Helin Erden

 First of all, I want to start with how lucky I feel because I was given a chance to participate in a program like this. I want to thank everyone from Marshall School for hosting us and being so helpful during the program.

  It was a great experience to live with an American family for two weeks. They were all so kind and sincere it was almost like I’ve never left home! Thanks to my host family, I tried many different types of food that are popular in the USA I’ve never tried before such as fried green tomatoes, tacos, cheese curds (and lots of candy!). I thought American food was all greasy and unhealthy before, but homemade meals proved me otherwise. I made them Turkish coffee -which they really liked, and made them try some of our traditional desserts too.

   School was fun too. I had the opportunity to participate in class and to learn about different learning styles. What I liked most about Marshall’s education is how interactive they were, with all the activities and group works that makes learning fun. I made friends at school that I want to keep in touch with. Teachers were also very nice to all of us.

  I liked Duluth too, even though it was the coldest place I’ve ever been! (I’m glad I learned how to walk in the snow without falling though, as I’m not the most balanced person.) Duluth is really calm and beautiful with the gorgeous view of the Lake Superior. I visited University of Minnesota and I really liked the campus. I started considering studying in USA after my visit.

   My favorite part of the trip was dog sledding. It was super cold in Ely but it was super fun to do that. I don’t know if I will ever have a chance to do that again, but if I could, I would definitely try it again. International Wolf Center was also interesting to me, because I love animals and it was nice to be able to see and learn about the animals that are specific to Minnesota area.

   What I loved the most about USA is the diversity. There are many people from all around the world and from different religions, but people respect each other and live peacefully. I think we all need to learn this. Student exchange programs are a great way to do that as it helps you see the world from different point of views.

   Helin Erden