Wer ist das neues Mädchen?

She is Zoe Koenig and one of this year’s German exchange students from Aalen, Baden-Württemberg, which is located in southern Germany.  Zoe came to the United States before the beginning of the school year and is staying with her host family in Lansdale. She likes them very much since they remind her of her own family, where there are also three siblings.

Since coming to the United States, Zoe has been able to explore many places, including the beaches of Ocean City, the city of Philadelphia and the Academy of Music where she has attended different musicals and operas.

At North Penn, Zoe is active in the Chamber Singers, Women’s Choir, and International Friendship Club. When asked about the biggest challenges of adjusting to a new school and culture, Zoe replied “in the beginning of school year, it was adjusting to all the classes, the school is so big.” Another difference is that in Germany, the students do not change classes; instead they stay with their class and the teachers of the different subjects come to them. Not a bad idea for those of us who have to run from K-Pod to B-Pod.

Zoe’s favorite school event was homecoming and all of the excitement and school spirit surrounding it. In Germany, there are not organized school sports and those involved in sports do it away from school in clubs. Zoe also noted the differences in the streets and style of houses here in Lansdale. She also finds the style of clothing to be different and in Germany explaining “you would not find students walking around school in sweats and jeggings.” In addition to her native language, German, Zoe also knows English, French and Italian, which she started to learn as early as fifth grade.

Zoe looks forward to continuing her emersion into North Penn and American culture and is excited about “prom, winter ball, and all of the other fun things that are coming up.” Zoe will graduate with the 2014 senior class and will then return to Germany to finish up high school.