I am Mika Hruby (20 years old now) and one of many alumni of the great exchange program of Carl Duisberg. In the beginning of the 12th grade in Germany, I decided to sign up for the exchange program to spend one full year (two semesters) in Kelowna, Canada. In summer 2022, after my graduation, the adventures started in the end of August and ended in the end of June 2023.
My new family welcomed me warmly at the airport in Kelowna, British Columbia. After spending approximately two days with my host family to at least be able to process all the new impressions, we had an introduction day at the new school, the Rutland Senior Secondary School. It was a good start to get to know the system, the environment, as well as other exchange students and bond the first connections.
After two to three weeks, I started to have a structured day, made first connections and friends with other students. I signed up for sport teams, the soccer high-school team, as well as for the gym. Making new connections fast also helped me a lot to feel safe and that I did not miss my home too much which was a challenge in the beginning to be far away from your family for a long period of time. Nevertheless, I had a heartwarming host family who facilitated numerous enriching experiences, such as skiing excursions, adventurous boat trips on Okanagan Lake, and visits to Vancouver. Their genuine interest in my academic achievements, as well as my overall life and well-being in Canada, further contributed to creating a sense of security and belonging.
As school subjects I tried to have a healthy mixture between “fun” and academic classes. For the first semester I chose cooking and Mixed Martial Arts, as well as English studies 12 and AP mathematics. Because I was already finished with my school in my home country, I was able to choose subjects without any limitations. Though I still decided to also choose some more difficult classes, so I still develop academically, as well as personally. I can just recommend having a mixture between more fun but also difficult classes. Of course, it is important to grow academically but trying out new things and subjects most European countries do not provide is a once-in-a-lifetime possibility. Choosing the right subjects was one of the most interesting and important decisions for me. In those classes you will meet a lot of people you want to make friends with, especially if they have the same interests as you have. Mostly the subjects you can choose, represent the interests of the people who are in there.
Coming back to the activities after school like high-school sports team, it is important to join them if you want to make new contacts with people quickly. It is probably the easiest way to get to know new people especially when you join a team.
To sum up my everyday life in quick words, I participated in quite a lot of high-school teams/communities. Moreover, I also went to the gym after school. After having a good workout with my friends, we mostly went to the mall or the downtown of Kelowna. Of course, we had a lot of dinners together at each other’s houses, as well as sleepovers on weekends. This was a great opportunity to also get to know other host families and their habits.
When the winter came through and with it the coldness it was time for skiing in Canada. By far the best experience for me. As a ski-lover this was heaven for me. The ski experience is completely different than in Europe and not comparable. It is hard to explain, I guess that is a thing you must experience to understand it. I can just recommend investing the money in the ski season if you have the assets to do so. Coming back to choose the subjects carefully, I always went up to the mountain on weekends and in vacation with a friend I met in one of my classes that I selected. Sharing those moments with him and all the memories we made together made my exchange year special. Even though the winter was very long I enjoyed it with activities like skiing and inside activities like bowling, movie nights with friends, going to the gym, indoor soccer in a men’s team and so on.
In the end of January, the first semester ended, old friends left Canada, but new ones arrived. With the new semester I also needed to choose new classes. I decided to take English, Entrepreneurship, American football, and Dance. Since I never did any other kind of sport than ball sports this was a very odd choice for me but also one of the most exciting adventures. It gave me so many new impressions, I got to know new and different people and stepped out of my comfort zone. It took me much courage but, in the end, I grew so much with it. Exploring a variety of new experiences significantly contributed to my overall personal development. I highly recommend seizing the opportunity to try out different activities during your exchange semester, particularly since many of the available classes are offered at no cost.
Moving on through the year it finally got warmer, so it was time for me to see and discover the beautiful nature of Kelowna. I did hikes with my friends, we went to the beaches in Kelowna countless times, I had barbecues with my host family and friends, outdoor dinners at nice viewing points and lots of more fun experiences. I also joined an outdoor soccer team again so I can still play soccer in a competitive environment and still follow my passion. The team was very welcoming again. In general, the people in Canada were super friendly and open minded. Though it is necessary that you, as an exchange student will be proactive and start to get into communication with the natives.
Additionally, I participated in one of the travel offers from my school. In the beginning of May, me, and a group of other exchange students, as well as some teachers travelled to Victoria for a few days. It was great to see also other cities in Canada and we had an exciting time there.
As I reflect on the past, I cherish the beautiful moments spent with incredible people. Time seemed to fly, and before I knew it, I found myself back in Germany. In conclusion, I had a great year. I learned a lot about myself and my interests. I got more open-minded, and, in the end, it was easier for me to approach people and communicate with them. I tried new sport activities and things I usually never showed interest in, though I liked a lot of those. This exchange year is a great opportunity to learn a lot of new things about yourself, grow individually, get more independent and do your own experiences that will last for a lifetime, as well as some friendships.
In the end I just connect positive feelings with this amazing experience. It is worth it every afford.
