Sometimes cultures clash.
Sometimes, they just hang out and get to know each other.
Fargo's South High School has hosted the more mellow scene for the past three weeks, as 12 students from Itzehoe, Germany, along with a teacher and principal, have gotten a taste of middle America.
"Kids are the same. I hope both sides are seeing that," says Katie Wangstad, a Fargo German teacher coordinating this part of the German American Partnership Program exchange.
That's not been a problem for Elizabeth Miller and Dane Poppe, 10th-graders whose families are hosting German students.
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"We became best of friends," Elizabeth said of Svea Fritsche, describing her new pal's love of HuHot Mongolian Grill and the Mario Kart video game on Wii.
"I have all of them on Facebook," Elizabeth said.
In June, south Fargo students will spend a few weeks seeing how their counterparts learn at Itzehoe's Auguste-Victoria Schule.
"I look forward to going," said Dane, whose family hosted Niklas Freybe.
"It's sort of been hanging, learning that they are different from what the textbooks said," and introducing Niklas to Space Aliens and arcades, Dane said.
For the Germans, the trip has been an eye-opener.
Lasse Oelscher and Anna Glindemann, both 16, said being able to drive at a younger age is a big win for their American counterparts. (In Germany, a full license comes at age 18.)
Lasse said he also likes South's school spirit for sports. "It's impressive to see how the other students support each other," he said.
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Anna says she likes the friendly people, the food and the school. A trip to the Mall of America didn't hurt, either.
Itzehoe teacher Yvonne Raab spent a year in Michigan during high school. She wants her students to get a range of experiences and be wiser for it.
"It's just a different way of looking at things after you've spent time abroad," she said.
Principal Norbert Hartung wants his students to get a taste of a different culture. High school life doesn't center on a quarterback and a cheerleader like in the movies, he said.
The Itzehoe school had a long connection to Fargo's Oak Grove School, but that ended when floodwaters hit that campus in 2009, Hartung said.
The South/Itzehoe exchanges will be every two years, Wangstad said.
The German group leaves Sunday for Chicago before flying home, Hartung and Raab said.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Helmut Schmidt at (701) 241-5583
