If you see a 16-year-old foreign exchange student from Hamburg, Germany, walking the halls of Gibraltar High School with a big smile, it's because he has greatly enjoyed his time in Door County since arriving in August. Claas Ihns says he wanted to participate in the Rotary Youth Exchange program since his parents are Rotarians in Germany and have interacted with many exchange students over the past few years.

He says his first host family has been great, and he had a student participating in the exchange program at his home in Hamburg.

Ihns shares how he traveled alone on his 16-hour flight to get to Door County and begin his junior year of high school.

Ihns notes the most significant difference between Germany and the United States is the amount of public transportation available in Europe and that school classes are different every day back home.  Regarding extra-curricular activities, Claas ran cross-country this past fall and is currently participating in a mock trial at Gibraltar.  He recommends that any high school student should experience the Rotary Youth Exchange program and is looking forward to living with two more host families during his stay in Door County.  You can reach out through the Rotary Club of Door County North website here, if you are interested in hosting an exchange student or have a child who would like to be an outbound student in the program. 

You can listen to the entire interview with Claas Ihns below.