It’s almost as if he never left.
Henrik Sieh, a German exchange student for the 2020-21 school year in Iola, returned for six weeks this summer to visit his host family, Jonathan Adams and Dr. Dawnie Barnhart.
“It feels amazing. It kind of feels like it did before,” he said.
Sieh has even returned to a similar schedule, including working out with his former wrestling coach, Jason Bates, and catching up with friends.
A new aspect of his visit is working for Paul Porter, a local business owner, to help renovate the Shannon Building at 20 W. Jackson Ave., which is the future home of the Derryberry Breadery. Hayley Derryberry, a baker, is Porter’s wife.
“We’ve become really good friends,” he said of the Porter family.
Sieh kept in touch with his Iola contacts after he returned to Germany in June 2021. After he returned home, Sieh completed his final — and challenging — year of school.
“I had to take multiple six-hour exams. I was basically studying, going to school and working,” he said.
Even though his year in the United States meant he struggled a little more during his senior year in Germany, Sieh didn’t regret it. Quite the opposite. It enriched his life in other ways.
“It was a year experiencing and learning another language and a different culture,” he said. “I developed quite a bit. It made me more independent.”
Though his English skills improved significantly during his year here, Sieh didn’t have much need for the language in Germany.
“Mostly it helped prepare me for the future,” he said.
Returning home, he found his perception of the United States had broadened. The country is very diverse, he discovered. His perspective is different from before, and different from others in his home country.
“I have my own opinions about America. A lot of the news coming to Europe is very one-sided,” he said. “It’s so differentiated in America. There isn’t just one opinion. I got introduced to a lot of people all around America and it was very interesting to see all the different points of view.”
In an interview with the Register last year, Sieh said he planned to join the military after he finished his education. He also planned to study finance.
