Ria ist bereits seit einiger Zeit zurück aus Miami, aber das Jahr dort lässt ihre Augen immer noch glänzen. Hier ist das Interview das Konrad und Renke mit ihr geführt haben – thanks for that, folks!
Ria why did you decide to make an exchange year ?
Because I wanted to improve my English skills, live in a different style of life and meet completely new people
Ok, why has Miami been your target ?
I always loved Miami, because it`s not only the big city, but there are also the nice beaches. And in Miami, there are not the normal American people, but more Hispanic people, so you can meet two different cultures at the same time.
Ria (second from left) with friends
In school
What was different about the school there ?
There were only multiple choice tests and the level was not as high as in Germany. On the one hand having only six subjects was great, but on the other hand it was hard to have at least one exam every week. Also there were a lot of sports at the school. It was nearly omni present at school. I chose volleyball and basketball, because volleyball is one of my favourite sports and basketball is an important thing in Miami. Beside the volleyball matches themselves, it was a lot of fun having the trips to the other schools. All sports are very important to get college chips, which are very important in the U.S, because college is so expensive.
How was your relation to your exchange family ?
I had one older sister, who was 18 and a 14 year-old younger sister, so I guess it was good that I was between their ages, so I had a good relation to both of them. And also their parents were really nice and open-minded.
You are back in Germany for eight months now. Was it difficult to get back into the normal ways of life?
The language was a problem, because I got used to speak English all the time, so I had to improve my German. And also the daily routine is different
But I guess there were also good things about coming back ?
Of course, the first three months in America were ok, because everything was new, but when you get used to the new area, you start to miss your family and friends. To have them back in my arms was a great feeling.
How long did it take to adjust to normal life in Germany?
Not long. I guess this has always been my home. It took about two days to feel home again, because I never felt completely settled down in America.
Would you finally say that it was a good experience ?
It was a good experience. But I think that I was too young with 15 years. Maybe it is better with 18, because you can do more things on your own and are not bound to your exchange parents and their car. Miami is a city of big dimensions, so you need cars. Also the people in Miami are very Catholic, just as my school was. You could learn a lot about Catholicism, but the people are very stubborn concerning different cultures and opinions.