Oxford Academy Central High School - Blackhawk Yearbook (Oxford, NY)

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EXCHANGE STUDENTS Hello, I am Fabienne Kennel, your Rotary Exchange student from Colmar, France. I've been here five months now, and I really like it. The days seem to fly by that I don’t have time to do everything I would like to do. I came the 26th of August and couldn’t understand or speak English, but now with your help it is much better. I like the school in Oxford. In France, it is so much different because we don’t have study halls like you do. We also don’t have time to play dif- ferent kinds of sports. I am enjoying the ski club here and like it very much. I would like to thank you, the Rotarians, the teachers for their help, and to my wonderful host families for giving me this opportunity. You will al- ways be a part of my life. I think being an ex- change student is the best thing that has ever happened in my life. Merci beaucoup d vous Fabienne My Dearest Friends: This year in the United States has been wonderful tor me. I'm glad that lots of great memories I share with the student body and the staff of Oxford High will dlways be remembered. You can't Imagine how special you all are and how much you mean to me. I don't say this just to be nice.” I say it because I mean It. It's been real! I've learned a lot in Oxford and each one of you sure has your own contribution in this learning. After all, I have to thank you. I feel that the year of 1982 was a great success for me and you were a part of it. Now, it is time to go! Maybe I will see you again and maybe I won't. No matter where I am or when it will be. I will be thinking of you as the greatest people I have ever met and spent time with. Oxford, I will never forget you and I will miss you a lot. Take care and God Bless. Fldvla Panico P.S.: If any of you ever decide to come to Brazil, make sure you stop in and say Hi. I promise I'll lock my snake pet in the backyard and I won't let the Indians that live up in the tree across the street attack you. , I love you. Flavia Seniors 21

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EXCHANGE STUDENTS JACKY KNOLL Minasan Konnichiwa! Life here in Japan is very different from our life in Oxford. It takes awhile to get used to such things as sleeping on a futong on the floor, using the same bath water as your whole family and eating the various native foods. Such foods as sushi (raw fish), tako (Octopus), seaweed and squid. Eel is also popular and a favorite of mine. School here is very strict compared to Oxford. All Japanese high school students wear uniforms. Tsukumi High School is about three times the size of Oxford, having about 1,300 stu- dents. In school I study a number of traditional Japanese hobbies including Soroban (a set of beads used for calculat ing). Calligraphy (Chinese Character writing with ink and a brush). Tea Ceremony, and Judo. Each year the second year students take a class trip. This year, we went to Tokyo and also Hida Takayama. the oldest city in Japan. Staying with my friends in the hotel was great fun! It was then that I first experienced a public bath. A few weeks ago my school had their Bunka Sai (school festi- val). It lasted for three days. During the first two. everyone got a chance to see each classes’ project. My class did theirs on America, so it was fun for me to help out. The third day was sports day. Everyone competed in various races and events. It was great fun! I am learning so much here! Time is going fast for me and Is full of many new and exciting things! Sayoonara. Jacky RUTH BOYER Terve Kaikki! I've been in Finland for about 5 months now and everything is going well. Finland is a gorgeous country and my city is no exception. I live in a city called Kuopio with 80.000 Finns, so it's a bit larger than Oxford. Even though the city is so large, there's a lot more to be seen than buildings. Kuopi is right in the center of the lake district. In the summer there's lots of fishing and sailing. In the winter there's ice hockey and skating. There are also two downhill skiing places. The World Junior Ski Jumping Championships are held here every year, so it's well known. Many of my friends here were quite surprised to find out that most Ameri- cans don't know much about Finland They wanted me to tell you a few things. It's not part of Russia; they don't live in igloos, ride reindeer, or eat whale meat (very often). Don't worry if you didn't know that, though I had a hard time convincing them that most Americans don't live like the people on “Dallas. My school only has about 500 peo pie in it but it's quite different from home The classes are 45 minutes long with 15 minute breaks. The students seem to be a bit more serious, in general. Also, there are no clubs or school activities Just learning the lan- guage is more than enoguh to keep me busy. It's hard—but I'm doing it. I'm also helping in an English kindergar ten class and I have a conversation class at school for people who want to improve their English I try to ski. I'm in a band, I do a lot of things. Mostly. I'm just enjoying The year is going by so quickly, that I'm sure I'll be back in Oxford before I can believe it. I’m looking forward to it. Hoisin mielin eteenpdin Ruth 20 Seniors

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UNDERCLASSMEN