Usually, you wouldn’t think of someone
with a last name like ‘Leow’
to come from a country with
a language that coughs up phlegm
every other word. One of the foreign
exchange students roaming the halls of
ALHS seems to break the grip we put on
our stereotypes.
Vivian Leow is that exchange
student. Her parents are both Chinese,
her mother originally from Hong Kong,
China, and her father from the island
of Trinidad. Her parents moved to the
Netherlands as teenagers and met
each other at school. Leow was later
born and raised in the
Zoetermeer, Holland.
Leow claims to not
know much about her
Chinese heritage, but
that does not keep
her from knowing not
only Chinese, but also
Dutch, French, English
and some German.
Leow decided to come to America
as an exchange student to get a taste
of the culture. ERDT was an organization
that could help her achieve that goal.
“The culture is more relaxed in the
Netherlands than in the U.S.,” Leow said.
Leow also wanted to experience
another country before she went to
college. She’s already graduated from
high school in Holland and is looking to
attend college when she returns.
Because she already graduated,
it has caused a few problems for Leow
at ALHS. This fall, she wanted to play
tennis, but was not allowed to because
she isn’t technically a high school
student anymore. Senior Krystle Nelson,
Leow’s host sister, was disappointed in
the school’s policy.
“She has a friend going to
school in Kasson-Mantorville
and she is able to play sports
even though she graduated,”
Nelson said. “I think
foreign exchange students
should be able to
play no matter
what.”
In the Netherlands,
Leow
likes to play sports
for fun, such as
soccer and field
hockey, but she is
on a badminton team and
enjoys that the most. She has
also been playing piano for
almost nine years.
Making friends has not
been an issue for Leow.
“We like to call her
‘Meow’,” said senior Hannah
Knutson, a friend of Leow.
Knutson and Leow have spent a
lot of time together. Knutson spoke of
some of their adventures to places like
the Mall of America and
another
friend’s
aunt’s house
for a birthday party.
Leow claims the U.S. has
several differences compared
to the Netherlands.
People in the U.S. drive their
cars no matter how far they have
to go. People drive distances she
would usually walk or drive her
bike back home.
Leow also said the U.S. eats
less healthy compared to the
Netherlands. People eat fast
food, like McDonald’s, a lot.
Overall, Leow is still
satisfied with her experiences
here, but is excited
to see her family.
“I’m glad I came to
the U.S.,” Leow said