Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Welcoming Foreign Exchange Student Anne Dedenroth



Anne Dedenroth a Foreign Exchange student from Coppenhagen, Denmark has joined the 11th grade class at Exeter, Milligan.

Dedenroth is loving her experience living in rural Cordova in the home of Doug and Dacel Thomsen and their daughter Maitlyn, also a junior at Exeter-Milligan.

So far Dedenroth has had a great time in America.  “I haven’t had time to miss my parents here.  I do miss my friends sometimes and I miss public transportation.”

Dedenroth just finished the ninth grade in Denmark and for her, tenth grade is the start of high school.  “This year doesn’t count for me but it’s worth it as it will help me in the future when I am looking for jobs.  Also, when I apply for high school I have a better chance coming in because of coming here and my English will improve.”

“I like the way school works over here but I am glad I am going through my education in Denmark because I gain more from that.  The three years of high school in Denmark compares to college over here.  I am thinking about coming here for college.”

At home in Denmark, Dedenroth has two younger brothers, and is used to doing a lot of family activities.  Life has been a little hectic at the Thomsen’s especially since both of the girls played softball on the Fillmore-Central/Exeter-Milligan team.  Dedenroth is also planning to play basketball and participate in track this year.

One thing Dedenroth has enjoyed is the food.  “I like American food and I really like peanut butter.  We have it in Denmark but we never have it at our home.”

Dedenroth has really appreciated the experience of coming to small town Nebraska.  “In the future I can go to the big cities but if I hadn’t gotten here as an exchange student I would have never tried it here.  I’m glad that I am here.”

The Thomsen family is glad to have Dedenroth here as well.  Dacel Thomsen noted, “It has been great! We are learning as much about her culture as she is learning about ours. She is just like a family member. She eats anything I make and never complains! She helps out around the house and helps in the kitchen. She and Maitlyn have become so close and Doug and I love to hear the two of them laughing together which they do a lot of. She has been a great sport to play softball which she has never done and she is now going to play basketball which she has done before.”

Dedenroth is really enjoying the Thomsen family.  “I love my host family.  I couldn’t have asked for better.”
They haven’t made any big travel plans but Dedenroth has gotten to experience a Husker game and enjoyed it.  She doesn’t know how much travelling she and her mom will do when her mom comes at the end of the school year.

Dedenroth hopes to find a future in language and business possibly back in the United State someday.

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