German Finja Waasner has been an STS Local Coordinator (LC). Here’s what she told us about her job.

1. Why did you decide to become a Local Coordinator (LC)?

A good friend of mine asked whether I was interested in becoming an LC and I really like the idea. I lived abroad for five years from the age of 16 onwards. I spent some wonderful years in England and would like to encourage children and young adults to live in another country, too.

2. How many students have you been LC for?

Ten.

3. What is it like to be an LC?

Being an LC is a great joy and very enriching. I enjoy learning about different cultures and to understand how individual each exchange is. Every family is different and so is every student.

4. How has being an LC affected you?

It widened my perspective on different cultures and helped me understand the cores and routines of different families all over Germany.

5. Do you have any tips for future LCs?

Each exchange is different. Make sure to explain everything in great depth beforehand, in order for the students and families to know what to expect and communicate openly about upcoming challenges.

6. Will you keep in contact with your students once they’re done with their exchange?

Yes, I really love keeping in touch. However, it is very challenging, since everyone has got their daily routines and challenges. There’s never enough time to keep in touch with everybody.

7. Can you recommend being an LC?

I highly recommend becoming an LC. It is lovely to meet students from all over the world and to learn about many different cultures. It is very interesting to see how the students and families communicate.