Exchange students welcome in Paarl
2008-09-11
Devidean Moses
THREE exchange students, two from Germany and one from Belgium are currently hosted by students of La Rochelle High. The youngest, Stella Germann (15) who lives near Frankfurt in Germany, will spend the rest of the year at La Rochelle High School as exchange student of the Experiment.e.V.orga-nisation. The multi-lingual Stella speaks four languages: German, English, French and Spanish. “When I came to South Africa during the school holidays I soon felt at home with the Prinsloo family (Barry, Mary and their daughter Jo-Ann) in Denneburg. “Only once I got here did I discover that Afrikaans is very similar to German, although I cannot speak it yet,” says Stella. The strict discipline at local schools is a strong contrast to what she is used to. “At my school in Germany I don't have to wear a school uniform, but I don't want to forget my uniform when I leave South Africa”. Stella is not a rugby fan, but enjoyed herself at the interschools between Paarl Boys’ High and Gymnasium High, as well as the derby between Klein Nederburg and New Orleans Secondary. She was impressed by the strong school spirit of local students. * Charline Niesten (18) hails from Liége in Belgium with French as her home language. She is a Rotary exchange student who recently matriculated and will spend a whole year in Paarl. She joined her French speaking host family, the Friederichs (Marc, Maya and their sons Yann and Benoîte), a month ago. She is now in Grade 11 at La Rochelle High, moving to Grade 12 with her classmates next year. For Charline it was very hard to say good-bye to her parents for a year, but says that it is going to be harder for her when she has to leave South Africa. She is enjoying her new life and despite the language divide, is making rapid strides to improve her English. She is used to a longer school day in Germany, where classes usually end after four in the afternoon. * Alina Henne (17), from Neuss in Gemany, says that South Africans are very friendly. Her five month visit was made possible by the organisation Eurovacances, who took her and 18 other exchange students on a tour of Cape Town and Robben Island before bringing her to Paarl. She is hosted by Calton du Plessis and Judith du Plessis, and their daughters Veruschca and Carlon du Plessis, who live in Market Street, Paarl. Alina has also been forced to improve her English rapidly, and would like to learn Afrikaans as well. “I enjoy every day at my new school,” says Alina.
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