It was February 2001 on the Zuni Indian Reservation in New Mexico when German students at Zuni High School realized they would not be able to make the return visit to Germany. Although they had been fundraising for two years, they had not raised enough money. They would not realize their dream.

But then GAPP saved the day! Through the efforts of Sabina Margalit, generous donations were provided by Dr. Hans Hachmann, President of the Max Kade Foundation. With the DaimlerChrysler Corporation and GAPP also providing funds, the trip became a reality.

The Zunis were traveling to Brühl, Germany, to stay with their German partners who had been in New Mexico in September 2000. The Germans stayed with families on the Reservation, visited the high school, and shared their various talents at a school assembly.

They even performed a traditional Zuni harvest dance. One of the German students, Tobias Giesler, later wrote, "Es sind völlig verschiedene Kulturen and ways of life, die miteinander konfrontiert werden…. Die Zuni Schüler kennen z. B. keine Hektik, Zeitdruck, oder Arbeitsstress, was bei uns zum Alltag gehört... Wir haben eine ganze Menge voneinander gelernt."

Thanks to the German American Partnership Program and its gernerous donors, the Zuni-Brühl partners were joyously reunited at the Frankfurt airport in June 2001. In Brühl, the Zuni students attended St. Ursula Gymnasium with their partners and shared their unique culture by putting on three traditional dance performances. The local newspaper printed a picture of the dancers along with the headline "Anmut, Harmonie, Ehrfurcht und Stolz". Later the Zunis presented their PowerPoint computer audio-visual presentation on Zuni culture to the student body.

The stay in Brühl was filled with many activities. Hans Grugel, our partner teacher, his daughter, Andrea Grugel, and the German students arranged sightseeing trips. The Zuni students toured the baroque castle and garden of Elector Clemens August in the center of Brühl.

They visited the Landtag of North-Rhine Westphalia in Düsseldorf, where they observed a session of the state parliament. They took a bus excursion up the Rhine to Rüdesheim and visited Bonn and Cologne, and somehow students still found time for "kegeln" (German bowling) and concerts.

"The German-Zuni Exchange Program is one of the best traditions still being carried out at Zuni High School. I know this because I got to experience it first hand," wrote Zuni student Katie Kostelecky. Calela Lamy reported that "my trip to Brühl was such a success that there are so many wonderful memories that I am bringing home." Her German exchange partner, Annika Schuldt, began her report with "Eigentlich hätte ich nicht erwartet, daß der Gegenbesuch der Zunis hier in Deutschland auf seine Art noch besser werden würde als unser Aufenthalt bei ihnen." Annette Höveler wrote: "Obwohl ich bereits in Zuni war, bin ich immer noch verwundert bzw. habe jetzt erst realisiert, wie sehr ihr Leben doch unserem gleicht und doch ganz anders ist. Man kann das nicht beschreiben, MAN MUSS ES ERLEBEN!" These quotes from students express the sentiments of this exchange. Our visit to Germany was busy and full.

We learned a lot about German culture and Germany, but more importantly we made new and lasting friendships. Both the Zuni and German students shared their cultures in creative ways, which went beyond the spoken language.

However, the study of the German language was the bridge that became an avenue for sharing and understanding. Through the GAPP exchange old stereotypes can be destroyed and new, healthier identities can be created. We are so grateful to the Goethe Institute with has helped so many of our students go beyond the limitations of reservation life to experience other possibilities.

By Rita Jensen, Zuni High School, NM


oberes Bild    Students from Zuni HS, NM in traditional clothes answer questions
                    of German students about their culture.

unteres Bild   Good friends: Annika Schuldt of St. Ursula Gymnasium, Brühl
                    and her guest student Calela Lamy of Zunis HS, NM