People in Warren made a year away from home an adventure

Opinion: June 26, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

I arrived in Warren in the be- ginning of August 2011 as a German exchange student sponsored by PAX (Program of Academic Exchange), and that was the start of an amazing year in America for me. I stayed with the VanWinkle family and I spent my junior year at Warren G. Harding High School.

I joined the swim team as soon as I came here and I remember the first get-together we had. I felt accepted. I had to answer many questions, but I didn’t mind and I knew this was just the beginning. The whole swim team — my swim team — helped me, even when I didn’t know what drill Coach Lukco was talking about. I was very sad when the first part of my exchange year came to an end.

The principal, Mr. Notar, and all the teachers at Warren G. Harding made this an awesome school year for me. I felt just like an ordinary American student at the school, and I gave my best.

PAX placed me here in Ohio in my amazing host family. Darryl Anderson was there when I had questions and problems. Families who would like to host an exchange student next year should call Mr. Anderson at (330) 256-6127.

To all my friends who made this an awesome time for me, I am so glad I got to meet every single one of you. I had a lot of fun and I will miss you all very much. I know, I amused you with my German accent and my wrong grammar sometimes. Thank you for being so patient with me, and I hope you had your fun imitating my weird accent. I didn’t feel like an exchange student anymore when I was around you; I felt like a person you want to hang out with to have fun and not because I am from a different country. I tried to answer all your questions as well as I could, even though some of these questions were really strange. All this made my exchange year as awesome as it was.

I can’t tell my host family how thankful I am for this amazing chance to live the American way of life. It was just perfect how well I fit in with this family. Debbie, David, Ellie and Dominic VanWinkle were always there for me. I enjoyed my year here so much and I could not have asked for a better host family. You are amazing and I felt like a real family member. Thank you for everything you have done for me. I will miss you very much; you became my second family. I love you and I will come back to visit.

I have never doubted that an exchange year was the right choice, even though I was losing a school year at home. I learned a lot and I will keep all the memories in my heart. I can honestly say that this was the best year of my life. You all were part of it and without any one of you it would not have been the same.

I will always remember you and thank you for everything. My exchange year was awesome and I found a place that I can call my second home.

Aileen Schwanemann, Warren

Aileen completed her 10-month stay in Warren and returned to Germany earlier this month.