(Editor's Note: Twenty students - most from Ulm, Germany - recently visited PAHS for two weeks, leaving for home last week. They stayed with Paynesville families, with PAHS students who will travel to Germany in March, when they will stay with the family of their German student. This is the second time that a group of German students has visited PAHS. Most of the German students were visiting the United States for the first time. The Press asked them why they wanted to visit the U.S., what they enjoyed in Paynesville, and what surprised them here.)
Name: Ramona Braun
Host Student: Amber Jensen
Why were you interested
in coming to the United States?
I wanted to know something about the people's culture and how do they live in the U.S.
What have you enjoyed
about Paynesville?
The kids in school and the family life.
What has surprised you about
Paynesville or the United States?
Nothing 'til now.
Name: Charlotte Behrens
Host Student: Rebecca Leyendecker
Why were you interested
in coming to the United States?
I love traveling and experiencing different countries, and I'm very interested in the USA. I heard a lot about the USA, and I really wanted to experience it.
What have you enjoyed
about Paynesville?
Everyone is very nice and friendly to us, the exhange students. I enjoy the different way of life and the wonderful countryside.
What has surprised you about
Paynesville or the United States?
Everyone has so many cars, and everyone is so friendly to us exchange students.
Name: Manuel Dietmann
Host Student: Tyler Wendroth
Why were you interested
in coming to the United States?
I was interested in seeing how people in America live and how school is, etc.
What have you enjoyed
about Paynesville?
The community was good.
What has surprised you about
Paynesville or the United States?
All the different pops (drinks). The accent or slang, but I wasn't really surprised.
Name: Verena Endriss
Host Student: Samanth Moser
Why were you interested
in coming to the United States?
I've heard lots of good things about the USA. I wanted to know more about the culture and the people from the USA.
What have you enjoyed
about Paynesville?
I like the people from Paynesville. They are very friendly.
What has surprised you about
Paynesville or the United States?
The school life is very different to the German school life.
Name: Anna-Lena Hannekum
Host Student: Ashley Lieser
Why were you interested
in coming to the United States? I've never been to the United States before, so I was interested in doing that. I wanted to experience it.
What have you enjoyed
about Paynesville?
The people are very nice, and I like the way of living here. I also like the school life.
What has surprised you about
Paynesville or the United States?
The people have many cars and the people are very friendly to all of us, to tourists. Americans don't eat many fruits or vegetables.
Name: Lukas Kaufmann
Host Student: Aaron Bachman
Why were you interested
in coming to the United States?
Because I have never been there before and I always wanted to go there. I wanted to know how life is in America.
What have you enjoyed
about Paynesville?The atmosphere in the school. All pupils and teachers are friendly.
What has surprised you about
Paynesville or the United States?
I thought there would be more fat people, because everyone who returns from the United States to Germany said this. But I think it isn't like this.
Name: Klaus Romer
Host Student: Ross Barten
Why were you interested
in coming to the United States?
I want to see somethng of this world and have some fun!
What have you enjoyed
about Paynesville?
The parties, the cars...
What has surprised you about
Paynesville or the United States?
That school is so easy and not as strict as it is in Germany.
Name: Katharina Lang
Host Student: Kendra Johnson
Why were you interested
in coming to the United States?
My sister went to Paynesville two years ago, and she was so excited about it. So I decided to go to America for it has a different culture and I'm very interested in the American way of life.
What have you enjoyed
about Paynesville?
The people are very friendly and the atmosphere is great.
What has surprised you about
Paynesville or the United States?
Almost everyone has a dog or another pet. I was pretty surprised that every student has a car. At school classes are not as strict as in Germany.
Name: Malve Liebig
Host Student: Racheal Wendlandt
Why were you interested
in coming to the United States?
Because I weren't alone in another country and I wasn't alone before in another family. I want to learn English better, and I want to know something about American family life.
What have you enjoyed
about Paynesville?
I enjoyed the friendly people. The lakes because in Germany aren't many lakes. I enjoyed the school life and the big accounts.
What has surprised you about
Paynesville or the United States?
I was surprised about the many lakes where you can go tubing or skiing. I like the big malls, the shops. The families are so friendly.
Name: Lukas Olbrich
Host Student: Justin Bork
Why were you interested
in coming to the United States?
Because I went to America more times, and going to Paynesville is interesting because it's just small and you can enjoy the family life. And it's a kind of farmer's village.
What have you enjoyed
about Paynesville?
The family life and the "farmer's life" is very interesting. And some things that we can't do in Germany so easy, like go golfing.
What has surprised you about
Paynesville or the United States?
That in the family's house there is no fast food, it's the German food. Surprising was, that, because I thought that Paynesville is a small village, but it isn't, it's big.
Name: Mathies Matousek
Host Student: Sean Glenz
Why were you interested
in coming to the United States?
Because I like it to get to know new people and I wanted to get to know the American way of life.
What have you enjoyed
about Paynesville?
Having lots of fun with other students. Dairy Queen.
What has surprised you about
Paynesville or the United States?
That wrestling is a school sport.
Name: Greta Schmidt
Host Student: Carrie Zirbes
Why were you interested
in coming to the United States?
I thought it would be a good learning experience.
What have you enjoyed
about Paynesville?
The kids in school. The surrounding area. The family life.
What has surprised you about
Paynesville or the United States?
Nothing til now. I was prepared.
Name: Maxmilian Thinelt
Host Student: Cody Block
Why were you interested
in coming to the United States?
I want to learn how to speak really English and see how the people really speak. and what's life is like here.
What have you enjoyed
about Paynesville?
We went to school, drove the four-wheeler, and watched some interesting games (volleyball, football) at school.
What has surprised you about
Paynesville or the United States?
The countryside. The hugeness of the country. All the other things, cars, etc.
Name: Desiree Tipuric
Host Student: Brittany Lieser
Why were you interested
in coming to the United States?
I wanted to know how the people in the states live and to practise the English language.
What have you enjoyed
about Paynesville?
The classes at school were very relaxing and all the people are very friendly.
What has surprised you about
Paynesville or the United States?
The people here eat a lot of fast food, but aren't that fat.
Name: Ingeberg Wagner
Host Student: Lynn Lieser
Why were you interested
in coming to the United States?
I have been to America twice so I wanted to come again because I have never seen the school life and I was interested in it.
What have you enjoyed
about Paynesville?
Being with American young people and going to school. It was very interesting because it's different to Germany. I would like to come to Paynesville again.
What has surprised you about
Paynesville or the United States?
Every family member has his own car. The school life is like in the movies. I like it.
Name: Frieder Warth
Host Student: Shawn Reinke
Why were you interested
in coming to the United States?
I was interested in seeing how people live in America and how the school system works.
What have you enjoyed
about Paynesville?
The way the teachers talk with students.
What has surprised you about
Paynesville or the United States?
That all things are very big and large.
Name: Hannah-Sophie Ziegler
Host Student: Katie Bertram
Why were you interested
in coming to the United States?
I have never been in the USA so I was very interested in getting to know the way of life there.
What have you enjoyed
about Paynesville?
I have enjoyed the atmosphere in the family and in school. I liked the trips we made, and I would like to stay here longer.
What has surprised you about
Paynesville or the United States?
Everything is bigger than in Germany.
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