It’s a long way from Colombia, and Germany, to the Mountain.

But distances are minor obstacles when you’re young – and have willing hosts
at your destination.

Christian Bergfried, 16, is from Verden, Germany. Santiago Figueroa is 17,
from Cali, Colombia.

They are exchange students, finishing up their year at Sandy High, and
adapting in fine fashion to life on the Mountain.

“When I found out I was coming to Oregon, all I knew was forests and
nature,” Bergfried said. “With a mountain that close, I expected everyone to
ski. I used to ski once or twice a year (in Germany), but now I’ve skied about
60 times, or more, and I ski much better.”

So much better that Bergfried made the Sandy High ski team.

“When I heard I was going to Oregon, I had to Google it,” Figueroa said. “I
was really bad with cold weather. Sixty-five is as cold as it ever gets in Cali. I
was so cold at first, but now, I love it.”

He loves it so much he parlayed his knowledge of Colombian rugby into
making the Sandy High football team – not exactly a fair weather sport in
Oregon.

“The first tackle I made, I can’t tell you how excited I got,” he said.

Bergfried is hosted by Cliff and Becky Fortune and is the fourth exchange
student for the Mountain residents.

“We have five children of our own, but only two remain at home,” said Cliff
Fortune, who is also the Sandy High exchange student academic coordinator.
“We can’t seem to cook for just four, so Christian is a welcome addition to our
family.”

Figueroa is the first full-time exchange student for Steve and Lara Wilent –
former owners of The Mountain Times.

“We wanted to learn more about the program, and we have,” Steve Wilent
said. “And the main reason is that Santiago is an excellent ambassador.”

Adapting to American eating habits has been as different as, well, Germany
and Colombia.

“Having a KFC, McDonalds and Burger King right next to school was a big
surprise,” Bergfried said. “I like fast food. They have better burgers here, and
I love burgers.”

“The stereotype of America was you only eat junk food,” Figueroa said. “But
it’s not so. I’m a food lover, I eat all the time, and American food is great. I
gained 10 pounds already.”

The scholastic scene at Sandy High has proved quite different for both
students.

For Bergfried, he has adapted to having the same classes every day of the
week.

“It’s not like that in Verden,” he said. “Our classes are all mixed up and the
same 30 students stay the same throughout the school year. I like it better
here. And I like the sports programs as well. There are no sports in my
(German) school.”

Figueroa is impressed with how he’s able to pick the classes he wants to take.
“It’s completely different (at Sandy High),” he said. “In Colombia you take the
classes they tell you, and that’s it. Also, (in Colombia) you stay with the same
students while here you move around to different classes and get to know
more people.”

The cultural challenge has proved to be virtually non-existent.
Bergfried says he has fit right in with his Sandy High School counterparts.
Figueroa has been impressed with how friendly all the students have been and
said, “It’s been a really good fit for me.”

Bergfried concentrates on science and math and hopes, in the future, to make
his way in those fields.

“I want a good job, a good paying job, and being able to ski would be a
bonus,” he said.

Figueroa is an admitted physics nut and sees himself (in 10 years or so)
working at NASA.

“I love to learn how everything works in the universe. That’s my motivation.”

There is every indication that when these two return to their homelands at the
end of the school year, that the U.S. will not have seen the last of these two
classy students.