Date: Fri 13-Feb-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: MICHEL

Quick Words:

schools-Peschin-exchange

Full Text:

Exchange Student Heads Back To Germany

(with photo & artwork)

BY MICHELE HOGAN

Katharina Peschin found Newtown very different from her native Germany, but

she grew to love it in the five months she spent here on an exchange program.

When she first came to Newtown, she wondered where the center of town was.

She was accustomed, in her hometown, to walk down streets lined with small

shops and cafes, stop in at an ice cream shop with friends, or go to a

restaurant.

"Here," she said, "you have a donut shop here, a diner there. You need a car

to do anything!"

Although Newtown may not be the easiest place to meander around on foot, and

it may lack the charm of little cafes and specialty shops within a short

stroll of home, Katharina soon found a sense of community with her new friends

at the school.

She said that the teachers and students were wonderful, and she had a lot of

freedom to choose her courses and activities here.

She was particularly impressed with the new art facilities and the computer

labs at Newtown High School.

Katharina loves art, and wants to pursue a career in commercial art if

possible.

She said that she would love to work part-time as a commercial artist, but

unemployment is so high in Germany, she thinks it would be difficult to get

started. (She did a great deal of babysitting to save up the tuition for

Newtown High, and her parents helped out with the rest of the costs.)

Katharina's art teacher, Diane Dutchick, has great confidence in Katharina's

ability and her dedication.

She said that Katharina is talented, highly industrious and a very nice

person.

Katharina won both first and third place with her two entries for her cover of

the Newtown High School fall calendar.

The exchange student said that she will miss her new friends from the Newtown

High School Band, the Color Guard, the Winter Guard and the whole school.

She will also miss being so close to the cultural centers of New York and

Boston.

Katharina said, "It's such a strange feeling that it is the last day already.

I kept thinking about what the last day might feel like. Now it's here, I feel

so empty. I had to say goodbye to everybody and it was so sad."

She stopped, and said, "I just have to say goodbye to Mrs Dutchick before I

go." She slipped into the art room, and gave Mrs Dutchick a hug.

She left quickly, and said with resolve, "In Germany, I'll have to earn enough

money for a flight, and I'll come back."