After a flight delay holding his arrival to America back, Try Rizley “Rizky” Almaeda, who is currently a senior at NHS, is prepared to begin his new life here in Wisconsin.

From a crowded city in Kupang, Indonesia, Almaeda was offered a full scholarship to study abroad and arrived in Wisconsin in early August. Although fatigued from jetlag, he was excited and relieved to finally meet the Oestreich family, where he will be staying until June.

Upon his arrival, Almaeda says Wisconsin was clean and beautiful like the clear oceans of Bora Bora. But Neenah was cold like the Arctic compared to Indonesia. His hometown of Kupang is sizable to Neenah; however, it is overly crowded – with about three hundred thousand people.  With the students, teachers, and citizens of Neenah being welcoming, it was not a hard transaction.

During his time here, Almaeda has enjoyed free tickets to a Packer game, Badger game, as well as a Timber Rattlers game. He desires to visit even more places stretched across Wisconsin.

Two goals of being here include: “ I really want to improve my English, and I want to learn how everyone acts here.”

At first it was hard speaking in only English, but he says that he is getting used to it and is in the process of learning Spanish. Almaeda also wants to learn: how people greet, apologize, and make eye contact.

Coming from Indonesia, a country that doesn’t use American social-norms, making eye contact and greeting others was a challenge to get used to.

He also wants to make more friends, being involved in many after school clubs such as: AFS club, SEA club, knitting club, k-club, math club, key club, and volleyball. Also, in the hopes of soon joining student council and tennis in the spring.

Without much time outside of school, the time he does have, he wishes to spend it talking with his host mother and by eating out each weekend with his host family.

Almaeda’s favorite American food he excitedly shouted, “Cheese curds!” He absolutely enjoys the different types of food offered here.

Before returning home, Almaeda says he wants to leave a sweet memory for everyone, attempt to make homemade cheese curds, but most of all – touch snow.