Foreign exchange students are learning about American culture while teaching current students about other cultures around the world.

Three students from Switzerland, Norway, and Italy have joined the student body at Warren Central High School.

16-year-old Jelmer Anne Van Heerden is from Switzerland. He said he came to America to work on his English and to “build my personality.” Jarl Vegard Eliassen Roeyrhus, 17, is from Norway. He said the reason he decided to come to America and study is because it is his dream.

“My friends in third and fourth grade said we should go to America, and it just kind of stuck with me,” he said.

Silvia Contu, 17, is from Italy. She said that she loves traveling and this was the perfect opportunity to work on her English.

All three of them are in 12th grade, and are slated to attend through the end of the 2015 spring semester.

Since school started, the three have been keen to join clubs and organizations, one of which is familiar to Contu.

The students are all involved in Total Sound, the performance choir at Warren Central High School.

Contu said that she is a part of a choir in Italy and they have won a competition in the past.

Van Heerden and Roeyrhus said they have not been singers in the past but decided to try it out anyway.

“I wasn’t going to join, but the teacher found us, and convinced us to,” Van Heerden said.

They said they really enjoy the culture in general, but found the heat of the summer to be hard to handle.

The students all agreed on the heat and humidity being the worst part about coming here, but they said there are many upsides to the south and they love a lot of things about it.

“Everyone is so polite. It’s kind of like Switzerland—everyone is just really nice to each other,” Van Heerden said.

The difference in the foods of each culture came to a shock to Roeyrhus. He said he loves the taste of catfish.

“We don’t have catfish (in Norway), and I’m addicted.” He said.

Roeyrhus said that he loves fishing and is planning on going fishing soon.

While there are many things they love about the country, they do not like the fast food culture.

“The food is very different. It’s very unhealthy,” Contu said

He said in his village in Norway they only have a McDonalds and a Burger King

“Everyone eats fast food and it’s unhealthy. It’s very different,” Van Heerden said.

He added that in Switzerland, everything is made fresh. He said everything is straight from the garden or is bought daily from the fresh produce at the store.

“We have a bakery. I would go there every morning to get our bread,” Van Heerden said.

The students are very active in sports offered by the school.

This year is Contu’s first year playing tennis but she said she enjoys it.

Roeyrhus participates in soccer, cross-country, swimming and track.

“I’m the kind of person that I can’t just sit around and do nothing. I enjoy pushing myself,” Roeyrhus said.

Van Heeran participates in soccer, cross-country and track.

He said he played soccer for 11 years in Switzerland and enjoys being able to continue playing while he is in the United States.

While he said he enjoys the sports he plays at WCHS, his true passion is skiing.

“Skiing is my ultimate favorite thing to do,” he said.

Van Heeran said he enjoys skiing in the Swiss Alps.

The students have full schedules and said they enjoy keeping busy. They said they really like the country and they will miss a lot when they have to go back home.

“I will miss my best friend,” Van Heerden said.

“I’m going to miss the sea.” Contu said.

She said she has not gone to the beach yet, but plans to go before the summer is over.

Roeyrhus said he would miss his friends the most when he leaves.

“I’ve gotten attached to them,” he said.

In Norway, Roeyrhus said he has been with the same people for 10 years. The teachers move from class to class, but the student’s stay, so they become very close. He said he is not used to the set up of American schools.

The host family of Van Heerden and Roeyrhus are Craig and Lisa Fishenich; and the host family of Silvia Contu is Alice and Jason Bell.

WCHS Principal Jamie Creel said that 10^th-grader, Jamie Richardson is in his first year as an exchange student in Germany.

“It’s always a great experience for these kids and it’s a great experience for us to learn about other cultures,” he said.

WCHS Principal Jamie Creel said he enjoys having the students here, and is excited to be a host school for them.