Imagine starting a new year at a new school in a completely different area that you are unfamiliar with. That’s the case with our exchange student Ecem. She is a junior at Rhinebeck this year and she comes from a Turkish seaside city, Izmir. Ecem was inspired by her mother. Ecem’s family was very involved in exchange programs. Her mom has been hosting students from different countries to study in Turkey. And her siblings are also currently studying in different countries.
When the time came, Ecem sat down with the interviewers (The Rotary Youth Exchange Program) who sent her to Rhinebeck High School. She arrived on August 25th to start the school year and Ecem will be in the U.S. for almost a year; her flight back to Turkey is on July 5th, 2024. Ecem noted that school in the US is quite different from back home. In Turkey, the teachers move in and out of classrooms instead of students. Not to mention there are 15-minute breaks in between classes compared to our three.
The thing that’s been the hardest for her was getting used to learning and taking tests in English, as it is her 2nd language. It often gave her headaches but she said she’s getting used to it now. Not to mention, Izmir was a city. Moving to our small town was a big adjustment because her hometown was right by the sea. She could take walks to clear her head. The city was way more accessible by foot than Rhinebeck.
But Ecem loves the small and friendly environment Rhinebeck has to offer. As the weather has been getting colder, Ecem has said she’s been feeling homesick. She really misses her family and her dog. But as a way to cope, she always makes sure to keep in touch with her parents and siblings even though she might be crying during the phone calls. During the first month of school, Ecem said that her volleyball team helped her so much by adjusting to the new block schedule together and introducing her to the layout of the school, so she is super grateful to all of the new friends she has made.
