Rockville High School Senior Diary: GAPP

When you hear the word ‘gap,’ most people think of the outlet store that your mom bought you a few shirts in before you upgraded to Aeropostale. This year, GAPP, means something totally different.

The German American Partnership Program is a long-term, sustainable partnership between not only students, but teachers, schools, and communities as well.

This fall, our local high school hosted 12 German students from a school located in Frankenberg, Germany. Each perspective was a little different, but they all had the same feelings about traveling to Vernon, Connecticut. Whether it was because they were nervous , or they all genuinely felt that our town and school was so great, we will never know.

Many people may ask why they would ever want to visit Rockville High School. For them, it was all about the experience. “I wanted to come here because I have never been to a new country,” said Mia Pfeifer 14, from Heinichen said. “I wanted to learn better English and it is also a once in a lifetime experience.” Her friends all agreed that this was something that they could not pass up. But now that they are here, is it what they expected?

Roy Decker, a senior, from Langenstriegis, Germany, pointed out that people here, in school and around town, were very friendly, unlike at home. “People walk in and say ‘hi’ to each other and are always very friendly.” Not to say that Germans are unpleasant, but he noticed a difference in the atmosphere in our community.

Life is not much different than from our new friends’ from across the pond. They are all teenagers who want nothing more than to hang out with their friends. “I do not like how short your breaks are in between classes.” Mia said when asked about the dislikes of Rockville High School. “In Germany, we have our first class, then a ten minute break, and then our second class, and another ten minute break,” Mia explained. “We like to talk with our friends and relax before class. Here, you do not have time to talk to your friends.”

Very true Mia. Although anyone at RHS can attest to this; people make time to talk with their friends in the hallways and if it gets in the way of other people... Oh well.

School life and life in general other than a few scheduling difference is no different in Connecticut than it is in Germany. After school, they still stay for sports practice, like Roy and Pat Neef, 15, from Mercdorf, Germany, who play soccer. Mia goes to dance practice and they all agreed that they do not get a lot of homework on top of all of their extracurricular activities like they have seen so far.

In fact, when it was pointed out that some kids, especially those taking AP classes, easily have 4 hours of homework every night, they were in shock.

They were also in shock with the food choices that have been offered during their stay. The host families cook their regular meals, but when on their day trip to New York, Pat added that “everything is fried.” It is a bit unnatural to their diet at home. “I eat mostly vegetables at home.” Mia said, but when I asked if they liked the fried food here, it can not even be put into words what their reactions were. Their eyeS lit up like kids in a candy store. A diabetes-ridden, super sized candy store.

Their stay is not over yet, and they have a lot more of American to visit. There is so much to see and do, that they were excited to come back and even some, like Pat, to live here when they are older. So far, America has made a good impression on these young students. Hopefully we can keep the streak going in a few more months.

Photo Credit: Victoria Tracey