This school year, our community has the special privilege of welcoming Leo Plietker, a 16-year-old 10th grader from Germany who is spending the year immersing himself in American culture, honing his English skills, and bringing a global perspective to our neighborhood. His host parents are Craig & Jen Hammond.

Although Leo has only lived in the area for about a month and a half, he has already felt right at home. "What I like best is that it's very safe, and people are very nice and friendly overall," Leo shares.

For Leo, studying abroad in the United States has been a dream for as long as he can remember. "I’ve kind of always wanted to experience American life," he says. Beyond the adventure of living in a new country, language immersion was a major motivator. "I wanted to overall improve my English because I feel like that’s such a good skill to have in today’s society and economy—and for future job opportunities."

Discovering Nebraska & Trying New Things

When students apply for exchange programs, their state placement can often be a surprise. "I actually couldn’t choose the state I was going to be placed in, so I didn’t really have a choice," Leo admits. "But I would say Nebraska is a good state after all!"

Living with the Hammond family has provided plenty of memorable "firsts" and cultural surprises. "We have taken him to try different local fast food options, and his reactions were great—regardless of how he felt about it!" says host mom Jen Hammond.

Leo also got to experience an American pastime that comes with a lot more red tape back home: fishing. In Germany, fishing requires taking formal classes and obtaining a license through coursework. Here in Nebraska, Leo was able to simply cast a line out into the water and enjoy the outdoors—a fun novelty compared to German regulations!

High School Life, Soccer & Staying Grounded

One of the highlights Leo is most eager to experience is American high school athletics. Back in Germany, youth sports are typically organized through local community clubs rather than schools, making the high school sports culture here a brand-new adventure. "I’m definitely looking forward to playing soccer because there’s a whole different culture around school sports over here," he notes. "I’m looking forward to experiencing it and being part of it."

When asked about who inspires him in life, Leo points close to home: "If I had to pick a role model, I would probably pick my dad because he influenced me a lot during my childhood."

While school environments around the world share similarities, Leo has noticed subtle differences in day-to-day high school life. "The whole school system is different than in Germany, and also the way people feel about and approach school," he observes. Alongside sports, he hopes his daily interactions will help his English flow naturally: "I'm looking forward to seeing the change in my English so I can speak mostly fluently."

Looking Ahead with Gratitude

Though he feels it is still early in his exchange journey to hand out formal advice to future exchange students, his message to anyone considering a study abroad program is clear: "If you have the choice, I would definitely tell you that you should do it! Either way, it’s going to be an experience, and the memories are just going to last forever."

Above all, Leo wants to express his deep appreciation for the opportunity to spend his 10th-grade year here in the neighborhood. "I’m just very grateful to have this opportunity and to be able to do this," he says. "I know that not a lot of people get this chance, so I just want to say I’m very grateful for everything."