By MICHAEL BOYLAN
Weekend Editor

Students at Sandy Creek High School had some visitors recently. Bill Bryan's German class played host to german students from Braunschweig, Germany for the last three weeks. For some of the German students, this was their first taste of America, and for some of the Americans, this was their first time living with someone with many cultural differences between them.

"The kids always seem to grow into the experience in very unexpected ways," said Bryan. "There must be negotiation, flexibility and compromise." The teachers from Germany, Wilifried Jescke and Frank Reinke, have been associated with many exchanges with America and find many positive benefits. This was Jeschke's fourth exchange with Sandy Creek. "By immersing themselves in a foreign culture, the students are forced to accept things and to learn," said Jeschke. "They see the differences in school, religious services and even in the youth culture."

The German students have responded positively to this part of the exchange. Before they made their trip, the students had an extra class once a week where the American culture and southern culture in particular was explained. "We talked about the term "Bible Belt" and discussed Baptists. Most of the students are Lutherans," Jeschke explained. "Some of the kids really liked American church services and were very impressed, often asking to go with the families that were attending services."

The German students enjoyed the classes at sandy Creek as well. After a certain point, attending classes was not necessary for the german kids and yet they continued to show up, in many different classes, ranging from Spanish to Science. They have had their share of fun and excitement as well, going to Hawks games, Braves games, the Renaissance Festival, Savannah, the north georgia mountains and, the pinnacle of the metro Atlanta experience, Little Five Points.

When talking directly with the students, this reporter found that the German kids had found many things they liked and disliked in America. One student, Andreas, was quite impressed by how much fast food is around the United States. It was his birthday last Wednesday, the day before they returned to Germany. "This is the first time that I haven't been with my parents on my birthday," he said. "I am surounded by nice people though and I am having a good time."

All of the students, American and German, seemed to have a good time and it was hard to determine which group was which. They played guitar, shot pool, listened to music, laughed, it was a world party that this reporter encountered and it felt good. When asked what they thought of American schools, many of the German kids responed by saying that "there is more hanging out at school" and "students are less disciplined."

It would have been remiss to not get their feelings on the Littleton Tragedy and the fear that it struck in schools across the country. Many of them talked about the coverage of the tragedy on television, saying that there was too much coverage. Herr Jeschke told of one girl who took a picture of the flag at half mast the day after the shooting. They had talked about the incident and the girl realized that it could happen anywhere. The shooting was very difficult for everybody, especially for Herr Bryan, who had to try and explain the situation, a situation that is inconceivable in Europe.

Despite the strange incidents in schools following the tragedy, the exchange trip was unmarred and the students, both American and German, look forward to meeting again in Germany this summer. The Sandy Creek students will travel to Braunschweig in five weeks for a three week stay. They will make a trip to Berlin, the new capital of Germany, and also get to see a tour of the newly opened Reichstag, The German Parliament. While seeing their new found friends and touring Europe are on their minds, so is the situation in Kosovo.

The teachers of both classes are just immensely proud of their students. They get rewarded when the kids continue their correspondence with their foreign peers, or when one student remarks that they still dream in German. All teachers, both German and American, concur that they know why they get involved year after year.: the kids.

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