It’s been less than two weeks since Louisa Truss stepped off a plane and onto American soil, but the exchange student already has a field hockey stick in one hand and a textbook in the other.

Truss, 16, is a native of Hannover, Germany, and one of two foreign exchange students at Old Rochester Regional High School.

“I like a new experience,” said Truss. “I hope I find new friends for life.”

Although she said it was hard to leave her parents and brother behind, Truss has jumped into her new life in Marion where she lives with the Hayden family.

Friends of Truss’s parents live in Wareham and asked the Haydens if they would host the high school student. Although they’ve got a lot on their hands with daughters aged 14 and 7 and a quick moving toddler, they agreed.

“We’re so happy that we did. She’s absolutely wonderful, sweet, smart,” said host mom Tabitha Hayden.

As Truss ran after 2-year-old Ari, Hayden added, “And good with the baby!”

Even before school started, Truss started to meet her fellow classmates through the field hockey team. She said several of her teammates already offered their help with the first days of class.

ORR school nurse and American Foreign Service club leader Kim Corazzini said students are always eager to help out the exchange students.

“They know it’s a part of our culture,” Corazzini said of the ORR students. “We’re excited to get them here.”

Even with the support, like any new student Truss was nervous about her first day.

“I hope I find every room,” she said.

Truss said she was looking forward to her science lab, photography class, and video journalism.

And since she is only spending one semester at ORR, Truss has a bucket list of things she’d like to do and places she’d like to see, including trips to nearby cities.

Truss’s fellow exchange student is from Costa Rica and is enrolled for the entire year.

The school is always looking to have more exchange students and find families to host them. Principal Mike Devoll said ORR can accommodate up to five students, and he prefers at least two.

“We always think zero is better than one. Having more than one really enhances the experience,” he said. Of Truss, Devoll said, "She appears to be a very strong student."