Although Junior Sam Schofield must say “Auf Wiedersehen” to America, she gets to say “Guten Tag” to Germany as she will be spending her junior year immersed in this country’s language and culture.
“I decided I wanted to study in Germany because I have taken German classes and enjoyed them, so I looked into programs that I could go through to set everything up,” Schofield said.
German teacher Frau Trammell said she was thrilled that Schofield has made the decision to study in Germany this year.
“Samantha loves languages and foreign cultures and this will give her an amazing opportunity to meet new people, experience new things and improve her German,” Trammell said.
In Germany Schofield will be living with a host family and attending the local high school where all her subjects will be taught in German.
“I am looking forward to experiencing the culture of Germany, and I really want to come back fluent in the language,” Schofield said.
Though just over half of Germany speaks English, according to a 2010 study by the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, Schofield will have to adjust to the different culture and being away from home for ten months. However, Schofield said she was “not really scared of anything, just excited.”
“I want to be able to try new things and experience a new culture while I am there,” Schofield said. “I am really interested in science and engineering and the Germans have a culture that is science and engineering oriented.”
In general, Frau Trammell advised Scofield to “relax, see as much as possible, and just have fun.”
“The Germans are kind, caring people and just as eager to get to know her,” Trammell said. “Her German is already pretty good, so I know she won’t have any problems communicating. But they also speak English beautifully and are patient, so I know it will be a positive experience.”
As for the future, Schofield hopes to attend college in Germany as well.
“You have to pass a language test in order to attend college in Germany,” Schofield said, “so I am hoping studying in Germany next year will help me speak the language better.”
There are things that Schofield will not be able to do in Germany, like swimming or playing lacrosse, but she said she is still “really excited to experience all the new possibilities” she can while in Germany.
“I will miss my teammates, but I am not too upset about not being able to do sports because I will still have senior year to do them when I come back,” Schofield said.
The decision to study away from home is a hard one to make but, as Trammell said, Schofield will “always be able to recall her amazing year in Germany and her German host family.”
“Samantha will have friendships that will last her whole life,” Trammell said. “I just know her German will be amazing when she returns and she will have so much to share with her family and friends in the US.”
While she is eager to start at the new school, there will be things Schofield misses about Londonderry as well.
“I will miss the community of Lancer Nation and all my friends and our traditions here, but I am looking forward to the opportunity to make new friends and traditions,” Schofield said.
Trammell thinks Schofield is “a brave young woman to undertake such an adventure.”
“But I am convinced that she will never regret a moment of this experience,” Trammell said.
