Exchanging More Than Just Students

Woodbury resident Norbert Huber was born in Germany.

Before his family left, his grandmother told him: “Never forget Germany.”

He hasn’t, and thanks to a student-exchange program he founded, neither will dozens of local young people.

The program marks its 30th anniversary this year. Huber spent 38 years at North High School as a German and math teacher. The program started at in 1996, he said.

“It’s never the same,” Huber told Patch. “It’s always fresh. It’s always new. It’s always exciting. It’s fun to see the friendships established and know that they will last forever.”

Patch sat down at Woodbury High School on Tuesday with about 20 American and German students involved in the program. They talked about the cultural differences between the two nations, what their four-week journey to the U.S. has been like, and what they hope to accomplish through the exchange program.

Most said they were here to learn English (though most spoke it fairly well), but also to make friends and experience another culture. Because they’re in the U.S. for such a short time, the students and their host families try to cram as much of the “American lifestyle” into their visit as possible.

A few observations from the students:

• In Germany, there are fewer elective classes and the sports are run through club teams rather than through the schools.
• Coming from the small German town of Homberg (on the Efze River), the students—17- and 18-year-olds—said they were struck by the size of the skyscrapers in Chicago, where they spent a week before heading to Woodbury.
• Students in Germany will play elaborate pranks on their teachers, though they were surprised how close American students are with their own. One German student said she was shocked that students had their teacher’s cell phone number.
• The German students have found Americans to be open-minded and helpful. (They also enjoyed going to a Twins game and visiting the Minnesota Zoo.)
• One Woodbury student said her German counterpart was amazed to see a water dispenser in a refrigerator.
• For the two Woodbury students who previously visited Germany, they said things were generally smaller there, and noted how German students were surprised by giant food retailers here. “We’re not proud of those, by the way,” said one Woodbury student.
• Another Woodbury student said he was surprised to see 5.5 percent milk in Germany.

Huber, meanwhile, said it’s the combined experience that makes the program a success.

“It goes well beyond what happens in the classroom,” he said. “It’s not a typical tourist experience. That’s the true value here.”

The other half of the exchange happens this summer, when five students from Woodbury High School will head to a Homberg school for three weeks, according to WHS German teacher Theresa Moran.

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