German students visiting PHS experience life in America

PLATTSBURGH | Ten students, all high school sophomores from Rastede, Germany, are attending Plattsburgh High School as part of the German American Partnership Program (GAPP), a unique school-to-school exchange founded in 1987 by former high school German teacher Anne Bailey. Their city of about 23,180 people is in the Ammerland District, Lower Saxony in far northern Germany. The city is about 106 miles west of Hamburg and due south of Jade Bight, a bay on the North Sea. The teens traveled to Plattsburgh by train on Sunday, having spent three days in New York City. They're here to experience everyday life with an American family and community. They are living with host families here for the next three weeks. All speak fluent English, and the kids have been busy since they got off the train. "We watched a football game," Kalli said of their first outing at PHS. That is, American football. "Today we will watch a soccer game," he added with a grin. The group visited Burlington together with chaperones Daniela von Essen and Ronald Zange, teachers at their school, KGS Rastede. "It was so interesting to see, there are different stores than in Germany," Malin said, noting her first visit to a Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop and to Crumbl Cookies, which is a popular with youth on social media. To prepare for travel to the U.S., the students have studied various aspects of American history over the past few years, Zange said, from Native American culture to the founding of the United States in 1776. They have also learned about the history of New York State and the Plattsburgh City School District. The visit here helps them see for themselves what it's like to live in America, Zange said. "The preparation helps improve their experience." GAPP LEGACY Von Essen said this exchange was founded by Bailey and Marika Heimbach, a teacher in Germany with connections to Plattsburgh. "I was a student on this trip in 1987," Von Essen said with a smile. "Since 2011, I've traveled with them as a teacher." GAPP is coordinated by PHS World Languages teacher Jessica Klimkiewicz, who will bring group of Plattsburgh High School students to Rastede next March. Through the years, German youth have met with five mayors. Gifts from previous visits are kept in City Hall. The clock they presented to former mayor Jim Calnon still sits on the Common Council table. And on Wednesday, Oct. 2, they visited City Hall and met with Mayor Christopher Rosenquest. Von Essen greeted the city Mayor's Assistant Beth Carlin at the door with a hug. The 10 students acted a dramatic play about the founding of Rastede that dates to the year 1059, recounting a fight between Count Friedrich of Rastede and a ferocious lion. GOOD QUESTIONS In discussion, each had a good question for the mayor. The first student asked how much of the budget and city planning is focused to address Climate Change. "What we do is look at ways to improve operations and offset greenhouse gases," the mayor said, describing steps the city has taken to reduce its carbon footprint through guidance by the Climate Task Force, taking inventory of city vehicles, power and fuel usage and ways to add electric vehicles. Von Essen noticed bicycle lanes have been added since they visited a few years ago. In Rastede, Zange explained, the primary mode of travel is by bike. KGS Rastede has a lower floor that can hold more than 700 bikes for students and staff to use getting to and from classes and around the city. "We can see it's getting better here," Von Essen said. Mayor Rosenquest said bicycles are an important component of transportation, not only for reducing fossil fuel use, but also for access in a city where many people live on moderate incomes. "Bike lanes allow travel by bicycle for people who cannot afford a car or who don't have two cars," he said. Students at SUNY Plattsburgh and at Clinton Community College also rely on bicycles for mobility. "The bike laned have a huge socio-economic impact to insure equal opportunity for transportation. And we have a plan to continue to expand access for bicycle use in the City of Plattsburgh." Students asked the mayor what is his favorite place in Plattsburgh. "The City Beach," he said, thoughtfully. "The beach location on Lake Champlain is one of the biggest natural resources that we have." Asked what he enjoys most about being mayor, Rosenquest described comprehensive plans put in motion in recent years to improve city water and sewer infrastructure, to repair and restripe roads, update Information Technology, and invest in parks, all while solidifying the city's financial stability. "We have 23 parks, and that does not include our trails," Rosenquest explained to the youth. "We've done a lot of investment to improve those." The mayor thanked the students for taking time to visit City Hall. "Thank you for coming to the City of Plattsburgh," he said. "It's a pleasure to have you here." The meeting gave Rastede teenagers a chance to view history from the mayor's seat, Common Council chairs and also from the top of Macdonough Monument, which they climbed. Zange said the exchange students will visit other scenic and historic areas in the region on weekend trips with host families. "It's up to the families, but they sometimes visit Lake Placid or Montreal, other interesting sites near Plattsburgh." The German teenagers will attend PHS through Oct. 14 and are thrilled with the opportunity to experience what it's like to live in America.

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German students visiting PHS experience life in America

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