By Brandi Miller for the FCT

There are approximately 7,337 miles between Kleve, Germany, and Red Bay. That massive distance is what one of the newest students at Red Bay High School traveled this year for the opportunity to experience life in the United States of America.

Nicolas Janssen is a 16-year old-foreign exchange student staying with host family Patrick and Kim Brooks and their son Logan, who is a junior at RBHS. Kleve, Janssen’s hometown in Germany, has a population of about 75,000 people, so coming to a small town like Red Bay has been a different experience for him completely. But he said that so far he has loved his time in Red Bay and all of the U.S.

“Everybody, really everybody is so pretty nice here and open for everything,” said Janssen. “Before I arrived in Alabama, I stayed four days in New York City, and this city is amazing. But I like Red Bay also much, and all of America is awesome.”

The process of becoming an exchange student takes many steps and a great deal of paperwork. Janssen went through a program called America High School Exchange Program, with the option to choose among England, USA, Uganda, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica and Argentina.

“Most of the students want to go to the USA,” said Jenssen. “This year we had around 50-60 students that wanted to go to the USA.”

“I had to fill out a lot of documents about everything – family, hobbies, religion and a lot about myself,” he added. “But first of all I had to interview with an employee from the organization, and he had the decision if I made a good or bad impression, and he accepted me.”

Janssen said this program is a “classic” program, which means he can’t decide where he is placed. He could have been placed in Washington, Florida, Ohio or Alabama. He and three other students from his organization were all placed in Alabama.

Janssen said the school days are very different in Germany than what they are in Red Bay.

“A typical school day is long,” said Janssen. “The school day is 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., and I have many more classes. I have 12 classes in Germany.”

He also said the people in the USA are different from the people in Germany.

“Everybody is so nice here,” he said. “Most of the people in Germany are grumpy.”

He said the food is healthier in Germany, but America is much more open-minded when it comes to religion.

Janssen said he hopes improve his English, make lots of new friends, learn about a new culture and experience the American spirit while on his journey. He will be with the Brooks’ family until a week after he finishes school in May.

Janssen said he plans to study law when he graduates high school.

He said he would encourage anyone who is thinking about becoming an exchange student to be open to new and different experiences. “It is not right. It is not wrong. It is only different.”

Janssen’s parents are Birgit and Volher Janssen.