BUCKFIELD — When Tabea Vatthauer graduates with the Class of 2016 from Buckfield Junior-Senior High School in June, she’ll be sad to leave the people who have made her feel so at home during the past nine months.
Tabea, 16, is a foreign exchange student from Germany.
“People are so nice and school is easier,” she said. “I like the rural small school. It is nice and quiet and I can get to know everyone.”
Tabea will have to repeat this year’s class when she returns home, but she feels it’s well worth it.
“I like the food, snowmobiling, four-wheeling and hiking,” she said. “I was surprised at how small the school is, but I like it. I know everyone.”
Pizza, burgers, doughnuts and chicken pot pie are among her favorite American foods.
Her dad and stepmother will attend her graduation on June 11.
Since she arrived in the United States, she has traveled throughout New England, to New York City, and to Moosehead Lake, which she called “awesome.”
“I caught a salmon — that was exciting and the first fish I have ever caught,” she said.
While at Buckfield Junior-Senior High School, Tabea participated in soccer, which she said is more aggressive in the U.S.; basketball, which she had never played before; and softball. She also dissected a pig heart in her biology class.
“I really like it here,” she said.
She also likes the school’s acre-sized vegetable garden.
Tabea decided to participate in the student exchange program after one of her friends went to New Zealand as an exchange student. She also wanted to learn to speak better English.
She said some of the differences between the U.S. and Germany include people being allowed to own guns, all of the sports available, easier classes and very friendly people.
Tabea hopes to pursue a career in medicine, either as a nurse or doctor.
But for now, softball season is beginning — a sport she really likes.
She was surprised at how many people were familiar with Germany, and how many are related to people living in Germany.
“I’m really going to miss it here,” she said. “I’ve become really close to people. I’ll definitely come back to visit and tour.”
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