For the first time in years, Tesoro High School’s German program welcomed a group of exchange students, opening its doors to an experience centered on cultural connection and shared learning. . Over the course of two weeks, 15 students from Bad Aibling, Germany, became full immersed in the daily lives of their new American friends and created bonds that will last a lifetime.
One of the first differences they noticed was the sheer size of everything. Their host high school felt enormous compared to their schools back home, where student populations are significantly smaller. Gymnasium Bad Aibling houses just over 1,000 students from grade 5-13, so a high school of more than 2,000 students in four grades was quite a different experience. This sense of scale extended beyond the campus—into the multi-lane highways and expansive infrastructure of Southern California. Even navigating highways became part of the experience, highlighting how different daily mobility is compared to the more compact, public-transport-oriented systems they were used to.
Inside the classroom, the contrasts continued. The German students were surprised by the structure of the American school day, where fewer subjects are taught at a time and the school day runs longer. Back home, their schedule has a shorter school day and upwards of 15 courses at a time, with some repeating a few times in a week.
Beyond academics, daily life in American homes offered its own set of surprises. Simple details, like the prevalence of carpeted floors and swimming pools, stood out as distinctly different. Food culture, however, made an even stronger impression. The abundance of fast-food chains, large portion sizes, and the concept of free refills were all new to them. A single scoop of ice cream in the U.S. felt equivalent to several in Germany, and stores like Costco seemed almost unimaginable in scale.
The German students spent some time traveling in the US before settling in to Tesoro, visiting the Grand Canyon and Venice Beach. One other Orange County pilgrimage remained on their agenda before they headed back home- Disneyland.
The Tesoro students welcomed in their German friends with open arms, hosting a welcome dinner on campus with a Mexican food buffet. The exchange students stayed in the homes of their new American friends, going on day trips and participating in their activities like choir recitals and sporting events. The entire group took a day trip to Catalina Island one day and took part in as many school activities as possible during their stay.
For the Tesoro students, it was an opportunity to use their language skills in a new way and connect culturally with native born Germans. Many of the students chose German as an elective because of family heritage. Others have different cultural backgrounds and wanted a linguistic challenge. Whatever their inspiration, having the chance to converse directly with native-German speakers was invaluable to their understanding of the culture. The practice will prove important as the Tesoro students are planning to take a trip to visit Bad Aibling in June and reconnect with their new friends.
Ultimately, the exchange was as much about relationships as it was about cultural discovery. Many students met their hosts for the first time upon arrival, yet quickly built friendships through shared routines and mutual curiosity. Technology made this process easier than in past years, allowing students to connect before meeting in person. As the visit continued—with plans for beaches, Disneyland, and more—the experience became not just a glimpse into another country, but the beginning of lasting international connections.
