A Week in Wisconsin: Our Exchange with Sheboygan South High School
Students from the Deutsch-Luxemburgisches Schengen Lyzeum traveled to Sheboygan, Wisconsin from April 11 to 19 — experiencing school life, American culture, and even a piece of Luxembourgish history along the way.
As part of the student exchange with Sheboygan South High School, our students visited several cities during the week, including Sheboygan, Milwaukee, and Belgium, and took part in a wide variety of activities. Staying with their American host families, they immersed themselves in the daily life of an American high school — while also exploring a region that is more closely connected to Luxembourg than one might initially expect.
Monday — School Shadow Day at Sheboygan South
Our students accompanied their host siblings through a regular school day and actively participated in lessons — including Mathematics, Biology, and Physical Education (Strength Training). During Jazz Music class, they were welcomed as attentive observers, and in French class they quickly became cultural ambassadors: speaking in French, they exchanged thoughts with American students about Luxembourgish culture and even taught them a few expressions!
First-hand, they learned about the timetable, the structure of the American school system, free course selection, and teaching methods — a direct and vivid comparison with school life back home.
Tuesday — Discovering Sheboygan — and Meeting the Mayor
After a walk to the lighthouse in Deland Park, a visit to the Sheboygan Visitor Center and the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, our students were treated to a very special highlight in the afternoon: a visit to Town Hall and a personal meeting with the Mayor of Sheboygan.
The students had the opportunity to gain insights into the American electoral process, ask the Mayor interesting questions, and learn more about his day-to-day responsibilities. They were particularly impressed by the Mayor’s targeted use of social media to engage young people in politics and give them a transparent look behind the scenes of US politics. To top it all off, they were also given a peek inside the Mayor’s office — complete with a photo or two to remember it by!
Wednesday — A Visit to One of the Largest Insurance Companies in the USA
On Wednesday, our students had the unique opportunity to visit one of the largest insurance companies in the region. They learned about the company’s history and admired the impressive Pole Flag on the extensive company grounds — one of the largest in the United States.
But there was more: the group got to ride the company’s own Ferris wheel and took part in a company buffet that is generously organized every Wednesday for the residents of Sheboygan. A remarkable glimpse into American corporate culture and community spirit.
Thursday — Day Trip to Milwaukee: Art, Market, and Baseball
Thursday belonged to Milwaukee: after a visit to the impressive Milwaukee Art Museum with its spectacular Calatrava wing and a stroll through the local market, the absolute highlight of the day awaited in the afternoon — a baseball game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Toronto Blue Jays at American Family Field stadium.
The atmosphere was electric: several hundred spectators, including many school groups, cheered loudly for their teams. For our students, it was an authentic taste of American sports culture — loud, colorful, and unforgettable.
Friday — Luxembourgish Roots in Wisconsin
The week concluded with a very special excursion to Belgium, Wisconsin — a community shaped by Luxembourgish immigrants in the 19th century. At the Luxembourg American Cultural Society Center, our students learned how many people from our region dared to make the long journey across the Atlantic and built a new home in Wisconsin.
A lunch at the Luxembourg Café — generously sponsored by former Honorary Consul Mike Ansay — brought everyone together before the group visited the Stoney Hill School and Saint Nicholas Church. At the school, they also discovered the story of Bernard Cigrand, the father of Flag Day, who began his teaching career at Stony Hill School and whose own father was an immigrant from Luxembourg. A moving conclusion to an extraordinary week.
The week in Sheboygan not only gave our students a deep insight into American school and everyday life, but also revealed a surprising number of connections to their own homeland. A heartfelt thank-you goes to Marc Zimer and Mike Trimberger for facilitating the exchange, the principal Kevin Formolo and teachers Peter, Brian, Angie, Amanda and Jacob of Sheboygan South High School for chaperoning the SLP team, as well as all the host families for their warm welcome!
