—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 12, 1975
12
Young foreigners love America
By Dieter Krieg
Without exception, American schools were described as
being a “snap” and “so easy it’s unbelievable,” by foreign
exchange students visiting in Lititz last week.
When Elsa Scheitl of Austria was asked if schools here
were easier, she answered; “Are you kidding? In Austria
I took 13 courses per year, here I only had five." She
commented that in her country 15 years of school are
required, boys and girls go to separate schools and
elective courses are unheard of.
Andreas Hufnagel, an exchange student from Germany,
described the American educational system as being
“totally different.” He had spent the past year in Illinois,
attending a small school there as a senior. “School here is
a snap,” he said. “In Germany we have only essay exams
which do not leave students with a theoretical chance of
receiving a perfect score, as is possible with multiple
choice tests even if the student does not know the subject
matter.” Even though he graduated from high school (in
the U.S.) he still has two years of studying to do in Ger
many.
In all, 41 foreign exchange students, sponsored by the
American Field Service (AFS), arrived in Lititz last week
while on route to New York. The group stayed for several
days with host families in the area and took part in the
community’s Fourth of July celebrations. The big holiday
hadn’t arrived yet, but the show of patriotism not just
this month, but throughout his visit turned out to be one
of the most impressive things about America as far as
Hufnagel was concerned.
“I have only heard the German anthem at Olympic
games when Germany placed among the top three
competitors,” the 17-year-old explained, “but here the
‘Star Spangled Banner’ is played prior to every sporting
event.”
He was surprised to find the American flag flying
“everywhere,” including churches, and added he did not
think a place of worship was the proper place for the
national colors. “The German flag is only flown at official
buildings,” he remarked.
A young Argentinian, German Braillard, expressed
disappointment over the lack of participation he wit
nessed at the voting polls in this country, pointing out that
in his native country everyone is required to vote.
Displaying a friendly smile, the slender, dark-haired
youth said he learned a lot about himself and the United
States during the past year, “You have poor people here
too, not everyone drives a Cadillac,” he chuckled.
Hearing the South American’s comments, Hilda Van
Der Merwe, a pretty blonde from a country which has the
same initials as ours (Union of South Africa) chimed in:
“Oh, yes, I thought my family would have two cars, an
airplane, swimming pool, and huge house, but actually we
have a bigger home in South Africa.”
When first asked to list what impressed her most about
the United States, she and a companion, Wendy Law Ah
Kee, responded simultaneously that the two USA’s were
very similar, “there’s nothing really different except we
drive on the left side of the road.”
“Everybody is real friendly,” the petite Wendy
remarked. Were you disappointed with anything? we
asked the young Chinese girl who lives in South Africa.
“No,” she answered, “but everybody isn’t as rich as I
thought they’d be.” The impression of Americans being
rich was a common one among the young foreigners, as
was the more realistic and factual observation that this
country holds vast amounts of potential wealth in its
resources.
Foreign exchange
students visiting the
Lititz area last week
included these young
people representing
Venezuela, Argentina,
Peru, and Costa Rica.
Miss Van Der Merwe, a tarm girl, says her family owns
between 4,000 and 5,000 acres in South Africa, with fruit,
wheat, sheep, ostriches, and a small herd of cows making
up the bulk of the farming enterprise. “By South African
standards, it’s just a small farm, really, because we have
a lot of mountains there,” she remarked.
Ostrich eggs are certainly something Americans don’t
get to see every day if ever. Miss Van Der Merwe ex
plained that one of the big bird’s eggs is equivalent to 24
chicken eggs and so strong that a person can stand on it
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Not So Rich
Although none of the 41 students, representing 27
countries from around the world, said they got homesick
during their 12 month stay in America, there were some
things which they missed, such as soccer, the beach,
mountains, and traditional holiday customs.
Hufnagel, a friendly, sandy haired fellow who stands 6
feet 3 inches tall, said he missed German black bread and
German beer. “American beer tastes like soap water,” he
said matter-of-factly.
Phil Landis (right), a senior at Warwick High
School, with exchange student, Andreas Hufnagel
from Reinheim, Germany.
While in Lititz the group took part ui Fourth of July
celebrations, treating thousands of spectators to a talent
show presented at the band shell in Lititz Springs Park.
Their performances stressed friendship between coun
tries of the world and appreciation for the country and
organization (American Field Service) which made their
visit to the States possible.
To offer spectators a glimpse of life in their own
respective countries, the young foreigners sang, danced,
and modeled national costumes. A friendly group, all of
whom spoke excellent English, the visitors captured the
audience’s applause and approval throughout the hour
long presentation.
The “organization of convenience” is what impressed
Norwegian Kjetil Vangsnes more than anything else.
Friendly, gregarious, and highly observant, “K.J.”, as he
liked to be called, commented on subjects ranging from
economics to ecology, politics to education, and living
standards to geography.
Going into a little more detail on what he meant by the
“organization of convenience,” such as doing your
banking from within your car, Miss Van Der Merwe en
thusiastically added: “Oh, yes, definitely, we didn’t have
all that jazz in our country.” The “jazz” she and “K.J.”
referred to were all the cars, bigger cars, dishwashers,
reclining chairs, cheap gas, ‘those radar things which
open garage doors,’ remote control TV, electrical ap
pliances, ready to eat foods, and “all the kids have access
to cars.”
Miss Kee laughed, twirled her finger in front of her face
in a circular motion, and commented that American
teenagers “go riding around town” for their kicks. “In
America you never walk,” “K.J.” grinned.
When we commented about their keen and thorough
observations of life in the United States, the two South
African girls explained: “We take notice of what’s around
us because our time to leam here is limited. Also we have
learned a lot about our own country while being here.”
Similar comments were made by the other visiting
students, all of whom seemed to be genuinely .and deeply
interested in America and Americans. “You have to be
observant and try to get as much out of the visit as
possible,” commented Hufnagel, “otherwise you get no
profit out of it.”
The friendliness of Americans rated high with everyone
interviewed. Miss Kee was in fact somewhat homesick for
Illinois, whose flat, land-locked terrain differs sharply
from the rugged mountains and warm beaches she knew
in her native Port Elizabeth, South Africa. “There were so
many fantastic people, I could go back,” she said ex
citedly.
“I generally like people better here than at home,”
remarked Luzian Ruch, from Switzerland, whose
trademark seemed to be the ever present beret parked on
top of his medium-length dark curly hair. “You’re ac
cepted immediately,” the amiable traveler said. “By
comparison the Swiss are very reserved.”
Likes American Girls
Girls are what interested and impressed young Rob
Hawkins the most. “You have some really nice girls
here,” he remarked with an Australian accent, the only
clue to his being a foreigner.
He was also impressed by the number of youth
programs offered through schools and the community.
“There are no youth programs in Australia,” he said,
while “K.J.” and the South Africans nodded to indicate
similar shortcomings in their countries.
“American students spend a fantastic amount of tune to
practice in athletics,” the Australian said.
Levent Kuey, a well-mannered outgoing young man
from Turkey, who spent some of his time in Illinois
writing for the local paper, said he believes American
schools put major emphasis on music, sports, and other
areas, while serious studies are the “real ex
tracurricular” activities in comparison to the educational
system in his country.
Wilnorie (Willie) Rasay, from the Phillipme Islands,
agreed with Hawkins, saying schools in his country are
much harder and strict. He emphasized “strict” as
though he had just received a paddling, which was
definitely not the case because the group was having a
quiet party at the home of John Tomlinson, one of the host
families. “Things are more relaxed here,” he grinned.
“At home we have to wear uniforms to school.”
Hufnagel, however, was disappointed by the lack of
social programs available to American youths, claiming
that in his country every community provides facilities
for its young people where they can play ping pong,
billiards, or hold dances. He said the young people
themselves are responsible for keeping the recreation
area clean and neat.
In explaining the AFS program briefly, Hufnagel said it
includes youths from all over the world, except Com
munist countries, and the price charged to participating
students varies according to the economic status of the
country.
Students from developing nations paid considerably less
than those from advanced parts of the world such as
western Europe.
“My father and I paid about $1,200 for the opportunity to
come over here for a year,” Hugnagel explained, adding
that host families do their part on a strictly voluntary
basis and are parents to the student while he or she is a
guest in their home.
While the group stayed in Lititz, 33 families served as
hosts. Miss Van Der Merwe added that four families must
be signed up as hosts for each student to assure com
patability. She pointed out that 85 percent of the students
and host parents are matched successfully, but it is
beneficial to all concerned if an alternative is available.
“The AFS program is wonderful,” Miss Van Der Merwe
and “K.J.” agreed, while other students within the con
versation circle gave spontaneous nods and expressions of
approval. “A person can leam so much about himself and
others,” the thoughtful Norwegian remarked, “all the
understanding that comes out of this, it can’t be fathomed
immediately you become a new person and leam to
handle people.”
The program, as students described it, provides tran
sportation and insurance expenses, as well as an
allowance, and is operated as a non-profit service.
American television met with some criticism, par
ticularly the commercialization of it. “K.J.” opinionized
that Ralph Nader still had a lot to accomplish yet as far as
commercials on television are concerned. Hufnagel ob
served that it wasn’t just TV advertising which bothered
him, but the entire advertising spectrum, which is not
nearly as widespread in Germany. Moving light chains
and billboards, for example, are uncommon in his native
country. TV game shows came off as being ‘phony.’
Aside from being very favorably impressed by the
hospitality of the people, availability of consumer goods,
patriotism, and freedoms of the United States, Hufnagel
came to realize through his experiences that a person
can’t have a stereotype image of a foreign country or
foreigner. He admitted to having had misunderstandings
and misconceptions of the United States and its people.
Miss Van Der Merwe announced that she was asked quite
a few questions about her country which revealed wrong
impressions, such as “Do you ride elephants’ Do you eat
people? Do you wear clothes at home or grass skirts?”
.! Continued, on Paw iJU
33 Host Families