Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

May 21, 2008, Page 2

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

German students take to Wisconsin 

By Peter Spicer

A harsh winter wasn’t enough to deter Neillsville High School German foreign exchange students Conny Sachsenheimer and Sabrina Görlich from wanting to stay in Wisconsin, a place they have grown attached to.

Sachsenheimer, a junior, and Görlich, a senior, weren’t sure what they were getting into when they found out they were going to be exchange students in Wisconsin for the 2007-08 school year.

“I’d never heard of Wisconsin before,” said Sachsenheimer.

Although neither student knew each other before coming to Wisconsin, Sachsenheimer and Görlich became fast friends despite not completely understanding each other’s German.

Görlich’s heavy Bavarian dialect made it hard for Sachsenheimer to understand her – the two live a nine-hour drive apart in Germany – but the two students grew accustomed to each other’s dialect and now converse in German regularly.

German is an easier language to use to explain certain situations, said Sachsenheimer.

Görlich lives near Munich, which has a population of approximately 1.5 million people.  Her German high school’s enrollment boasts 2,500 students.

Görlich had no problems getting used to Neillsville; however, thanks to a host family she’s grown close to.

“My host family is great,” said Görlich, who stays with Janice Kallian.  “We have great talks.”

 Sachsenheimer, who hails from Wilhelmshaven, near Hamburg, is staying with John and Sue Vornholt in Neillsville.

“I also have a great host family,” said Sachsenheimer, who attends a German high school with a 1,500-student enrollment.

The two German students found it easy to make friends at Neillsville.

“[Students are] so nice here,” said Görlich.

Although Görlich and Sachsenheimer were used to classes Germany, both didn’t mind the transition to Neillsville’s classroom. 

“[Classes] are way easier,” said Görlich.

Classes end at 1 p.m. daily at German high schools, but are more difficult, explained Sachsenheimer.

The biggest adjustment for both students was the weather.

Görlich was surprised at how long the Wisconsin winter lasted.  Sachsenheimer didn’t expect winter to be as cold as it was.

Görlich explained Germany’s winters never drop below the 20-degree mark, and it snows an average of twice each year.

Sachsenheimer and Görlich are now soaking up the warm weather and enjoying their remaining weeks in Wisconsin.  Sachsenheimer leaves June 9; Görlich departs June 14.

Görlich and Sachsenheimer have made the most out of their time at Neillsville High School.  Görlich participated in cheerleading, Sachsenheimer played golf, and both were involved in the Spanish Club.

In Germany, Sachsenheimer played piano and tennis but enjoyed her newfound sport.

“[Golf] is my favorite sport now,” said Sachsenheimer.

When Görlich and Sachsenheimer return to Germany, they will both have two years of high school to finish because the German education system has 13 grades.

Wisconsin left such an impact on Sachsenheimer and Görlich that both may attend a Midwest university after high school graduation.

Sachsenheimer wants to study in the medical field at either UW-Madison or the University of Minnesota.

If she can maintain an A average in Germany, Görlich said she can receive a complete scholarship to the American university of her choice, which she wants to be either the University of Illinois or Ohio State University.  Görlich plans to study management design.

In the near future, Sachsenheimer and Görlich want to visit Wisconsin again and are already planning to see their host families in the summer of 2009.

“[Wisconsin’s] my home now,” said Görlich, who admitted that returning to her German high school will be an adjustment.

When school lets out, Görlich will visit Washington, DC and New York City.  Both she and Sachsenheimer enjoyed seeing other parts of the United States during their stay.

Next school year, Görlich and Sachsenheimer will visit each other in Germany despite the distance apart.

“We can meet in Berlin” joked Sachsenheimer. 

 Neillsville High School German foreign exchange students Sabrina Görlich (l) and Conny Sachsenheimer are all smiles between classes at the high school.  Both have enjoyed making new friends and learning about high school life in Wisconsin.  (Photo by Clark County Press/Peter Spicer)