the first significant differences, other than weather, that we learned was the distance between things, here in Texas," advised Tim. "I've been reared in the city, a suburb of Berlin, and think nothing of getting on the subway and traveling anywhere around the city. I don't have a car at home, so it was a big adjustment to have to be taken everywhere you go and things being so far apart!"

"Same here!" advised Alex. "In the city of Oslo, where I've been reared, we travel from place to place by bus, and it isn't necessary to have a car. But, we quickly learned why you Americans own automobiles!"

Meanwhile, Tim and Alex have both been very aware of the differences between American teenagers and their lives in their own countries. "We don't use cell phones nearly as much as the teens here do," expressed Alex.

"We talk on cell phones, but we talk to our friends," inserted Tim. "We don't constantly text our friends, like our classmates here do, all the time. But, we're learning!"

 

Alex Andric points to his home in Oslo, Norway, on Monday,
and tells of the differences of the climate and other challenges here in Texas.

 

 

Our next discussion involved the differences in the schools that they had experienced. With the recent talks of how the American students are "falling behind" others in the world, I was interested in hearing how our schools compared to their educational systems at home. "Our school year is longer at home," inserted both boys.

"But, we really haven't found it much easier here," allowed Tim. "We're having more trouble with mathematics and the differences in the way it is taught. And, then we find Spanish challenging, because I have to first translate it into English and then try to translate it into Spanish, but I'm making the adjustments!"

"The grading system seems easier here," allowed Alex. "At home we have more homework and don't get as much credit for it, on our final grade, as the students here do. And, seems like more emphasis is placed on turning in work, here, than maybe the quality of the contents, when it is graded. But, I've found the material to be very hard in some instances."

"My favorite studies, thus far, have been in American Government and American History, because I was already interested in American politics, before coming to Cumby," continued Alex. "I've always been interested in the American way of government, because of being reared in a system with a Monarchy. It's interesting and I want to learn about how it works!"

 

 

 

With Alex's interest in government and politics, we've called and got Alex and Tim an invitation to the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Political Forum on October 7th, and placed a call to Debbie Shirley, who has invited both boys to come down to the County Clerk's office on election night and watch the Hopkins County election results come in, on election night! That should be an interesting adventure for the boys!

"I plan on pursuing a course of study in Real Estate," expressed Tim. "I hope to go back home and attend a three year program at the University to become first a real estate agent, and possibly pursue real estate law, if it remains challenging!"

So, we placed a call to Tim Kelty, on Monday, and he offered his services later in the month of October, to let Tim come and "job shadow" at his Century-21 Hometown Real Estate Office in Sulphur Springs. Tim volunteered to show  Tim about property values, take him around the county and show him some of the homes and property, and to tell him about the local health care facilities and other points of interest in Hopkins County.

 

 

And, Tim Oschitzki, points to his home in Berlin, Germany, and
relates that it rains almost every other day, in his homeland.

 

We've also visited with Meredith Caddell at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Office, and she relates that she will be hosting her Leadership Sulphur Springs Class on Government in October, and will invite Tim and Alex to that class to explain to the students the differences in the government here and in their homeland.

Meanwhile, Alex and Tim are both enjoying their challenges in Cumby. Over the weekend, Alex was selected by the student body at Cumby, as their Homecoming King for 2010, and Tim now holds the 1-A record, as the #1 kicker in the state. He has a 100% kicking rate and kicked a 55 yard field goal, in pre-game practices (his soccer experience is being put to good use).

"Yes, things are 'slower-paced' in Cumby, than we were accustomed to, but that has proved to be in a good way!" insured both boys. "We're learning and certainly want to thank Scott and Lena, and their family for hosting us this year. It's an experience that we'll treasure for the rest of our lives!"

 

 

 

Alex is also looking forward to the days being more even between daylight and dark. "In Norway, our winter nights are extremely short, but in the summertime they are longer," related Alex. "I noticed that it got dark earlier here, when I came, as it might be 10:00 before it got dark at home, in the summers. But, our winter days only last until about 4:00, before it gets dark!"

"We also want to go to a Cowboy Church, while here in Texas," exclaimed Alex and Tim.

Well, word has already been sent to the Cross Spur Cowboy Church and an invite is on its way for the boys to attend the October 16th, Fall Harvest Festival and Singing, as well as church services the next day.

"Maybe I can ride a bull!" exclaimed Tim.

As you can see, both Tim and Alex are enjoying their stay in Hopkins County and embracing the culture of living in rural Northeast Texas, with full force!

When asked if there was anything else they wanted to add, both resoundingly said, "GO TROJANS!!!"

"We're hoping to follow the Lady Trojans Volleyball Team all the way to State!" exclaimed Tim and Alex.

 

______