German student prepares to return home

Published:  Wednesday, December 2, 2009 (3 months, 2 weeks ago)
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BY STACY TAFF
The Delphos Herald
staff@delphosherald.com

Helen Meissner, center, with her host parents Pam Hanser and Rick Hanser.DELPHOS — For those who call Delphos home, it is strange to hear there are people from different countries who consider it a destination. Helen Meissner, 17, from Delphos’s sister city of Verl, Germany, has been anticipating a visit to Delphos since she was a kid.
“My father is in charge of the friendship link and exchange program between Verl and Delphos and both of my brothers have come to Delphos as exchange students,” Meissner said. “Ferdinand and John Otto Bredeick, who founded Delphos, are my ancestors, so I’ve been hearing about Delphos all my life and have always wanted to see it.”
Having met her host parents, Rick and Pam Hanser, three years before made it easier to get settled when she arrived on Aug. 4.
“We got to meet Helen and her family three years ago when we went to Germany and Helen and Pam hit it off right away,” said Rick. “So, when she expressed an interest in coming to Delphos as an exchange student, it was a no-brainer.”
“They’re awesome people, I’ve really enjoyed my time with them,” said Meissner. “Pam just retired as a teacher from St. John’s, so she was able to introduce  me to a lot of people and help me out with a lot of things, which was good.”
On the subject of school, Meissner says Delphos is very different from Verl.
“School is definitely different here. In Germany, high school is more like college. We can come and go whenever we want but here you go to school and you stay there until your day is done,” she said. “Here I’m in 12th grade but back in Verl I’m in 11th. We have 13 grades and this year is kind of a review year for me, so I can be over here without really missing much back home. Here all of your work is graded — you have tests, quizzes and homework. In Germany we only have a couple of tests and 50 percent of your grade is participation, so when I came here there was a little bit of stress but it helps to remember that my grades don’t count here.
“St. John’s is an awesome high school,” she continued. “I didn’t get involved in any sports or anything like that, not for the short time I was here. I play tennis in Germany but that’s not really a big sport in Delphos. I enjoyed the football games. The thing I’m going to miss the most is the school spirit. Here everyone is so proud of their school and it’s like a big union with the mascot and school colors. We don’t have that in Germany; it’s all about the learning.”
While at first the change in learning atmosphere may have taken some getting used to, the Hansers say Meissner has taken it all in stride.
“During parent-teacher conferences, all of the teachers said that Helen was an excellent student,” said Rick. “All of them said it was a pleasure to have her here.”
Meissner is set to leave for Verl Saturday and she hopes to one day return to Delphos for another visit.
“I love Delphos. It’s a small little town and everybody knows everybody. I’ve made a lot of friends here and I’m going to miss them,” she said. “I’d really love to come back but it’s pretty expensive, so we’ll see. We just had a meeting at school with the juniors and seniors where I told them about the exchange program and a few of them expressed an interest in coming to Verl. Since my dad is in charge of the exchange program, it may happen. I’d love it if they came.”
Meissner isn’t the only one who is sad about her imminent departure.
“We had a big family Thanksgiving send-off for her and she was able to meet 40 of our family members, including our kids,” Pam said. “We’re going to try and do a little St. Nick’s celebration before she leaves, too.”
“It’ was a great pleasure to have her stay with us,” Rick said. “We’ll miss her.”

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