Volcano Strands Exchange Students

Posted on 19. Apr, 2010 by John McCulley in Local News

Clouds of volcanic ash from an eruption in Iceland continue to ground thousands of flights headed in and out of Europe, which means a few more days for a group of German exchange students to see East Tennessee. “Cloud of the volcano in Iceland, it moves to Germany, and the airports are closed,” said 15-year-old Mara Ammon. It’s a phrase several of the students weren’t able to say in English a few days ago. “It’s new vocabulary,” Ammon said. The students are participants in GAPP, German American Partnership Program, sponsored by the State department. After three weeks with families of Oak Ridge High School students, the 20 10th grade exchange students from Stadthagen in northwest Germany found out Saturday their fate would be the same as thousands of others who are unable to get home. It came as good and bad news, depending on who you ask. “I thought it’s good because I’m glad to stay here. I like my family, and I don’t want to leave,” Ammon said. “I would really like to go back to Germany and see my family again,” Soeren Soelter said. “I was happy that I can stay here because it’s great,” Felix Mensching said. The change in plans has meant a bit of extra work for the chaperones. “You had to make sure the parents in Germany would know about it. You had to sit down and call the airlines and make sure that the flights can be rescheduled,” said trip coordinator Friedriech Lenz. However, it also means extending the sightseeing they’ve enjoyed for the last three weeks. “Went to Knoxville to the malls,” Sophia Hecht said. “The science museum and the Country Music Hall of Fame when we were in Nashville,” Soelter said. They also have extra time to pick up some more souvenirs, as many are newly converted Tennessee Vols. “I like Tennessee,” Mensching said, pointing to his brand new UT t-shirt. The group is set to fly back to Germany on Thursday. One of the sites they’re planning to see in their extra time — Dollywood. Oak Ridge High School students will participate in their part of the exchange when they fly to Germany on June 7.

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