MARS — A foreign exchange student from Germany has taken root in the American way.

Dominik Rupp, 17, of Wildeck-Hoenebach, a small town located 100 miles northeast of Frankfurt, is attending Mars High School as a senior.

He lives with the Sleigh family of Mars: parents Mike and Anita and their children, Ian, who is a Mars High sophomore, and Mackenzie, who attends Kent State University.

Dominik joined the Boy Scouts in 2009 in Germany. He said he really enjoyed the activities and the emphasis on the outdoors.

“It's just something different,” he said. “It gets you out of the electronic world.”

Dominik said when he chose to be an exchange student, he had hoped to continue with the Scouts in the United States, so he was excited when matched with the Sleigh family. Ian was already involved in Boy Scout Troop 400 in Mars.

“It is not just a hobby or a club,” Dominik said. “It is a big part of my life.”

Dominik said there is also an element of curiosity involved in the Scouts abroad.

The first thing that struck Dominik as he entered American Scouting was the patriotism laced in the program. He said he was a little confused by the attention to the flags to begin and end ceremonies and meetings.

The reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance was foreign to Dominik who said in Germany they don't say anything so patriotic. He said there were other aspects about the structure of the meetings that seemed militaristic.

He said it was just something he had to learn about as he continued to attend meetings, and Ian assisted him by explaining the procedures and other details.

Dominik said he feels like he is fitting in with his fellow troop members,

Ian said, “I get asked all the time if he's coming on the Monday nights, so he's definitely popular.”

Dominik said he doesn't mind all the questions.

“That's why I'm here,” he said. “To show the German side and to learn about the American side.”

Dominik said the similarities are pretty apparent because the German program doesn't stray from the outdoor-friendly activities common to almost all Scout programs.

He said both programs are also tied into the Christian religion. In Germany, Scouting is linked to the church, and in America, most Scout troops are also sponsored by a church.

Dominik said one thing that is different is the ranking system. He said there are only four Scout ranks in Germany, and German Scout uniforms are less decorated with their accomplishments.

“You don't get as many patches and all of this stuff,” Dominik said, gesturing toward his uniform. “Patches for most of the time are just to show from which group you are from and which camps you were at.”

He said American Scouts also reach a pinnacle of the Eagle Scout before transferring, if they want to, into Life Scouts, a Scouting program for young adults.

Dominik said he attended and even participated in an Eagle Scout ceremony when he first began attending the troop's meetings.

“The honoring of the Eagle Scout was really impressive,” Dominik said. “They really make a little party together with the parents there.”

He said the ceremony involved showing pictures of the Scout throughout his journey, and his family and his current and past leaders were present.

“It was a really emotional thing,” Dominik said. “And then, they all had a party to congratulate him, and it was really cool.”

Dominik said there is a ceremony in German Scouting, but a Scout's family is less involved their program.

“In Germany it's more of a thing with just your Scout group,” Dominik said. “I really like that the parents are involved (here.)”

Dominik said his host family has helped him feel comfortable enough to ask questions.

“In a way, you sometimes feel uncomfortable to ask things,” he said.

He said Scouting and running on the school's cross-country team have helped him connect with Ian.

Dominik's comfort is best illustrated by the way he refers to Ian as his brother when talking about their relationship. He calls Anita his mother and Mike his father, too. He said it's simpler this way.

“I think it's more personal to say Dad and Mom because for this year, it's really your new family,” Dominik said. “Right from the beginning, I felt really comfortable in the family.”

Mike Sleigh said it took Dominik some time to understand that he didn't need to ask permission to do even simple things such as rummaging through the refrigerator for a snack.

“It's different from when you have someone visit your house for a couple of days,” Sleigh said. “From the get-go, we knew this was going to be for a year, and you have to get past that (uncomfortable stage.)”

Anita Sleigh said Dominik could not have been a better fit for their family.

“It has been surprisingly easy to have him with us,” she said. “It helps that he is an easygoing person and always asks if he can help with different chores and activities.”

“Dominik's English language skills are improving all the time,” she said. “He quickly learned that he had to limit the time he spoke in German because it made the switch back to English hard.”

Mike Sleigh said the experience is working well for the teens including Ian, who hopes to join the U.S. Navy after high school. He said being able to meet and learn about someone from a different culture would help guide Ian in future interactions in foreign countries.

Ian said he has heard stories from Dominik and feels the German program does a lot more outdoor activities. He said it is something he would like to see change in the American program.

“I've talked with our Scoutmaster, and we're going to try and do more things like what they do with our own twist to it,” Ian said.

Mike Sleigh said Dominik has also found a place in the community, even earning a spot on Mars's homecoming court.

Sleigh said a true sign of Dominik's commitment to learning through experience was seeing the teen in the back of a truck with two other exchange students during the homecoming parade. He said it was a special moment.

“You don't get more American than that,” Sleigh said.

Dominik said it has been a good experience so far, and he hopes to continue to absorb as much as possible about a country that he has heard so much about.

“It's 'the land where everything is possible,' people say,” he said. “I just want to see how people live here.”