Foreign exchange students loving experience at Kasson-Mantorville

Juniors Eslin Smit and Hildur Gunnarsdottir have loved their experience so far at Kasson-Mantorville High School and can’t wait for the experiences they are yet to have. 

The two foreign exchange students arrived in the United States this past August and will stay the remainder of the school year and head back to their home countries in June. 

Smit, who is from the Netherlands, has been to the United States numerous times to visit relatives. “We have family all over in America and we go visit them so I know what it is like. I think I wanted to come here because it kind of already feels like home, so why not come and try to experience some of this,” she said about why she wanted to study here. 

Smit says she has enjoyed her experience so far at K-M, but also getting to know her host family, Bill and Mary Oertli and their children. Besides the AFS club, Smit also played on the girls soccer team but was unable to finish the season due to a concussion. 

“Doing a sport allows you to get to meet people and they get to know you,” Smit said about her time on the soccer team. “It was fun. I really like the girls. Even now I eat lunch with them and they help me out. They are really supportive.” ‘

Because of her concussion, Smit has not been able to get involved in any other student clubs or organizations, but she hopes that after she heals, she can join some other organizations.