Meet Matilde
This week I got to sit down and interview Kent-Meridian's very own exchange student from Norway, Matilde Gjesdal! We got to talk about her experience as an exchange student and what it's like going to an American high school like KMHS.
When I asked Matilde what she liked about America, here is what she had to say:
"I love America! I love how different you can be and people will accept you no matter what because of the big diversity."
What do you miss about Norway?
"Of course there are many things that I miss about Norway. I crave the good food, my friends, and most of all my family. But I would not change a thing about my experience here. I love getting out of my comfort zone and doing new things."
What is different about American high schools compared to Norwegian high schools?
"American high schools are very different. First of all, the system is really different so in the beginning things were confusing. Luckily for me, I had good friends that helped me get going. The second biggest different is the size of the school. Where I come from in Norway, everyone knows each other because of how small the town is so we all go to school together. Here, I see new faces every day because there is so many students. Also, my high school does not have security guards or fights which shows how different Norway is."
What do you still want to do during your stay here?
"Everything! Even though I have been doing a lot of activities since I got here, there is still so much more that I want to do before I go back. I have not been to the Space Needle yet and really want to go. I also want to explore Seattle more, including the nature like beaches and Mount Rainier."
What is your favorite thing to do here?
"My favorite thing to do is hanging out with all my new friends and going to Seattle!"
What is something that you will always remember from your experience as an American high school student?
"I will always remember how well everyone accepted me and how welcome I felt from the minute I came here. I will forever remember my host family who does everything they can to make me happy and have an enjoyable experience. They are a second family to me that I will always love. I will also remember being part of the soccer team and all the friends that I made."
Be sure to say hi to Matilde if you see her in the hallways of our school and make her feel as welcome as possible!
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