Malin Weitze: An Exchange Story

By Max Homann

2023 is a year of many firsts for Cross Schools and one of the most exciting is the inclusion of exchange student, Malin Weitze, in our student community. Malin, 16, is from Mücheln, Germany, a small town two hours away from Berlin. In Germany, Malin, a humanities scholar, is a weekly boarder at Landesschule Pforta, which boasts Friedrich Nietzsche as an alumnus. It is a boarding school around 30 minutes away from her hometown. Malin spends weekends at home with her parents and sister, Liana. When Malin was sure she wanted to participate in an exchange year she was just as sure she wanted to come to America. She recalls family vacations where she experienced traditional American kindness, hospitality, and love. These factors greatly influenced her decision to come to America with the program AYA, Academic Year in America, sponsored by the American Institute for Foreign Study. Her final destination wasn’t in her hands but was determined by which host family would accept her application and ultimately a host family in Bluffton decided to invite Malin into their home for a year and she subsequently enrolled at Cross.

To Malin, Cross feels like a family as students and teachers have welcomed her into the community with kindness and friendship. She has enjoyed the benefits of low student-to-teacher ratios, unlike those of her school in Germany. Malin says, “My experience here in Bluffton and Cross Schools is really enjoyable, everyone is extremely kind and helpful. I was welcomed with open arms.”

Although Malin’s time here is one to remember all good things must come to an end. Malin returns to Germany in June where she is looking forward to seeing her family and friends and enjoying the food she knows best. She is considering returning for her future university career. No matter what her future holds it is certain that America has not seen the last of Malin Weitze.