After taking a pause due to COVID, the German exchange program is coming back to Decatur High School (DHS). The program is open to both 9th and 10th graders on a first come, first serve basis. From September 28th through October 12th, participating DHS students will host a student from a high school located in Straubing, Germany. Then, in June of 2024, DHS students will travel to Germany and stay with the student they previously hosted.
DHS sophomore Addy Duitsman, who in addition to participating in the exchange program this year, had the opportunity to host an exchange student in 2019 as well. Her brother Jack Duitsman participated in the program during his freshman year and hosted a student named Dion.
“The experience was overall very educational for my brother and I because we were able to learn about Dion, his family, and his culture,” Duitsman said.
While Duitsman enjoyed learning about Dion, she also enjoyed showing Dion around Atltanta.
Duitsman’s favorite part of the exchange program was, “being able to introduce him to some typical American things, like Six Flags and the Coke museum because he had a lot of fun doing these things he wouldn’t have been able to do them in Germany.” Duitsman said.
Duitsman is looking forward to being able to undergo this experience herself this year and implement her German skills she has been developing. “This year I’m really looking forward to being able to speak a lot more German with the exchange students because I know a lot more German now,” Duitsman said.
Duitsman is eager to travel to Germany this summer. “I’m looking forward to being able to form another close connection with someone who I wouldn’t have met otherwise,” Duitsman said.
