Junglinster Students Enjoy Educational, Cultural Exchange in Wisconsin & Minnesota

As part of an exchange programme, students and teachers from the Lënster Lycée International School in Junglinster, Luxembourg, recently visited La Crosse, Wisconsin, in the United States.

Previously, they had travelled to Chicago. For more on this, click this link to the Chronicle.lu article.

As reported by teacher Marc Zimer, upon arrival in La Crosse, Lënster Lycée students "stepped into a world that felt both new and surprisingly familiar". The group was divided among three high (secondary) schools: Logan High School, founded in 1928 and currently counting around 800 students; Central High School, founded in 1907, with about 1,200 students; and the private Aquinas High School, established in 1928, with roughly 300 students.

Student Khyati's first volleyball game at Aquinas was unforgettable: "When I first found out I would be spending two weeks at an American high school, I did not expect sports to be such a huge part of school life. Honestly, it seems like everything centres around games and teams here, not only for athletes but for everyone in the school. Sports are a main source of excitement in the States. It feels like something out of a movie."

She recalled the intensity of the game: "Aquinas played Holmen, and it felt like the whole town was there. Fans dressed up in themed outfits - Holmen in frat gear, Aquinas in cowboy boots. Both sides chanted so loudly it was hard to hear anything else. The energy was electric. I felt as if I were struck by lightning and shocked alive."

At Central High School, Varya similarly noticed how deeply sports shape school life: "My host family's daughter Addie is a captain of the volleyball team at Central. I've been to a couple of her matches, and what surprised me most was the incredible team spirit at the games. The atmosphere is unlike anything I've seen in Europe. Students don't just sit quietly - they stand, sing, shout and chant together."

She also attended her first American football game: "There were cheerleaders, music and an amazing crowd. What surprised me again was how many people come even if they don't have children on the team. Many just come to support their school or spend the evening together. Sports here are more than just a hobby - they can even open doors for college."

Also at Central High School, Noa found his new routine surprisingly comfortable: "The first day of school was very exciting. It wasn't like I was expecting - the classes weren't that exhausting, but they were still nice. After school I went to the soccer practice with my host brothers. The team was welcoming."

However, it was the host family experience that stood out for him: "My host family was really welcoming. We share the same hobbies - playing music, soccer and listening to music. It's nice spending time with them; we play cards, exchange memories or play music together. It feels like we share the same rhythm."

Homecoming: A true American tradition

According to Marc Zimer, one of the most iconic traditions the group experienced was Central High School's Homecoming: "For the Luxembourg students, it was like stepping into a film set: spirit week with themed dress-up days, pep rallies with the marching band, the big football game and a school dance to close the week".

The teacher noted that Homecoming was more than a school event, bringing together alumni, parents and the entire community "in a celebration of pride and belonging".

Life with host families

The warmth of the host families made the exchange "even more special". They welcomed not only the students but also the chaperones into their homes. Some chaperones prepared Luxembourgish dishes as a thank-you, while others went on outings to the Grandad Bluffs or enjoyed dinners out together.

Several families also had Luxembourgish ancestry, and evenings were filled with conversations about culture, family names and ancestral villages. For many, noted Mr Zimer, these were "powerful moments - proof that ties between Luxembourg and Wisconsin are not only historical, but alive within families today."

Programme highlights

Beyond school and family life, the programme offered "rich cultural experiences", noted Marc Zimer. A field trip took the group to La Crescent, Minnesota, known as the "Apple Capital of Minnesota." At the golf course, the students were welcomed by Mayor Mike Poellinger, who invited them for lunch and shared his pride in hosting them. La Crescent only recently joined the exchange programme, with Mr Zimer describing its participation as "a wonderful step forward - enlarging the partnership beyond one city and opening it to the entire region along the Mississippi."

The visit continued with a scenic river cruise on the Mississippi, where students admired bald eagles, rolling bluffs and vast open waters. "It felt like stepping into a movie scene," one student said, describing the "breathtaking views" and "peaceful atmosphere".

The group also visited the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Viterbo University, where they were welcomed by leaders and learned about study opportunities. They met with the Mayor of La Crosse and the Luxembourg American Descendants Society (LADS), strengthening ties with the local community. A special highlight came when the Mayor of Junglinster, Ben Ries, joined the group, saying he "felt like home in La Crosse" and pledging to support the bridges being built between the two communities.

According to Marc Zimer: "For the Luxembourg students, this exchange was not just about sightseeing or attending classes. It was about stepping into the rhythm of American life - cheering at a volleyball match, celebrating Homecoming, sharing dinners with host families, chatting about Luxembourgish roots, and standing on a boat deck watching the Mississippi roll by."

He concluded that the three-week stay - combining school immersion, cultural discovery and community engagement - "showed that building bridges between Luxembourg and Wisconsin happens not only through official meetings but also through everyday moments of joy, pride and friendship. For the students of Junglinster, those moments will remain unforgettable."

This trip forms part of a student exchange programme initiated by Marc Zimer. For more information about this initiative, see: https://chronicle.lu/category/abroad/55426-marc-zimer-discusses-how-student-exchanges-build-bridges-between-us-luxembourg

(Photo 1: Junglinster Mayor Ben Ries in front of the sister city sign in La Crosse city hall; Photo 2: Viterbo University campus; Credit: Marc Zimer)