High School USA Blog

I have now been in Germany for nearly two whole months. Two, exquisite months full of new experiences, friends, and most importantly; snacks. This post contains (in my opinion) a definitive guide to some of the best German snacks!

Take a look into a hectic - but amazing - week in Germany. This post covers some of the highlights, from attending a concert in Bonn to watching Barbie, to climbing to the top of the Cologne Cathedral. The post also includes some advice on how to handle homesickness and the activities I use to help distract myself from those thoughts!

Finished with high school and headed into college... right? What I envisioned my first year after high school looking like didn't exactly happen; instead I found myself following a path that interested me more- Germany.

Before I traveled to Germany, I heard many times that the days would go by quickly. I didn’t know how true this was until I realized that I am sitting... keep reading

Just a quick view into my first full day with my host family. This post is a quick Saturday/Sunday coverage of meeting my host family members and experiencing the city-life of Cologne! This post also features a bit of insight on how to combat the awkward-ness of unintentional isolation of being the new family member when abroad.

Sometimes important lessons are communicated orally, sometimes they might involve an activity or game, and as I came to find out, sometimes they smack you right in the face. I... keep reading

Hello, hallo, how has your day been going? Or, how has your week been? Or, how has your month been? I really hope it has been going well, seriously. My... keep reading

Soon I will be heading to Germany for a 10 month exchange program. As I embark on this adventure, I have contemplated what to bring and what not to bring... keep reading

Hallo, ich bin Zoe! I am writing this about two weeks until I board the plane to Germany, my new home for the next year. My life has become a... keep reading

First of all: I’m from Columbus, Georgia. In Columbus, an inescapable, yet soothing, buzz perpetually flows through the trees. In Columbus, the trees are tightly tied together by interlooping vines... keep reading

Terrifying. Exciting. Life changing. There are many ways to describe the beginning of an exchange year.

Two years ago, I received devastating news: I was rejected from the Virginia House of Delegates Page Program. This is one of the programs I had applied to which I... keep reading

“Wait, I’m… accepted?” Around me, my family goes wild. From the cheering and slaps on my shoulder, I could barely make out what Katie, the CIEE Grant Programs manager, was... keep reading

The feelings, the emotions, the joy, and the sadness just before heading off to Germany. Read all about the CBYX DC trip and our pre-departure thoughts!

A quick post discussing my summer schedule and daily life just before I head out to Germany. Learn all about my current adventures and future plans as I plan my Senior year of high school abroad!