By Liz McBreen
The ten young people came to America from Switzerland as part of Millennium Rotary. Rony Kessler, President of the West Hempstead Rotary Club explained that there are about 40 rotary clubs in the area, and they can take part in this program to bring people from other countries to the United States, as well as send Americans abroad.
"This group is between 20 and 25 years old, and they are the first team of this age group to come over as part of the program," said Kessler.
The team, which arrived two days before their visit to the high school, is visiting for three weeks. The students stay with host families during their time in America, who are asked to expose their visitors to American culture and the English language as much as possible.
After a welcome from Superintendent Carol Eisenberg and Principal Anthony DiBitetto, a tour of the school followed. The team and rotary members also went to the Queens museum, followed by a visit to the Jamaican Beef Patty Factory in response to the team's specific request to see a factory, and they ended the day with dinner at Connolly Station.
Peter Bieri, the president of the Rotary Club Augst-Raurica in Switzerland, accompanied the students on their visit. He explained that there are three different programs available through the rotary club exchange program. "The first option is to visit another continent for an entire year. This is the most popular program. The second is for professional people between the ages of 30 and 35, and the last is the one that has brought us here today. It is a new generation program for people between 20 and 25."
The trips are meant to give participants an idea of what it is like to live in the country they are visiting. Bieri says there is a tourist aspect to it, but it is not the only goal of the trip. "We want to promote discussion and contact with the culture, which becomes a large factor in the host homes. The other reason for the exchange program is for people to learn about education and industry in the country they visit. "We want them to see America from the inside," said Bieri.
The rotary club president went on to say that immediately after an exchange program in New York was announced, they had 25 applicants. To be one of the ten chosen to take the trip, the applicants had to fill out a written application in which they were asked what they expected to get out of their trip to America, and they also had an interview.
"We wanted applicants who spoke English well, so that they could communicate easily with their host families. We also wanted to choose people that we thought were open-minded and would make the most of this chance to learn about another culture," said Bieri. "We were also looking for a good mix to represent Switzerland. About one third of the group are students, one third are teachers, and one third work in other industries."
"I want to know about America, and the culture. I also want to improve my English while I am here because I am going to be an English teacher," said Nicole Herrmann.
West Hempstead students walked the halls with the Swiss students during second period, showing their visitors the auditorium, the library and classrooms, answering questions along the way.
"I have never been in New York before," said Christoph Schmid. "I am very interested in seeing Manhattan because I am going to be an architect. I work in an office right now, and after my military service, I will go to university in the fall of 2003."
Joanna Lee, the Director of Social Studies at the high school, had her Participation in Government class meet with the Swiss students during first period. She said that this visit should answer the questions they may have about an American way of life, and give them an opportunity to learn about government and politics in the United States.
