Monica D‘ (center) has become fairly good friends with schoolmates 11th grader Emily Arnzen (left) and Brianna Hellermann.

If anyone in the area wants to learn a bit about Norwegian customs, culture, food, games, and the teen scene - they can have a pleasant conversation with Monica Da.

Monica, is spending the school year at Melrose Area Public High School as a foreign exchange student. Energetic, witty, with a lot of questions and a good grasp of the English language, she is both willing to learn about the local area and the United States - and to tell about her country and her family's history.

"I like to talk to people," she said in a recent interview. "I hope people get to know me better throughout the year."

Monica is staying with the Rick and Peg Hellermann family. She is the middle of three children at her home in Norway.

"When I came here I had a brother," she said. "Adam is the brother I never had." (Adam has already graduated.)

Apparently it didn't take too long for Adam to fit into the role of a brother who likes to tease his new sister, or for Monica to reply to the teasing.

"They tease each other all the time," said Rick. "They really go at each other."

Peg Hellermann also noted that it has been a comfortable fit for the family. She noted that Monica has grown close to their daughters, Brianna (junior) and Abby (seventh grade).

Teasing people is something that seems to come naturally to her, and so does learning. The image of a stoic Norwegian would never describe Monica, but then her family history is not that of most of her fellow citizens.

"I was born in Norway," she said. "My mother and father came from Vietnam, through the Philippines after the war. My grandfather spent time in jail in Vietnam for being a Christian. He later came to Norway."

Her family lives in Solbergelva, a suburb of Oslo, capital of Norway. It has a population of about 5,500 inhabitants. It is best known for Solbergfestivalen, a town festival. She likes her town and her country.

"Norway is the best place to live," she said. "It is always on the lists of best places to live."

That said, when the tri-lingual student (she speaks English, Norwegian and Vietnamese and has started to take French), had a chance to visit the United States and live here for about a year, she took it. Her parents reviewed the various options available and felt that the central part of the U.S. would be the best.

"When she first thought of coming she was thinking like New York or the West Coast," said Peg. "Her mother preferred the central part of the United States."

One reason why Monica was hoping for one of the coastal cities, is not all that unusual for a teenager.

"It is all about shopping," she said when she listed the Outlet Mall at Albertville as one of the highlights of her visit thus far.

That interest in shopping extends to holidays. She is waiting for the Thanksgiving weekend - and not only for the chance to experience that holiday in the United States.

"That is weekend of Black Friday," she said referring to the day after Thanksgiving. "I am waiting for Black Friday."

Her interests, however, do go beyond shopping. She joined the Lady Dutchmen tennis team, because she liked the sport and had a chance to meet other people.

"I had private lessons at home. It was not on a team like it is here," she said.

Through a teammate she with a chance to visit a dairy farm.

Her classes in school have placed her in contact with a number of students.

"I am in the 10th grade, 11th grade, and senior grade, depending on the class," she said.

She noted that she finds the daily schedule a bit busier than her own.

"In school (in Norway) we have blocks of four classes every day. We have 15 minutes break between classes and 30 minutes for lunch."

She pointed out that in Norway students attend school for 13 years before high school graduation. She will have one year of class in Norway before she graduates.

Among her favorite classes in Melrose is U.S. history, particularity the Civil War, but she also likes current event classes.

"I like talking about the health care and other issues," she said.

She is also taking driving lessons and the tests needed to drive in the United States.

As the tennis season wound down, she could tell the weather was turning more toward winter. Although she comes from a nation famed for it winter athletes, she noted she really is not that crazy about the reports of the cold weather that should be coming. She also does not know if she will join a winter sport - although she may join the winter soccer club.

"At home we play bandy in the winter," she said. "Solbergelva is a center for bandy."

Bandy is played on ice with skates. It is similar to ice hockey and broomball, in that players use sticks to move the ball into a net. It is similar to soccer in its emphasis on low contact and passing.

The trip to the United States has shown there is more to the U.S. than New York and Los Angeles - and it has exposed her to a few new kinds of foods.

"I like fast food, tater tots and venison, especially the venison Rick makes," she said. She also realized that she likes chocolate.

With the holidays and winter coming, she will be exposed to those elements of life in America. So far she has very few complaints.

"I am really enjoying it all," she said.

And she will enjoy the chance to say hello and visit with people.

The Hellermanns are hosting Monica through the Aspect Foundation. Aspect Foundation students hail from nearly 30 different countries. These students, who arrive in August, are aged 15 to 18 and have a wide variety of interests and abilities. They are chosen on the basis of maturity, grades, and language skills. Host families are responsible for providing room, board and a loving home environment for the students. In return, host families and exchange students learn about another culture first hand, and gain a second family for life.

For more information visit www.aspectfoundation.org or call 320-859-4696.