Every year, Old Rochester Regional High receives at least one foreign exchange student from across the world, but it's not often that it sends one out.

Marion resident Cate Feldkamp, 17, is spending her senior year in Sweden and is the only exchange student sent from ORR in recent memory.

“In my opinion, Cate's year abroad will have multiple benefits. I believe she will develop an inner strength and confidence in herself. She will become aware of the cultural and social norms in a different country,” said Kim Corazzini, ORR’s school nurse and director of the AFS foreign exchange program.

Feldkamp is living in what she describes as a “fairly small town” called Tyresö outside of Stockholm. She commutes by bus and train for about an hour to get to her school, called Grillska Gymnasiet in Stockholm.

Participating in the foreign exchange student program wasn’t a rash decision. Feldkamp, her family and host family have been planning her trip since her sophomore year of high school.

“The AFS program finds families that exchange students are welcomed as a family member. The hope is that a relationship will develop that lasts a lifetime,” said Corazzini.

Studying in Sweden was Feldkamp’s idea.

"I chose Sweden because I knew I wanted to go to Europe, and Sweden is more open-minded and accepting. It also has a lot of nature and laws to conserve it," she said.

Feldkamp added that environmental protection and preservation aren’t exactly her passion, but she found that aspect of Swedish culture appealing.

She’s also enjoying getting to know her host family, including her three younger siblings.

"My host family is amazing! They've done so much to make me feel welcome and comfortable,” Feldkamp said.

Language is often an obstacle for students studying abroad, and as she got ready for her trip, one thing Feldkamp thought about was how much of a language barrier she would need to overcome.

Prior to landing in Sweden, she'd never spoken a word of Swedish. She still doesn't know much.

"Everyone speaks English here, so it's been a very easy transition and my friends will say something to me in English, then say it in Swedish so I understand the translation,” said Feldkamp. “Even my teachers speak English, so it's been pretty easy."

In a blog post on Nov. 29, she wrote, “The language is hard to grasp, but I'm slowly making my way there.”

Feldkamps’s school is international, so she shares her class with people from all over the globe, which has given her a new perspective.

“Everything is so different and I'm learning so much about not only myself but also the world,” she wrote.

Culturally, Sweden has many similarities with America, said Feldkamp, but the education system couldn't be more black and white.

"We call teachers by their first names here, which I think is super different," said Feldkamp. "It's really weird saying ‘Sophia, I need help.’ instead of saying ‘Mrs. Smith, I need help.’ Also, if a teacher isn't there, then we don't have class.”

Feldkamp hasn’t finished the first semester of her year abroad but remarked that, so far, the workload at school has been pretty easy.

"A lot of the teaching style is at your own pace,” she said.

Feldkamp has missed her family, but being apart has taught her to be more independent, she said.

“As for myself, I've matured mentally and emotionally so much in only three months... I'm experiencing the journey of a lifetime, I'll be home in eight months, and I need to have my whole heart here in Sweden,” she said on her blog.

These changes are a great reason for students to study abroad, said Corazzini.

“I believe any time we can expand our knowledge base and learn about others’ life stories helps us to develop empathy and a desire to learn more,” said Corazzini.

Anyone interested in learning more about Feldkamp’s experience in Sweden can follow her blog at www.catefeldkamp.blogspot.com.