In an interview with The Mercury, Blomma Krei (‘23) shared how she recently moved from Germany to Vt.  Krei said she has been traveling for around two years and has visited Ireland, Canada, Serbia, Mexico and traveled through some of the states.  This includes a road trip from Miami up the east coast. Krei moved to Vermont with her parents and has permanent residency in June of this year. According to Krei, the move didn’t go completely smoothly due to Covid restrictions; the application for a Visa took around two years.

Krei said the school year has been going great for her, “BFA has been treating me good. Everyone is very nice and wants to ask questions.” 

Regardless of the great people, Krei said one of her biggest struggles is learning in her second language. Along with that, school is very different in Vermont. In Germany, secondary school starts in seventh grade, and the grading system is different. The grades go from six-one, one being the best, and a six or five is a failing grade.

Krei said she enjoys the selection of classes here at BFA. In Germany classes were assigned to her instead of her getting to choose them all.  

According to Krei, school is a very big part of her life. Krei said she is thinking about going to college across the country to continue her traveling.  She added that she “really likes” that we have guidance counselors in the United States. In Germany there was just teachers and “no one to talk to” about subjects like college.

“I’ve been in Vermont for a little [time]. I’m motivated to see more,” Krei said.  

While Krei enjoys traveling, her parents were the deciding factor in moving. Krei said when her parents first met, their goal was to work internationally. They eventually made friends in the United States and decided to start the moving process. Krei and her family also lived in Canada for four to five months and made close friends with a family. They still keep in touch. 

According to Krei, she is still “adapting.” The biggest cultural change to her was artificial food and packaging. Krei said they are shocked by how much money people spend on food and eating out. She said that not a lot of people eat out so casually in Germany. 

Challenges have also arisen during her new life here. Krei doesn’t have a driver’s license yet, so she said she has to have her mom drive her around, although she is taking drivers ed. Krei has had to make better management of her time and “struggles” with only five minute breaks in between classes. Along with that, Krei thinks the lunches are overwhelming and very full. She also thinks that a fifth lunch could be helpful. Krei does appreciate the advisory and enrichment time and said it helps her with catching up on work.

Other than school and traveling, Krei danced for 11 years and was in a rowing club for six. Krei is hoping to join a sport in the winter and/or spring. Krei first wanted to prioritize getting adjusted and used to school in the fall. 

Back in Germany, her family looks out for her mom’s updates online. Krei said her mom keeps in touch with family, and it is very “exciting” for her family to see updates of them traveling. Krei also said she keeps in touch with her friends back at home and is very “fortunate for understanding friends that don’t need to talk to everyday and can just catch up every couple months.”

Krei said she has loved BFA so far and is excited to continue her travels in the United States. Krei is very ambitious and said she is looking forward to a lot of adventures. She said she might move anywhere in the future and is open to anywhere. Krei said she might even go back to Germany.