Walking through the halls of South High, students follow their daily routines, familiar with their surroundings. However, for South’s five foreign exchange students, life in St. Louis has brought a variety of new experiences and adjustments.
For many of them, the size of South was the first big shock.
“My school back home has only 1,200 students, and the building is a lot smaller, so you can find your way around better,” said Oliver Spaeth, a junior from Germany.
Sara Al Shunnaq, a junior student from Jordan, was struck by something else—the people.
“Parkway South is really great and the teachers are always friendly, which made things easier,” she said.
For Qayyum Mohamad Rusli, a freshman from Malaysia, moving to St. Louis was a pleasant surprise.
“Before I came here, I imagined St. Louis as a small town, just like in the show Gilmore Girls, and it is just like that! It’s a comforting, welcoming, and peaceful town,” he said.
If adjusting to a new country wasn’t enough, adapting to an entirely different school system was another hurdle. In Germany and Jordan, students typically stay in one classroom while teachers rotate between them.
“Back home, we don’t travel to classes; teachers do, and I know everyone in my grade, which is only 25 students,” Al Shunnaq said.
Cayan Kara, a senior from Germany, agreed.
“The class system is different in Germany; you’re with the same students from class to class. Moving from classroom to classroom was something completely new,” he said.
Mohamad Rusli agreed.
“School life here is more hectic since we follow very specific schedules,” he said.
But with change comes discovery.
“It’s great to know there are so many different learning cultures all around the world,” Mohamad Rusli said.
Beyond school, adjusting to life in America brought its own set of surprises. One major challenge? Transportation.
“Not being flexible without a car has been tough. The cities aren’t walkable, and there’s not really public transportation like in Germany,” Spaeth said.
Kara is actually from the same home town as Spaeth–Frankfort.
“In Germany, there are lots of parks and we go there all the time, but you can’t really do that here,” he said.
For Al Shunnaq, the biggest shock was the early closing times of businesses.
“Everything closes at like 9. In Jordan, I would come back home at 2 a.m., and everything would still be open,” she said.
Food, of course, played a major role in their cultural adjustment. Mohamad Rusli, who was used to eating rice-based meals with stews, found himself trying popular St. Louis foods.
“I’ve tried iconic St. Louis foods like Toasted Ravioli, and I love them!” he said.
One unexpected favorite? “I tried Chipotle, and I love it! It reminds me of a dish from home called Nasi Kandar.”
Spaeth said one thing he’s had to get used to is eating fast food.
“I barely eat fast food in Germany, but I do more in America because my host family really likes it,” Spaeth said.
Kara commented on the diverse fast food options in the U.S.
“I love America’s barbeque meat. I also really enjoy Taco Bell, because we don’t get Mexican food as much in Germany. We really only have Burger King, McDonalds, and KFC,” Kara said.
Al Shunnaq agreed.
“I really like authentic Mexican food. I’ve also tried Thai food with Mia [Wisitthipakdeekun].”
Mia is a junior from Thailand. You can read about her experiences in an earlier Treaty article: https://psouthtreaty.com/4529/features/from-bangkok-to-ballwin/
But not all food experiences were positive.
“The food here is different; it often can be bland and underseasoned,” Al Shunnaq said.
And then there were the small differences, like wearing shoes inside the house.
“Even though it primarily depends on the family’s customs, most American families wear shoes in the house and it feels weird at first since in most Asian countries, we take off our shoes before we enter our house. However, I am able to communicate with my host family about taking my shoes off and they understand very well,” Mohamad Rusli said.
Cultural exchange works both ways, and these students have made sure to share parts of their heritage with their new American friends. Al Shunnaq has given six presentations about Jordan, hoping to teach others about her home country. Meanwhile, Mohamad Rusli took a hands-on approach by cooking Malaysian Laksa for his host family, a dish featuring noodles, tofu, and coconut-rich chicken broth.
“It was a little spicy for them, but they would rate it a whopping 10/10!” he said.
The experience of studying abroad isn’t just about learning a new culture, but also about personal growth.
“I was so introverted back home,” Al Shunnaq said. “Coming here, my first goal was to get out of my comfort zone, and I think I’ve accomplished that. The biggest thing I’ve learned is how to deal with different kinds of people.”
Kara, too, learned to embrace change.
“I thought it was going to be hard to get a new family, school, and place, but it wasn’t as hard as I thought. It only took a few days,” he said.
For Mohamad Rusli, the biggest takeaway was the importance of keeping an open mind.
“Being open-minded and flexible to new situations allows people to grow. This experience has opened my eyes to a whole new world. I aim to share my experience with people back home,” he said.
Outside of school, each student has made the most of their time in the U.S. in unique ways. Spaeth earned his scuba diving license in Illinois, while Al Shunnaq explored Chicago. Kara attended a St. Louis Blues hockey game with his host family, soaking in the excitement of American sports culture. For Mohamad Rusli, nothing compared to seeing snow for the first time.
“Since Malaysia is not a 4 seasons country, experiencing snow was not normal for me. I’ve just experienced my first snowfall and it is so fun!” Mohamad Rusli said.
As their time in the U.S. comes to an end at the end of the semester, these students are already thinking about what they’ll take home with them. Whether it’s their newfound independence, a love for American food, or a deeper appreciation for different cultures, their experience at Parkway South has left a lasting impact.
Their advice to other students considering studying abroad? Take the leap.
“Every day, people are more open to people with different backgrounds and personalities,” Mohomad Rusli said.
