Haukipudas High School & Medina High School Student Exchange

Thirteen students and three teachers of Haukipudas High School were honored to have a thrilling opportunity to visit Medina High School for one and a half weeks in October 2009. The trip was a success. Not only did our students get a glimpse of the everyday school life in the USA and to live with an American host family, but also to feel the culture of an altogether new nation. And this time it was not the superficial and dazzling world of the American series shown on our TV, but the reality of life with its upsides and downsides on the streets and subways of Chelsea and Manhattan in New York City, in the farms of Berlin in the Amish Country, Ohio, and in the houses of a typical small-sized American city, Medina, in Midwest USA. The highlights of our trip also included the Musical Hair on Broadway and the NHL ice hockey match in Madison Square Garden, New York City, as well as the NBA basketball match at the Q-Arena and the musical history tour in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland. We are extremely grateful for all the wonderful and hospitable American host families who made the exchange possible, and hope to see them again in Finland or in the USA in the very near future. Please let’s keep in touch and cherish our friendship in the years to come!

As a continuance for our Finnish-American collaboration, the teachers and the administration at both ends agreed to launch a student exchange program between our high schools. Our students are warmly welcome to participate in the program as an exchange student/a host family for an American/Finnish student in Ohio/Haukipudas for a couple of weeks to three months. Trustworthy and suitable families as well as interesting and beneficial course schedules will be provided by the schools. We are sure the experience will enrich and inspire our students, strengthen their global communication skills as well as offer them specialized knowledge on the American and Finnish culture and beliefs. (For more information, please contact Ms. Tiina Mustakangas at Haukipudas High School or Mr. Robert Thompson at Medina High School.)

Another success on our trip to the USA was that the Student exchange was not the only project agreed on. Medina High School is now an active partner in our Messages Across Three Continents project and will participate in assisting our partner school in Dar es Salaam. Hooray! There is also a serious attempt to meet in Tanzania in 2012...

Tiina Mustakangas & Anja Moilanen