Last week, Oak Hills High School welcomed 20 foreign exchange students from Dingolfing, Germany. During their ten-day stay, they immersed themselves in American culture of all kinds, experiencing firsthand the American television shows and movies they have watched.
When asked their views on American culture, there were many surprises and both positive and negative opinions. Host families target showing the students the most “American” things, from fast food to Cincinnati traditions. Overwhelmingly, students loved American fast food, with Taco Bell being a crowd favorite among them. Students also enjoyed Skyline and Larosas, a right of passage for those visiting Cincinnati. While this may not be helping stereotypes about Americans, it is surely information they will share back home and be craving until they come back! Other traditions include football games and holiday decorations also stood out to them. When interviewed, Paulina, an exchange student, stated that “it’s weird that you guys decorate your houses for Halloween, but I like the spirit, and all the families getting together.” Paulina has shown immense love for Oak Hills so far and has created unforgettable memories along the way. Teresa, another exchange student who had her thoughts on the US, stated, “I feel like over here is like a room of crowded people, and then nobody, and then another room of crowded people, but over there it is like a town after town after town. It is more clustered over here and spread out over there.” Paulina and Teresa also stated they love American football culture, with Paulina stating, “It’s super fun to have everyone cheer like that, we don’t have those kinds of teams over there.” Watching not just the Oak Hills High School Football team, but also the Cincinnati Bengals, the students will be sure to tune in every Sunday night back home!
Host Wyatt Dennison voiced his love for having them here and showing them around his home city. However, Dennison says, “They were very introverted at first but then warmed up it seemed after a while.” The students from Germany ended up getting very comfortable here and talking to more and more people. Students Paulina and Teresa also had a great time seeing Mama Mia at the Aranoff center during their stay, another memory they are sure to bring back home.
It’s safe to say that their short ten days at Oak Hills and in the US flew by, with all 20 students not only learned so much about the US, but created lifelong friendships along the way. In this exchange, Oak Hills Students will be visiting Dingolfing in June 2025, surely to bring home memories and new favorite foods just like their hosts did.
