Exchange students settle in
2005-11-17
LIVING in Paarl is very different from the big city of Bremen, in Germany, where she comes from, says Katharina Hamel (16).
Katharina is currently an exchange student at Klein Nederburg Secondary, along with Anja Iwanowski (17).
Also in Paarl are Tim Klausmann (16) at Paarl Boys’ HIgh and Marie Kusche (17) at New Orleans.
Anja hails from the town of Wolfenbuttel in South Germany, which is similar in size to Paarl. Tim comes from Dusseldorf and Marie lives near Hamburg.
Katharina is hosted by the family of Mercia van der Vent, a teacher at the school. Anja is hosted by Margo Fourie and her family in New Orleans. Tim lives with James and Jolene Genis at Schooneoord in Paarl, and Marie is staying with Reverand Ronald Allies of the UCC Betel Congregation in Groenheuwel.
As they are receiving their tuition in Afrikaans, they are all learning quickly and can already follow an Afrikaans conversation.
Says Katharina, “There is a big difference in the school curriculum. In Germany we have fourteen different subjects (including a number of languages) compared to only six subjects here.”
The visitors are multi-lingual, studying languages like German, English, Latin, French and Spanish, but they look forward to gossiping in Afrikaans when they get home, they giggle.
According to Anja, students tend to specialise after Grade 10 in Germany, when you have a choice of fields to study for another three years, including taking time off to travel as exchange student.
The four have found the poverty evident in squatter settlements unsettling, as Germany is more affluent. But they enjoy the sunny weather here, as they are used to a cold climate.
Says Mercia van der Vent, Katharina’s host, “Katharina is treated like the rest of the family, and my daughters immediately took a liking to her. She’s a lively and well-mannered girl.
“She’s in regular contact with her parents and we are proud to have her as our guest until July next year.”
Wearing school uniforms feels rather strange to them, especially during the colder months
Back home they have a free choice of clothes to wear to to school.
The exchange is organised by Youth for Understanding (YFU), an international student exchange organisation.
High School learners from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and the United States have all benefitted from spending a year and learning Afrikaans in Boland Towns.
Frank and Elizabeth Loose co-ordinate the volunteer host families and schools.
For more information contact Frank and Elizabeth at 872-3821 or e-mail them at frankel@xsinet.co.za
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