Kristyna is the winner of the Roger White Scholarship and will be updating us on her time abroad in the United States with Greenheart Exchange.
Hi everyone!
I can hardly believe that my first month of my American adventure is already behind me. It feels like I arrived just a few days ago, but at the same time, I have already experienced so many things that it feels impossible to fit them all into one blog post. So, welcome to my first monthly update from Colorado!
My American School
My first day of school was August 19th, and I have to admit that I was really nervous. Going to a huge school where you do not know anyone and speaking English all day was definitely overwhelming at first. Luckily, I went to school with my host sister, so I was not completely on my own.
Fossil Ridge High School is huge and very different from my school in the Czech Republic. My school day starts at 9:05 AM and ends at 4:05 PM, and I have four long classes each day. My school year is divided into four quarters, so most of my classes change every quarter.
My first class is Teacher Cadet, where we learn about education, working with children, and even about ourselves. It is basically preparation for a career in teaching, and next quarter I will actually be going to another school and helping in a classroom. I am really enjoying it so far and I am excited to get some real experience.
In Medical Forensics, we learn about crime scene investigations, collect evidence, do laboratory experiments, and learn about different forensic techniques. As someone who has always been interested in crime-related topics, I absolutely love this class.
My third class is Fossil Fusion, a school singing and dancing group that I had to audition for. There are around twenty girls, and we are preparing songs and choreography for our concerts. I am really enjoying being part of the group.
My last class is Reporting/Journalism, where we learn how to write articles, conduct interviews, and decide what makes a good story. I have already written my first article about one of my classmates, and he wrote one about me. My teacher gave me some really nice feedback, which meant a lot to me, especially because I am doing everything in English.
After the first quarter, I will have a completely new schedule with Law and Justice, Psychology, Anatomy and Physiology, Spanish, Editing, and US Government. Fossil Fusion will stay with me for the whole year, so I already have a lot to look forward to.
Making Friends
I think one of the biggest challenges for me was not school itself, but meeting people. My first day was honestly really difficult. When I came home, I ended up crying to my host family because everything had simply been too much. I am so grateful that they were there for me, listened to me, and supported me.
Over time, I realized something very important: if you want to meet new people, you have to take the first step yourself.
I started asking people if I could join them for lunch, talking to people I had never met before, and simply putting myself out there. It can definitely feel awkward to walk up to someone and ask if you can join them, but I have not regretted doing it even once.
I have already had lunch at Taco Bell, Chick-fil-A, Costco, and Target, gone thrift shopping and to Dutch Bros with friends, and met so many new people. I am slowly starting to feel like I belong here, and that is such an amazing feeling.
I also joined Drama Club and Debate and Speech, and I am planning to join Mock Trial. Unfortunately, volleyball did not work out because I was not able to attend the tryouts, so I am not doing a fall sport. I am hoping to try basketball during the winter season, though.
My First American Football Game
One of the first moments when I truly thought, “Wow, I am actually in America,” was my first football game.
Cheerleaders, the dance team, marching band, the school mascot, chants, lights, American football, and hundreds of students around me. It was exactly the kind of moment I had imagined when I was a little girl dreaming about coming to America.
And then came Homecoming.
Homecoming Week and Homecoming
The entire week was filled with different dress-up days, and I loved seeing how much effort everyone put into them. My favorite was probably Anything But a Backpack, when students brought completely crazy things instead of backpacks. Someone even brought a car tire, which was absolutely ridiculous.
On Friday, we had a huge Homecoming Assembly. As seniors, we walked into the gym in front of the entire school and were introduced to everyone. There were performances, games, karaoke, the school mascots, and even a performance by the male athletes and cheerleaders. The entire gym was decorated in an amazing retro style, and I absolutely loved the atmosphere.
That evening, we had the Homecoming football game. The stands were packed, everyone was cheering, and the marching band, colorguard, and dance team performed during halftime. It was another one of those moments where I had to remind myself that this was actually my life.
On Saturday, I got ready for Homecoming with my friends. We did our hair and makeup together, took pictures in the park, and went to dinner with a bigger group before heading to the dance.
The dance itself was probably one of my biggest cultural shocks so far. I expected people to actually dance, but instead there was a lot of jumping, running into each other, and mosh pits. It was completely chaotic, but also incredibly fun.
And when they played Mr. Brightside as the final song, I definitely lost my voice.
We ended the night at In-N-Out, and I went home realizing that I had just experienced my first big American high school tradition.
Senior Sunrise
As if Homecoming was not enough, I also experienced Senior Sunrise.
I woke up at 4:30 AM, got ready, and went to a park with one of my friends. We brought blankets, took pictures, met more people, and watched the sunrise together.
Our senior class is huge, with around 500 students, so the entire hill was packed. It was such a strange but beautiful feeling to look around and realize that I was actually part of this.
After the sunrise, we went out for breakfast together, which gave me another chance to get to know my friends better.
One Month in America
Looking back, my first month has been a mixture of nervousness, culture shock, new people, school, laughter, and countless moments when I had to step outside of my comfort zone.
Not everything has been easy. Sometimes I miss my class, my friends, and my life back home in the Czech Republic. At the same time, I am trying to make the most of every opportunity I have here.
And I think the biggest change is that I no longer feel like the girl who arrived here a month ago knowing absolutely no one. I now have people I say hi to in the hallways, friends I have lunch with, classes I enjoy, and memories that I could never have imagined before coming here.
My first month in America is officially over, and if the first month was already this full of experiences, I honestly have no idea what the rest of the year is going to bring.
Thank you so much to everyone who has been following my journey and supporting me. I cannot wait to see what comes next.
See you in the next update!
