Kirkwood Community College student David Langer was one of only 65 people selected from all of Germany to come to America through the study abroad organization Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange, also known as CBYX.
Langer is originally from Rosenheim, a short ten-minute drive from the German-Austrian border and about an hour drive south of Munich. He now finds himself right in the heartland of America.
How has your first month in America been?
It’s been absolutely crazy. There have been many new experiences. Every day I learn more about your country and improve my English. It has been amazing.
Did you have any assumptions about America before you came?
This is very funny: I thought Americans only eat fast food. I thought that my host family would only be cooking fast food. I thought people would be fat.
I also thought that Iowa was all farms and no nature, with little to do, so I thought it might be boring, but I was wrong. It has been very exciting.
Do you have a favorite thing you have done since you got here?
Yes, I went to an American football game. It was absolutely crazy. I also did skeet shooting with my guest family, and I got to use a shotgun.
How does the food at Kirkwood compare to the food in Germany?
So in Germany, we don’t have as much fast food as Kirkwood does, so for me, it has been a lot of fast food, but I like it so far.
Have you joined any clubs at Kirkwood?
I am in the Leadership club. It’s very interesting because we don’t have clubs in Germany. I have really enjoyed it.
How does the foreign exchange process work?
I applied a year before coming to the United States, and it was not easy because I think 800 people applied, and only 65 people could come.
First, I applied online, then I had to drive to Frankfurt, where the whole day I had to speak English and answer questions, then the government will say you can go. It’s a lot of rules.
Categories: Feature, Student Spotlight
