Experiencing Life in Canada
Amy Gregson – Times Reporter
It’s very rare for students to want to take extra classes in school that will not count for credit, but two German girls on exchange to Canada are doing just that.
Eva Wenger, 15, and Louise Platen, 17, have been living in Strathmore with an exchange program from Germany for the past five months and have been attending classes at Holy Cross Collegiate.
“It’s for the experience, improving language and experiencing the culture,” said Platen.
The girls are from two different places in Germany. Wenger is from Bayreuth, located in Northern Germany and where the composer Richard Wagner called home. Platen is from Bonn, about 20 kilometers south of Cologne.
Wenger could only have chosen to study in Canada or Ireland because of her age, but Platen could have gone to a number of places.
“I always wanted to come to Canada because I think the landscape and mountains are so beautiful,” said Platen.
The agency in Germany placed them in Strathmore, while other people in the agency have gone to places such as Canmore or Kamloops.
While the girls didn’t meet until on the plane to come to Canada, they act like they are life-long friends speaking and laughing with each other.
Both said there are many differences between Canada and Germany, especially in regards to school.
Wenger said school in Germany is much harder in Canada. One example she gave was the lenience towards swearing in her home country.
“I learned the hard way,” Wenger says with a laugh. She also added that no one cheats in Canada, where many do in Germany.
“Our teacher can leave the room or give us the same assignment and it’s fine,” added Platen about Canadian classrooms.
Another difference is that there are no Catholic schools in Germany, and the number of courses a student is required to take is different.
In Canada, Wenger has been taking four classes, while Platen takes six. In Germany, they would take 12 courses throughout the entire year.
They also said there is no way in Germany you would ever get credit for subjects like drama and construction.
Another thing that shocked Wenger is that more people don’t speak French.
“Canada is a bilingual country, French and English. I thought everyone had to speak French. We’re not a bilingual county, we’re German, but we have to speak English.”
In Germany, it is mandatory that everyone must take English and two other languages.
Besides school, the girls have seen more of Canada than just Strathmore. Platen has visited Regina, Edmonton, and Vancouver, and has also been to the mountains many times to go snowboarding.
Wenger has gone to the mountains as well, along with Radium Hot Springs and West Edmonton Mall.
Both said they have loved the Canadian weather and the snow and will miss it when they head home to Germany on Jan. 30.
“I like Canadian winter way more than German winter,” said Wenger, who said it’s usually very muddy in the winter where she lives.
While they will miss Canada and each other, both are looking forward to go home to see their family and friends.
amy@strathmoretimes.com