Although it feels like an eternity ago, do you remember where you were when the Green Bay Packers played the rival Chicago Bears for the chance to advance to the Super Bowl? One Monroe High School graduate will never forget where she was - Julia Nider watched part of the NFC Championship game in Bekescsaba, Hungary.
Before graduating early from MHS, 18-year-old Julia was a member of the student exchange program, organized by Spanish teacher Lisa Hendrickson. Julia joined the program to become better acquainted with the current students on exchange, wanted then wanted to participate by traveling overseas.
The application process was very thorough and included writing many essays. After being accepted into the exchange program, Julia narrowed her choices of where to go down to Bekescsaba, Hungary.
So in August 2010, Julia became an international traveler.
After leaving the security of home, she flew from Chicago to New York. Julia admitted she was nervous, wondering if she had made the right decision. Her nerves settled in New York, once her orientations with other exchange students began. It was here she met Alejandra, from Colombia, one of four exchange students also going to Hungary. Alejandra was even going to Bekescsaba. After New York came Budapest (along with another orientation.) Julia remembers crying on the train ride to her new home city. But she also spent time memorizing common introductory phrases in Hungarian, with which to greet her host families. The transition might have been scary for Julia, but her fear subsided once she arrived at her new home.
She and her host mother drank coffee and unpacked Julia's things together.
Like many people of Bekescsaba, Julia's host mother did not own a car, since public transportation is so easily accessible. A public bus is how Julia traveled to school and back each day.
The school she attended was a two-language school but Julia was not in any English speaking classes. And there were other adjustments - out of her 33 classmates, only seven were boys. Accustomed to wearing jeans and sweatshirts to school, Julia was surprised by how fancy the girls dressed. Wearing skinny jeans and heels was the norm for the girls in her class.
"They dressed like they were going to a party every day," she said.
As for the Packers road to the championship, Julia watched bits and pieces of the game at a popular place for teens to hang out and dance. The men working, and watching the game, quite shocked a girl was watching among them, she said.
"I think they thought I was crazy," she said.
The newspaper in her home city had run a few articles about the Packers and Aaron Rodgers and quite a few men had become fans. Julia enjoyed watching part of the game as it reminded her of home.
Overcoming a language barrier and shyness, Julia now says she loved her time in Bekescsaba, making new friends and experiencing new things.
While she may have missed familiar American foods while in Hungary, she now finds herself missing the homemade pasta her host grandmother made for her. She'll get her chance soon - the Nider family already is planning to send Julia back to Bekescsaba in June. Also, the Niders' have invited Julia's host sister to fly back to Monroe with Julia for a visit in July.
Her host sister has never traveled alone internationally, but says Julia: "If I could do it, I'm sure I can get her to come with me."
Anyone interested in more information about MHS's AFS club can contact Lisa Hendrickson at Monroe High School by calling 328-7166; or by stopping by her room.
Before graduating early from MHS, 18-year-old Julia was a member of the student exchange program, organized by Spanish teacher Lisa Hendrickson. Julia joined the program to become better acquainted with the current students on exchange, wanted then wanted to participate by traveling overseas.
The application process was very thorough and included writing many essays. After being accepted into the exchange program, Julia narrowed her choices of where to go down to Bekescsaba, Hungary.
So in August 2010, Julia became an international traveler.
After leaving the security of home, she flew from Chicago to New York. Julia admitted she was nervous, wondering if she had made the right decision. Her nerves settled in New York, once her orientations with other exchange students began. It was here she met Alejandra, from Colombia, one of four exchange students also going to Hungary. Alejandra was even going to Bekescsaba. After New York came Budapest (along with another orientation.) Julia remembers crying on the train ride to her new home city. But she also spent time memorizing common introductory phrases in Hungarian, with which to greet her host families. The transition might have been scary for Julia, but her fear subsided once she arrived at her new home.
She and her host mother drank coffee and unpacked Julia's things together.
Like many people of Bekescsaba, Julia's host mother did not own a car, since public transportation is so easily accessible. A public bus is how Julia traveled to school and back each day.
The school she attended was a two-language school but Julia was not in any English speaking classes. And there were other adjustments - out of her 33 classmates, only seven were boys. Accustomed to wearing jeans and sweatshirts to school, Julia was surprised by how fancy the girls dressed. Wearing skinny jeans and heels was the norm for the girls in her class.
"They dressed like they were going to a party every day," she said.
As for the Packers road to the championship, Julia watched bits and pieces of the game at a popular place for teens to hang out and dance. The men working, and watching the game, quite shocked a girl was watching among them, she said.
"I think they thought I was crazy," she said.
The newspaper in her home city had run a few articles about the Packers and Aaron Rodgers and quite a few men had become fans. Julia enjoyed watching part of the game as it reminded her of home.
Overcoming a language barrier and shyness, Julia now says she loved her time in Bekescsaba, making new friends and experiencing new things.
While she may have missed familiar American foods while in Hungary, she now finds herself missing the homemade pasta her host grandmother made for her. She'll get her chance soon - the Nider family already is planning to send Julia back to Bekescsaba in June. Also, the Niders' have invited Julia's host sister to fly back to Monroe with Julia for a visit in July.
Her host sister has never traveled alone internationally, but says Julia: "If I could do it, I'm sure I can get her to come with me."
Anyone interested in more information about MHS's AFS club can contact Lisa Hendrickson at Monroe High School by calling 328-7166; or by stopping by her room.