German exchange students enjoy local Southern hospitality

Mar. 23—LENOIR — A group of 12 German exchange students have made Lenoir their temporary home this month through the German American Partnership Program.

The German American Partnership Program (GAPP) facilitates enriching cultural exchanges between schools in the U.S. and Germany. The program inspires intercultural understanding, promotes German language instruction, and fosters new and lasting friendships in the U.S. and Germany.

The 12 German exchange students are accompanied by two teachers, Svea Beiser and Gregor Fuetterer. They are here for three weeks to experience American life by going to class at Hibriten High School (1350 Panther Trail, Lenoir) and spending time doing daily activities, like shopping at the supermarket, with their host families.

Sascha Sanderlin, the German and Spanish language teacher at Hibriten High School, has also organized a great activity program for students to participate.

"I feel great that we are able to offer this experience to the students from Germany," said Sanderlin. "Being able to stay in another country is a life-changing experience that enriches people's lives."

Right now, there are about 10 host families in Lenoir that have graciously welcomed these students into their homes.

"I think the main experience is what the students get here with the families, because they have the chance to live together with them, to do the daily businesses with them, to go to the high school," said Fuetterer. "Also, of course, they get to experience the Southern hospitality, which is just always outstanding. This is something special that they'll never get to do again."

The German students have expressed immense gratitude and excitement about staying with their host families and experiencing the daily life of an American teenager.

"My host parents are very great," said Marlene. "They are so friendly, and they're taking good care of me. They share everything with me and are always willing to pick me up or drive me somewhere. I'm very grateful to be here."

"I had a lot of contact with my host family before I got here, but still, I was so nervous to meet them," said Skrollan. "But now, I feel so comfortable with them. I feel like home, actually. My host siblings are like new friends, we're hanging out all day whenever possible."

"I think the thing that hit me the hardest was actually the hospitality and the wholesomeness of the American family I am staying at," said Tobias. "I was really, really surprised at first how open they were to me."

"Hopefully, they create lasting friendships where students can visit one another when they are older," said Sanderlin. "I would love for the students to eventually have a chance to visit Germany, as well. Hopefully, they will stay in touch and continue to learn from one another after the Germans go back to Germany. Learning about another culture is so much better when you can talk to the people and see them. Now, our students will have a better perspective about German and American culture."

The city of Lenoir recognized the German students and staff during the City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 21. Lenoir Mayor Joe Gibbons and the council gifted staff a small city flag, a coin, and lapel pin, and gave all the students a city flag lapel pin.

The German students all mentioned how fascinated they are with America's large cities, particularly New York City, which is where they first arrived in the country. They were also able to tour Washington, D.C. and Williamsburg, Virginia.

"I think when we arrived it was a surreal feeling, because it's our first time," said Felix. "It was very great that we had a great view in New York of the World Trade Center ... We had time [to explore], fortunately."

The students said they also experienced a major culture shock upon entering an American supermarket for the first time.

"For me, it was the size of food packages," said Marlene. "For example, we have milk at [my host family's] home, and it's like double the size of our milk in Germany. Everything is like twice as big."

"The biggest one for me was the cashiers at supermarkets," said Svenja. "They're so talkative. In Germany, we are used to just throwing our business on and just finishing your job, not really catching up much. But when I was going to the supermarket with my host mother, she was just so talkative, I was overwhelmed."

Other major differences the students recognized included the use of cars in our daily lives. One student, Maren, said she was shocked when her host sister drove them to school in her own car.

"In Germany, a lot of students ride their bike to school, and if they do not ride their bike then they take public transport. In Germany, you're allowed to drive a car by yourself when you're 18, so not a lot of students go to school by car," she said. "I thought it was so crazy to come to a carpark where just student cars are, and there are so many. It's common for students here to go to school by car. I really like that."

The students will be returning home on Friday, March 31.

In Germany, these 12 exchange students attend the school BBZ Stegen, which is a supra-regional state special education and counseling center with a boarding school that specializes in hearing. For more than 50 years, the BBZ Stegen has been offering hearing-impaired children and young people both a general and a hearing-impaired-specific school education with central qualifications as well as a wide range of advisory services in the context of hearing. In addition to the central location in the municipality of Stegen (Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district), there are other external locations where educational and advisory services are provided close to home.

To learn more, visit https://www.bbzstegen.de.

Families that are interested in hosting a foreign exchange student are encouraged to contact Sascha Sanderlin by email at ssanderlin@caldwellschools.com.

"The exchange program is important so we can continue to understand one another across different cultures," said Sanderlin. "It is a mutually-beneficial experience. I have already heard about the many conversations that have taken place where people young and old are learning from one another. We often learn best through relationships with people ... Having the group from Germany back in Lenoir this year reaches so much more into our community. So many more students from around the county are able to exchange perspectives and ideas with one another."