Sophie Furtjes has made the jump from Germany to Coupeville as a foreign exchange student. (Submitted photo)
“I love America!”
German foreign exchange student Sophie Fürtjes is still settling in to her new home in Coupeville, but the 16-year-old who hails from near Düsseldorf, is already embracing her surroundings.
“It’s way bigger than my country but the people are all so nice that it is easy to get used to it,” Fürtjes said.
“It was kinda what I expected,” she added. “Of course there are a few surprises, but these are just little and that doesn’t really matter to me.”
Fürtjes, who has an older sister, has long wanted to visit the USA. She just didn’t know she would be doing so in this manner.
“I always wanted to go to America or live in America one time but I actually never wanted to be an foreign exchange student,” she said. “But then last year in August I was thinking about what to do after school and because I want to see the world I started the process to be a foreign exchange student.
“And I knew this year will be an experience for my life.”
The year-long trip offers her a chance to “learn the language better, to live in a different culture and, of course, to meet new people and make new friends.”
Landing in a small town on a rock in the middle of the water was a bit unexpected.
“Coupeville was definitely a surprise for me, but I love it,” Fürtjes said. “It reminds me at my home because it’s so small and everybody knows everybody. So it’s easy for me to live here.”
A swimmer and dancer in her homeland, Fürtjes jumped at the chance to join the high school cheer squad.
“I’ve never been a cheerleader before, but I danced for eight years when I was younger, so it’s not totally new for me,” she said. “When I was thinking about doing a sport at school I directly decided to be a cheerleader.
“I missed the dancing so much and now I can do it again,” Fürtjes added. “Also I knew I can do all the other sports in Germany too and I wanted to try something different what I can’t do in my country.
“And I love my cheer team!”
After her American adventure ends, Fürtjes plans to return to school, with plans of becoming a cosmetician.
“I want to be a make-up artist and to work all over the world,” she said. “I’m really interested in makeup and fashion.
“I spend a lot of time trying new makeups and designing new outfits.”
A big Beyoncé fan, Fürtjes enjoys “spending evenings with my friends and just to talk about random things.”
Through it all, she knows that, near or far, she can always turn to those closest to her for support.
“Definitely my family made me to the young woman I am today,” Fürtjes said. “They always supported me in everything I wanted to do.
“I am so thankful for my family that they are always there for me and that they support and love me in everything I do.”
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