MONROE - On Friday, 15-year-old Dan Hauck is bidding goodbye to his host brother from Germany, David Zimanowski.
The 15-year-olds won't be apart for long. On Feb. 2, Hauck is flying to Germany to stay with Zimanowski's family in Wiesbaden, a city of about Madison's size near Frankfurt.
The exchange is part of a sister-state program between Hessen and Wisconsin. Organized by the Department of Public Instruction, the program offers a chance for high school students in both countries to have a true one-on-one exchange - the Wisconsin student hosts the Hessen student for five months in the fall, then goes to Hessen to stay with the family of the same student.
Kristin Bansley, a German teacher at Monroe High School, says Hauck is the fifth Monroe student to participate in the program. Typically there's one exchange per year, and it attracts mature students who want more cultural and language immersion than the two-week German trip offered in the spring of even-numbered years.
"It's a great opportunity for the kids," Bansley said.
On Thursday, his last full day in Monroe before he flies home, Zimanowski reflected on his time here. People are exceptionally friendly and welcoming, he said, and he's enjoyed going to basketball games, spending time at the YMCA, eating Mexican food and taking trips to Chicago.
He said he was surprised by how small and quiet Monroe is and found several stereotypes about American culture to be true: the fattening food, wasteful use of electricity and gas, lack of public transportation and a less rigorous educational system.
On Thursday night, he and Hauck were planning to go out to eat at a local Mexican restaurant - something he can't so easily do at home, where Mexican food is not common.
Both recommend student exchange.
"I think it's just important to go and visit another country once and see how other cultures live," Zimanowski said.
Hauck says even hosting is an eye-opening experience.
"I have a different outlook on the world," he said. "It's a good experience to do an exchange, whether you're hosting or going."
He knows at least partly what to expect when he arrives in Wiesbaden in early February. His mom and Zimanowski's mom have talked via Skype, and he's been learning from his host brother about German culture and school. At 15, Hauck is one of the youngest, if not the youngest, student to participate in the program.
"I hope I can break any bad stereotypes they have," he said.
The 15-year-olds won't be apart for long. On Feb. 2, Hauck is flying to Germany to stay with Zimanowski's family in Wiesbaden, a city of about Madison's size near Frankfurt.
The exchange is part of a sister-state program between Hessen and Wisconsin. Organized by the Department of Public Instruction, the program offers a chance for high school students in both countries to have a true one-on-one exchange - the Wisconsin student hosts the Hessen student for five months in the fall, then goes to Hessen to stay with the family of the same student.
Kristin Bansley, a German teacher at Monroe High School, says Hauck is the fifth Monroe student to participate in the program. Typically there's one exchange per year, and it attracts mature students who want more cultural and language immersion than the two-week German trip offered in the spring of even-numbered years.
"It's a great opportunity for the kids," Bansley said.
On Thursday, his last full day in Monroe before he flies home, Zimanowski reflected on his time here. People are exceptionally friendly and welcoming, he said, and he's enjoyed going to basketball games, spending time at the YMCA, eating Mexican food and taking trips to Chicago.
He said he was surprised by how small and quiet Monroe is and found several stereotypes about American culture to be true: the fattening food, wasteful use of electricity and gas, lack of public transportation and a less rigorous educational system.
On Thursday night, he and Hauck were planning to go out to eat at a local Mexican restaurant - something he can't so easily do at home, where Mexican food is not common.
Both recommend student exchange.
"I think it's just important to go and visit another country once and see how other cultures live," Zimanowski said.
Hauck says even hosting is an eye-opening experience.
"I have a different outlook on the world," he said. "It's a good experience to do an exchange, whether you're hosting or going."
He knows at least partly what to expect when he arrives in Wiesbaden in early February. His mom and Zimanowski's mom have talked via Skype, and he's been learning from his host brother about German culture and school. At 15, Hauck is one of the youngest, if not the youngest, student to participate in the program.
"I hope I can break any bad stereotypes they have," he said.