Exchange Students Find Open Arms on Lake Minnetonka

By Lorrie Ham

The Westonka community has opened its arms to 10 students from around the world for the 2011-12 school year. Eight of the exchange students came to Westonka through the Youth for Understanding (YFU) program while two are sponsored by the Mound Westonka Rotary.

So far, the students have settled in with their host families, adjusted to a new culture and met many new friends. Some activities are planned as a group, according to Mound Westonka High School (MWHS) counselor Meg Kozar. For some of the students, a Minnesota winter will provide their first opportunity to see snow. Snow tubing and skiing are on the “to-do” list, along with visits to a water park, the arboretum, the Sky Zone and the Mall of America.

Anders Storm Skodje from Norway says his favorite class at MWHS is Intro to Marketing, because he has the chance to learn about business in the world and how to sell it. He is living with the Jeffrey and Kelly Delisle family. He plays soccer and football, and his favorite new foods are a walking taco and subway sandwich.

Erik Solberg Toerud of Norway is hosted by the Angela and Michael Schatz family. His favorite class at MW is yearbook, because it’s different. At home he enjoys longboarding and snowboarding. The best part about being an exchange student is the opportunity to meet new people, he says.

Janni Marie Partanen of Finland is living with the Linda and Jared Smith family. Her new family is the best part about being an exchange student because of all the activities they do together, making it the most fun she’s ever had. She enjoys being part of the dance team and looks forward to learning new things from an American perspective.

Johan Sjokvist of Sweden was welcomed by the Jackie and Craig Piepkorn family. Johan enjoys all of the after school activities. His favorite class is English and he hopes to become fluent in English during his time here. The best part of being an exchange student to Johan is “all the fun.”

Maria Ann Poth of Germany enjoys her theater class because she says its fun and all the students are very nice. She is living with the Heidi and Skipp Lajoy family. So far her favorite activities have been trips to Mall of America and riding a jet ski. She is looking forward to making many new friends, trying new sports and taking new subjects in school.

Nico Lippmann of Germany says MWHS is much different than his school back home, particularly the school spirit, subjects, breaks and after school activities. But he likes it. He is living with the Laura and Alfons Foschiatti family and says lots of people ask him about his country and that makes him feel good.

Severin Pehlke of Germany enjoys his strength and conditioning class, because it’s fun and gets the day off to a good start. He is living with the Brenda and Clifford Mayes family. He thinks the American school system will help him be a better student when he gets back home because students here seem to work harder.

Kaoruko Ono of Japan is living with the Jennifer and Dave Cameron family. Her favorite class is gym because she likes to exercise. She also plays volleyball. She hopes to gain confidence, perfect English and intelligence from her experience at MWHS.

Trystan Nicholas of South Africa enjoys tennis, wake boarding and anything else on the lake. She is also looking forward to the snow. She is living with the Roxanne and Don Goodwin family. She is hoping to make lasting friendships and have fun in all her classes. She also hopes to teach people new things about her country.

Denise Bonetti of Italy, who is staying with the Mark McConville family, was unavailable for this interview.