For the past week Padua Academy has been hosting a group of thirteen Austrian exchange students along with two chaperones. The Austrians traveled a twelve hour flight to spend a few days with Padua and Salesianum students to get a glimpse of what it is like to live in America. We sat down with one of the chaperones, Mr. Bernd Ratzenboeck, an Austrian teacher. During this interview, Mr. Ratzenboeck talked to us about the typical Austrian teenagers and schools.
Padua 360: “What similarities have you noticed between American schools and schools in Austria?”
Mr. Ratzenboeck: “They have a similar grading system and students have a similar level of politeness.”
Padua 360: “What are some differences between our school systems?”
Mr. Ratzenboeck: “There are a lot of differences! The students stay in the same classroom all day, the teachers are the ones that move around. Students have the same six classes everyday and they never rotate. We also don’t have a dress code; students can wear whatever they want.”
Padua 360: “Do Austrian schools have any special dances, like prom or homecomings?”
Mr. Ratzenboeck: “We don’t have proms but we have a maturaball which is organized by the seniors who are taking the final exam.”
Padua 360: “Speaking of dances, we noticed that Austrian girls came to school wearing fancy dresses. What are the dresses for?”
Mr. Ratzenboeck: “It’s a famous folk costume, they often wear them for special occasions.”
Padua 360: “How would you describe a typical Austrian teenager?”
Mr. Ratzenboeck: “The typical Austrian teenager likes meeting friends, going on Facebook, and hanging out. They enjoy pop music.”
Padua 360: “How is the food here?”
Mr. Ratzenboeck: “The food in the cafeteria is very good. There is a lot more junk food in America than in Austria.”
Padua 360: “What languages are taught in Austria?
Mr. Ratzenboeck: “English, Latin, French, Spanish, and they are given the option to take Italian as an elective”
Padua 360: “What activities do most students do after school?”
Mr. Ratzenboeck: “Many students participate in English and Stage. It is for grades 9 and 10. Students act out scenes from playwrights. We also have orchestra, choir, table tennis, and football.”
Padua 360: “What’s something about America that you noticed?”
Mr. Ratzenboeck: “The traffic is crazy here.”
Padua 360: “What has been your favorite part of the trip so far?”
Mr. Ratzenboeck: “Meeting all the new people from America, and the trip to New York.
Padua 360: “What did you do in New York City?”
Mr. Ratzenboeck: “We went to the Rockefeller Center, Times Square, Central Park, Battery Place, Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, the World Trade Center, the South Street Seaport, and the Brooklyn Bridge.”
Padua 360: “Where else would you like to travel in America?”
Mr. Ratzenboeck: “I would like to go to Florida.”
Padua 360: “If you could do another foreign exchange, would you?”
Mr. Ratzenboeck: “Yes, definitely.”
