Over the years I have talked to a number of people who have participated in the exchange, either as a student or as a parent of student. I have to admit that I am still digging into the history as bit, trying to learn more about it, so my knowledge of who has been involved over the years is still quite limited. What continues to impress me is the friendships that have endured over time. Certainly that has not happened in all cases, as I know not everyone has continued to stay in touch. But that said, I am impressed with those who have built relationships over the years.
To no surprise, one of the founders of the exchange, former principal Steve Story, has maintained relationships with Lothar Fritz, a former educator at Uberlingen, who was integral in starting the exchange. They visited each other over the years and have continued correspondence far beyond their time working at their respective schools. I know that Mr. Story often communicates with Herr Fritz in regard to their mutual interest in football, or as we call it, soccer. In addition, I have talked with a number of parents of former students who have visited their former exchange students in their travels to Germany, some attending weddings and other big events that have taken place over the years.
Earlier this year I had conversation with Judy Heyer, who has remained in contact with her exchange partner, Thomas Lailach, over the years since they first met each other in 1985. They have become very good fiends, visiting each other countless times, including attendance at the recent wedding of Judy’s son. She remarked, “What an awesome experience the exchange was and I cannot express what it has meant for me! So glad it is still an option for our students.” Thomas’s son Nik came for a visit this fall at the start of the school year and spent a couple of days at school. Perhaps in the future he will be part of the exchange as well!
While we were in Uberlingen I had the opportunity to meet Joerg Burghardt, a retired teacher who participated in a number of previous exchanges. He traveled more than once with students, and developed a very strong relationship with former North Fayette teacher, Aaron Bicknese. Over the course of a number of years, Herr Burghardt has made a number of visits to West Union to visit his friend Aaron, as well as others he has met over the years. The reality is that in the big picture friendship can extend beyond oceans and continents, and because of this exchange, some friendships have endured for years. When you think about it, having that friend that you are willing to get on a plane and fly ten hours to see is a pretty special friend!
In recent years, at least in the time that I have been at NFV, I have seen siblings come on the exchange, and I have seen one of our families host seven exchange students, with all five of their daughters traveling to Germany. The Brian Gibson family has been all in on the exchange, and in talking with Linda, mother of the five girls who have participated, it has been an incredible experience. We have had a number of conversations over the years and being able to meet students from Germany and travel to their home has certainly been a highlight of the educational experience for their family at NFV.
One of our most recent students who was involved in the exchange, Rezner Buhr, has traveled back to Uberlingen, spending time with a number of people that she met when she took her initial trip in 2017. We have had students who have from Uberlingen on the exchange, and then their sibling has come over after the fact. A few years back, Janika Merkle was on the exchange and stayed with the David Pleggenkuhle family, and then the next year, younger sister Hanna spent the entire school year at NFV, staying with the Tim Feldman family.
When we were in Germany on this last trip, I was informed by Hans-Juergen Borde that according to GAPP, the German American Partnership Program, this is the longest continuous running exchange between two schools that currently exists. When you think about a chance meeting that took place almost forty years ago between two teachers who thought it would be a great idea to have an exchange, and the friendships that have been established, it is truly incredible!
No comments:
Post a Comment