The prospect of doing an exchange program in the United States was exciting for junior Carla Konrad, but it also meant redoing a grade and potentially becoming distant with her friends back home in Germany.
“But then what was kind of the turning point for me to say ‘I will do it’ was when I realized that if my friends didn’t want to be friends with me anymore after [an exchange program], they’re not worth it anyways,” Konrad said.
Konrad wanted to participate in the foreign exchange program because she wanted to experience an American high school, meet new friends and live in a new place.
“It’s just no one knew me here, which is on one side so scary, but on the other side, it opens new opportunities because no one has assumptions about you [or has] heard anything about you,” Konrad said.
When Konrad first arrived in Northbrook, her host family showed her around and took her grocery shopping at Whole Foods for the first time.
“It was all very exciting, because it was all so new,” said Konrad.“But also overwhelming,because everything is huge, and there’s so many choices, but it was [still] really fun.”
Coming to the United States three weeks before the start of the 2025-2026 school year, Konrad also had to adjust to a time difference.
“For two weeks, it was really bad,” said Konrad. “I woke up at 5 a.m. every morning, and I had to get used to the area, English, my host family and the house.”
Joining the cross country team made it easier to meet people before the school year started, Konrad said.
“[The first day of school] was better than I expected, because I didn’t end up sitting alone at lunch, and people were very nice,” Konrad said.
According to Konrad’s host parent Keith Chadwick, their family wants Konrad to feel like a part of the household.
“We want [Konrad] to feel like she has enjoyed her time here, that she has enjoyed going to GBN, that she’s enjoyed living in a different country and in a different culture,” Chadwick said.
According to Konrad, spending time with her friends at events like football games and homecoming is very special to her, as there is nothing like that in Germany.
“I’m looking forward to getting closer with the people that I’ve met so far and making more memories,” said Konrad. “I hope I can make a lot of memories, and then I hope that when I look back on this year, I say it was great and worth it.”