Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Student exchanges across the ocean bond two families

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In the summer of 1968 a sixteen year old girl, Janet (Scott) Zeck, from South Bend, Indiana, joined 30 other juniors from across the state and headed to Krefeld, Germany. Little did she know that the family with whom she stayed would eventually be much more than a “host family.”

Alfred and Lisa Van Werden and their three children, Karl (19), Rosi (17,) and Liesy (6) had been eager to learn more about Americans than what they were seeing on the news. The two months in Germany, during which Janet was not to speak any English, not only built her fluency in German but also created a bond with the family that would last for decades and generations to come.

Janet married Stan Zeck in 1972 and in 1977, Alfred and Lisa made a trip to the United States to visit the Zeck family, including then 20 month old Kevin.

Then, in 1981, upon the completion of her studies at the “Gymnasium” in Germany, Liesy came to Chesterton and stayed with Janet, Stan, Kevin and Diane. Her goal was to increase her fluency in English, as well as to get a full picture of the American lifestyle. Then, 1989 saw Stan, Janet, Kevin and Diane make a flight to Germany, to take in the traditional tourist sights as well as spend quality time with the Van Werdens.

Alfred joined Liesy and her husband, Georg Troll on a visit to the US in the summer of 1991. Both families visited Grand Canyon and Las Vegas before Liesy and Georg ventured to California to backpack.

A spring break trip back to Germany followed in 1998, specifically focused on family time and getting to know Liesy’s young family. Then, in the summer of 2010 Liesy, husband Georg and children Clemens, Viktoria, and Theresa, spent three weeks in America, most of it in the Zeck Chesterton household, visiting Chicago, Indianapolis and the Dunes. They also got reacquainted with Kevin and Diane, meeting Kevin’s wife, Kathryn, and daughter Rachel, and Diane’s husband, Mark, and son Jared.

During a European trip in 2013, Stan and Janet spent several days with the Troll family and learned that Theresa was interested in doing part of her high school studies in the United States. The offer was made for her to spend that time with them in Chesterton if a company could be found to work out the logistics.

In January 9, 2015, Theresa arrived in Chesterton and attended Chesterton High School the second semester as a Junior. She found the school to be challenging and exciting. She adjusted quickly to the much larger building and student population, as well as the longer class periods. German schools do not have any extra-curricular activities, those being available through clubs in town. As a result, she was pleased to experience a sense of school spirit that is unfamiliar to her at home. She was able to attend the prom and winter formal, enjoying the social aspects of the high school here.

More importantly, she has had an opportunity to really get to know the “host family” and their children and grandchildren, now including one more in Diane’s family, son Colton. During a trip to Tucson for Janet and Stan, Theresa stayed with Kevin’s family, cementing her role with Rachel as a big sister. Family birthday parties, a trip to Shedd Aquarium, visiting the Dunes to see the ice shelf, Easter dinner and week-ends together to just play and spend time talking have added to the experience in ways that will, more than likely, carry the connection on to future generations.

Living in another culture, experiencing the daily life and customs cannot be replicated through a textbook or in a classroom setting. Alfred and Lisa knew this would be the case and though they are gone now, their desire to make connections across the ocean have more than survived.

It has thrived and the love and bonds between an American family and a German one are stronger than ever.

 

 

Posted 6/9/2015

 
 
 
 

 

 

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