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Feature
TI he CI ac I camas P rint
WEdNEsdAy, ApRil 25, 2001
Germans experience American culture at Clackamas
MAGGIE JIRASEK
Feature Editor
As part of an exchange pro
gram, German students from
Hanover have come to Clacka
mas’ classrooms for three
weeks, April 10-30, to experi
ence American campus life.
The exchange program with
Berufsbildende Schule 5, a
technical school located in
Hanover, was first established
two years ago and is the only
official German exchange pro
gram on campus. It gives Ameri
can as ^vell as German students
the opportunity to get to know
one another’s culture.
“I think this year's group is
very outstanding,” said Ger
man Instructor Dick Stones.
“The. students that come over
from Germany are very well pre
pared. They know better than
our students what they want to
do concerning their future.”
Every spring, a group of Ger
man students along with two
teachers come to Clackamas for
three weeks. In the summer,
American students go to Ger
many where they stay for a
month.
“We had about six different
teachers from Germany visiting
Clackamas,” said Stones. “When
we go over there, it’s usually just
David Miller and me. This year, the
German teachers are kind of like
the students. One of them is 32
years old. A secretary here at
Clackamas thought he was a stu-
MAGGIE JIRASEK / Clackamas Print
As part of an exchange program, Clackamas is hosting German students from Hanover for three weeks. The students will be
touring the college as well as touring Oregon's countryside. In return, American students will be going to Germany in the
summer.
dent.”
Teachers as well as students are
enjoying the exchange program
though some parts of American
culture are hard to get used to for
the German students.
“People are very friendly to us.
We like it here a lot but the food is
not that easy tq get used to. It
contains so much sugar and fat,”
said Ernst Barkhoff, German
teacher.
According to Brian Petro, Ger
man club president, having two
German students live at his house
is a good experience.
“The German students are funny.
I host two of them. Last week, we
took them to Costco. They just
walked in, stood there and stared
at the ceiling thinking ‘oh my God,
so much food’,” he said. “It was
pretty hilarious. They wanted to
buy milk and then they realized
that it comes in a six-gallon con
tainer.”
Activities for the German stu
dents are provided, including
trips
to
Mount
Hood,
Multnomah Falls and the Co
lumbia River.
“We toured different depart
ments of the college and we saw
some of Oregon’s countryside,”
said Barkhoff. “Every day we get
to see something new.”
Student teaches how to dance with beat
MAGGIE JIRASEK
Salsa, Rumba and the Tango,
enjoys his work at Clackamas.
“I like giving dance lessons.
I teach people even if they
A new Salsa class is being show up 30 minutes late, but I
offered on campus every Friday don’t have the time to learn
during spring term from 1 -2 p.m. their names,” Nunez said.
giving students the opportu
In his home country of Chile,
nity to experience Latin Nunez, who started dancing at
America’s beat in a special way. the age of eight, is a dance
Rene Nunez, ESL student and champion.
dancer, is teaching the class for
“The music is in my blood.
$6 an hour.
My mother used to
“People
be a champion in
can come
Tango,” he said.
"The music is in
between 1-
Patricia Dunn,
2 p.m., pay
my blood. My
an ESL student
$6, and get
who helps Nunez
mother used to be
one hour of
promote his dance
a champion in
Salsa les
lessons, enjoys his
sons. It’s a
class.
Tango. Rgne Nunez
very good
“A lot of
Dance teacher
price since
people don’t even
usually
know about this
you pay up
class but it’s a lot
to $50 for
of fun,” she said.
Salsa lessons,” explained
For more information about
Nunez.
the class, contact Spanish In
Nunez, who studied various structor Irma Bjerre, x2381.
dances in Chile including
Feature Editor
W Co/Me and îeel Thé be^T W
MIKE POLLOCK / Clackamas Print
Rene Nunez(right), ESL student and dance teacher, shows
David Miller, Spanish instructor, how to salsa dance.
Salsa lessons are offered every
Friday, 1-2 p.m., in the Gregory Forum.