“I’ve always wanted to go to America and experience something different than old boring Norway,” for Norwegian Ine Landehagen, coming to America as an exchange student was an adventure.
Landehagen was born in Oslo, Norway, but currently lives in Sætre, Hurum. Her first thoughts when she landed in America were, “It was amazing; everything was so cool and just mind blowing!”
AHS is very different from Landehagen’s high school in Norway. “You guys have sports connected to school, and you get to choose your own courses,” Landehagen said. “We don’t have those privileges in Norway. [Also] we have clubs outside school, and you have drama connected to school; we don’t.”
At first, Landehagen was nervous about coming to AHS. “I didn’t know anyone, and I was afraid people would laugh at me for my accent. But I got friends easily and now I feel very at home; I even think in English now, and sometimes I mess up and talk English to my Norwegian friends.”
Landehagen likes, “the school spirit, and all the nice teachers. Seems like you guys really love your school.”
There are many contrasts between life in Norway and Virginia. “[The culture] is very different.” Landehagen explained. “A lot of people have religions and churches here, and we don’t. There’s a lot of unhealthy food, you can drive when you’re 16, and you have stinkbugs.”
Landehagen is definitely enjoying life in Virginia. “The best thing? Must be that everything is so cheap! And of course my friends and host family,” she said. Landehagen is very close with her new ‘parents’ and host siblings Lydia, Aaron, and Simon Bock. “I love my host family; they are great. I love my living with my best friend.”
Host sister Lydia Bock said, “I’ve always wanted a sister and Ine is so perfect. She’s the greatest friend I could ever ask for. I thought after a while, she would become “old” per say, but I get excited to spend time with her.”
Being in America has led Landehagen to participate in new activities, such as running track, pole-vaulting, and engaging more in religion. “I was never very Christian in Norway and I tried it out here; it’s very different.”
Landehagen decided to come because she’s always wanted to come to America, and she had a friend that had done it the year before. “I had an interview with some people and they told me I got accepted in the program. I was so happy!” Landehagen said.
Landehagen was beginning to have second thoughts about “going away from all [her] friends to go live in another country,” but once boarding the airplane to America, she knew that she knew that it was going to be an incredible experience.
Since that first step off of the airplane, she has impacted the lives of her friends and new family; including Lydia Bock. “She will be my sister long after she leaves and I truly believe she is a blessing to have in my life,” she said.
Landehagen has learned “a whole new look on the world.” Living in America has taught Landehagen “to be independent, mature, and has taught me how to get rid of my horrible Norwegian accent!”
