For many, traveling approximately 4,258.25 miles to live in another country for an entire year and speaking their native language seems like a nightmare. For Nick Parrish, it was an honor that turned into the opportunity of a lifetime.

Nick traveled to Germany on Sept. 1, 2004 and lived there until July 15, 2005 in association with the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program. There were a total of 280 students. Nick is the first student from Ligonier to ever participate. Founded in 1983, the program provides American high school students with the opportunity to live with a German host family and attend school for a year to gain world views of current affairs and of German social, political, and economic life. Students who are chosen must be able to live in and adjust to another culture and want to be challenged; they also must have written and oral communication skills and be motivated to live in another culture. Students also must have a GPA of at least 3.0.

Once Nick was chosen for the program, he attended a language camp for the first month to prepare students for living in a language-intensive environment. According to Nick, "the camp wasn't very helpful because the teacher only spoke French and German." After that first month Nick moved to Bavaria to stay with his new host family, Gerd and Micha Pfeffer and his two host sisters, Anna and Chiara.

Nick attended Werner-von-Siemens Gymnasium in Weissenburg, the German high school, and soon became accustomed to his new school. "The days went till 12:30 and we ate lunch at home. In our school we only had 45 minute periods and the people in the classes were the same, explaining that “the teachers moved from room to room rather than the students." He also said there were very few school activities in Germany, unlike the United States.

"The first few months were the hardest because I was trying to understand what they were saying," Nick said. Most of his friends were other foreign exchange students who were at his school and were going through the same things as he was. "I missed having steaks when I was in Germany," he said.

Now reflecting on his time in Germany, Nick says that the Germans are "more direct and open." His favorite part of the trip was his family and, of course, bratwurst and sauerkraut. "I miss the German food, speaking German, my family, and just everyday life." He is planning on going back to Germany next summer and, hopefully, for Christmas this year.

Nick recommends this program for German students who want to gain a better understanding of the language and culture. Information about this program can be obtained from either Nick or Mrs. McKinnon, or you can also visit the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program's website at www.usagermanyscholarship.org.