Germany: Junior Ella Brueser

Eating a hot dog smothered with mayo and ketchup was just one of the experiences that has stood out to junior Ella Brueser during her time in the U.S. so far. As an exchange student from Berlin, Germany, Brueser has shifted from eating foods like schnitzels to eating American foods like burgers. “The best part about America is trying new foods,” she said.

Brueser came to Gunn this semester through the Council on International Educational Exchange program. “The reason I decided to go on an exchange trip was to improve my English and go on an adventure,” she said. Brueser is staying with her host family, who have two students going to Gunn, until mid-June.

The main difference that Brueser finds between Palo Alto and Germany is the environment. “I like Palo Alto, but everything is far away,” she said. “You have to have somebody drive you everywhere, which is different from Berlin, where you can walk around to get to places.”

Another difference is how many Gunn students are involved in extracurricular activities after school. “Everyone is very interested in something,” she said.

During her time at Gunn, Brueser has played a variety of sports, as her school in Germany doesn’t have any sports teams. She tried basketball and track and field, but ultimately stuck with badminton. “I like to play team sports, but badminton is a nice experience where you play individually or as a pair,” she said.

In addition to trying new sports, Brueser has gone on many food adventures. She has compiled a long list of iconic American restaurants that she wants to try, such as Shake Shack, Taco Bell and Popeyes. “It’s nice that there are so many opportunities to try different foods, like Japanese or Italian,” Brueser said.

As someone who has lived in a major city in Germany for the majority of her life, Brueser’s favorite memory of her time studying abroad so far was going to San Francisco with her host family. “I really liked being in a city again,” she said. At the same time, she has enjoyed seeing the sunsets and views of the Bay Area. “In Berlin, there are tall houses everywhere, so it’s not that common to see a nice view,” Brueser said.

With her last day in Palo Alto, June 15, approaching, Brueser has created a “last-week list.” This list details all of the activities she wants to complete on her last week in the U.S. Activities on this list include going to Six Flags, swimming in the ocean and celebrating her birthday. “I want to do everything on that list and see people for the last time,” she said.