Difference in schedules, language and culture didn't stop Rotary International Youth Exchange Students Luciana Pilatti and Annika Sala Hulshof from enjoying their time in the Sandhills.

From playing volleyball to traveling around the country, the two juniors at Pinecrest had a busy year in the U.S.

Both girls say the experience has changed them.

"It's a great opportunity to see how different people live," says Hulshof. "I think I've changed a lot, in a good way."

Hulshof is from Wolfsburg, a city located in northern Germany. Her grandfather, a Rotarian, suggested she look into the Rotary student exchange program when she told him she was interested in studying abroad.

Pilatti hails from the city of Neuquen, in the Patagonia region of Argentina. When she became interested in spending a year abroad as an exchange student, her father contacted some of his friends in the city's Rotary club, who suggested that she apply through their club.

The application process was competitive. Pilatti says she knew other students who didn't get in the program, and she herself had to submit applications, supplementary information and undergo interviews before being accepted.

In addition, the students choose the three top places they'd like to study, and sometimes they don't get to go to the country they want. Hulshof was told at first she would have to go to Mexico, which was not her top choice. She appealed the decision, saying since she had family in Mexico, she could stay there at any time.

Pilatti says the nine months she's spent in the U.S. have had an impact on her.

"I think I'm definitely more open-minded," she says.

She arrived Aug. 9 of last year, in time to attend practices for the Pinecrest High School volleyball team. There she met Hulshof, who also plays volleyball.

Attending the practices allowed the girls to meet some other Pinecrest students before the school year began.

"It was nice to already know some girls before the first day of classes," says Hulshof.

The varsity girls had a good season, placing second in the conference and advancing to the second round of the playoffs.

The school sports program was a new thing for Hulshof and Pilatti. In Argentina and Germany, the schools don't have after-school sports programs. Rather, those interested in playing sign up for club sports, which are totally independent from schools.

"They take sports very seriously here," says Hulshof.

The after-school practices and games also meant a change in schedule for the two.

"We spend the whole day in school," says Pilatti. "We go home at 5:30 or 6, when we're done with sports."

That's a much longer amount of time than her school day in Argentina, she says.

Meals are another area in which the girls have had to adjust. Pilatti was used to eating at 9:30 or 10 p.m., standard dinner times in Argentina. Here, she usually eats around 6:30 or 7 p.m.

In Germany, Hulshof says, the biggest meal of the day is lunch, and dinner is normally a light meal. Here, it's the opposite -- lunches are smaller, and dinner is usually the biggest meal of the day.

Constantly speaking in English as well as taking classes proved another challenge.

"For me, it was hard at first," says Hulshof.

She had taken English for seven years in Germany, two times a week. Still, it was tough for her switch to speaking English constantly.

Pilatti says it was much easier for her. She had taken English classes every day for two hours since she was six years old, and had covered a range of topics including geography and history of English-speaking countries.

Another change for Pilatti was the system of changing classes -- going to a different classroom for each class. In Argentina, she says, classes stay in one room and teachers go from room to room to teach their subjects.

Both girls are rising seniors in their home countries, but since their schools won't accept credit from U.S. schools, they're taking courses based more on their own interests than school requirements.

Pilatti is taking French, psychology, speech, and music classes, while Hulshof is taking French, AP art, choir, and honors chemistry. Both have to take English 3 and U.S. history, which are required for PInecrest juniors.

The Sandhills is warmer than Germany, weather-wise, but has about the same climate as Argentina.

The girls have traveled a lot during their time here. They've gone to Los Angeles and San Francisco, Calif., Orlando and Miami, Fla., to Niagara Falls, N.Y., and hiking and skiing in Virginia with other exchange students.

So far, the two say Los Angeles and Miami are their favorite cities. On May 19, when they travel to New York together for five days, they may add another to the list.

"I think New York will be a favorite," says Hulshof.

Now, they're thinking about what it will be like to return to Argentina and Germany.

"It's going to be interesting to adjust again," says Pilatti.

"I've enjoyed my time here, but I'm looking forward to going back."

Pilatti will graduate from high school in December in Argentina. After that, she'll probably apply for college there, she says. She might be interested in pursuing a career in law, she says, but doesn't know for sure right now.

Hulshof says she'll either go to school for another year and then apply for college, or spend some time in France. She enjoys art, design, and thinks she might like working in the tourism industry since she likes languages and enjoys working with people.

Contact Laura Eddy at laura@thepilot.com.