Linganore welcomes exchange student, Michal Bilik, from Poland
A small park in front of an opera in Poznan, Poland
December 3, 2015
Imagine living in one place for your entire life and then getting sent to a whole new country for a year to go to school. This year Lancers welcomed foreign exchange student, junior Michal Bilik, from Poland.
Bilik left Poland on August 15th, giving him a mere week in America before school started. His older sister, Ania, was an exchange student two years earlier and went to school in Virginia. Because Bilik was interested in American customs, he seized the opportunity to become an exchange student.
To Bilik, school in America is simpler, even if the English language is different. He adapted quickly; although, the first two weeks were difficult.
“At first it was hard to translate English. The first day was awful. My first period was team-sports football. There were big guys everywhere, and I was scared,” said Bilik.
After the first day, however, students discovered that Bilik was an exchange student, and he happily introduced himself. He soon made friends, and, as he says, everyone was nice and waved to him.
Bilik is staying with the Chaney’s as his host family. Two of the sons, Mark and Matthew attend Linganore as well. Mark is a sophomore while Matthew, like Bilik, is a junior.
“I had to get used to having three brothers because at home I have two sisters,” said Bilik.
The Chaney’s treat Bilik like another family member, including him in activities such as going to the movie theater or out to dinner.
Bilik lives in Poznan, in the West Central region of Poland. It is one of the oldest cities in Poland and has a large university.
In his point of view, Bilik sees America as a happier country with a better economic structure than Poland. “I really like it. It’s a big country and I think people here are more happy and smiley.”
Bilik is living in America as a long term exchange student which means he is staying for a full year and will be attending school the entire time, gaining knowledge and better understanding of the English language.
