This week marks the third and final week of the first part of the reciprocal exchange program between Pella Christian High School and Greijdanus High School of Zwolle, a municipality in Overijssel in the Netherlands.

12 students from Greijdanus have been staying with host families from Pella Christian since October 3rd and will return to the Netherlands on Friday. During their time in the United States, the Dutch students have had the opportunity to enjoy different cultural experiences including a trip to Chicago and visits to the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, Frisian Farms, Pella Historical Village, and multiple Pella Christian sporting events. Ellie Johnson said that it has been fun getting to share American culture during this part of the program, and that she is looking forward to experiencing the differences in the culture in the Netherlands.

“I think their school is going to be really, really different for us. It’s going to be a lot bigger, and also, they have lunch periods off, so like biking to a supermarket just to buy lunch, that’s not something we really do. And I’m really excited to try stroopwafels, I think those are really good, so I’m really excited to try a fresh one. I think it’s going to be really fun [time].”

In the reciprocal exchange program, Pella Christian will send the students from the host families to the Netherlands in March. Hear more about the program at Pella Christian High School on today’s Let’s Talk Pella.