Date: Fri 11-Apr-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

AFS-student-Lydia-Rauh

Full Text:

Lydia Rauh: Swim Team Was `Really Good'

AFS student Lydia Rauh of Dresden, Germany

B Y D OROTHY E VANS

After studying English for "only five years" in her school back home in

Dresden, Germany, Lydia Rauh, 17, thought language might be a problem when she

came to the United States last summer as an AFS student.

"But it was OK. Luckily, they don't have a very big accent here," Lydia said

during a recent interview held in the Newtown High School library.

And her experiences living in Newtown with her host parents, Cindy and Jim

Presnell, have been more than just OK.

"They've taken me everywhere; they don't exclude you. I've been lucky because

I seem to fit in very well," Lydia said.

One thing she has appreciated has been Mrs Presnell's willingness to drive her

to and from swim practice two times a week. Lydia has found swimming for

Newtown High to be very competitive but enjoyable.

She's also tried taking a karate class in Oxford, which she said was "a little

weird, but it was something to do."

In general, Lydia has found that "people take sports more seriously here than

we do at home."

Other differences that she has noted are the large size of Newtown High, with

more than 1,000 students. Her school at home has only 200 students, though the

city of Dresden numbers 500,000 residents.

She has missed the public transportation available to Dresden residents, and

admitted it was more difficult here to meet new friends because she couldn't

drive.

"Also, many Newtown students have jobs after school to keep them busy," she

said.

But her entire AFS year has been a learning experience and when she goes back

home, she knows she'll have a broader point of view as a result.

She plans to go on to college in Germany, perhaps studying child development,

history or economics, though actually, she said she "has no clue" what field

she'll finally choose.

Right now she's occupied with enjoying the remainder of her year in Newtown

and thinking about returning home in July.

"I'm already making plans for departure July 7," she said, with a combination

of anticipation and regret.

"Time goes by so fast!"