Stockton High School - Blackhawk Yearbook (Stockton, IL)

Page 9 text:

Dick Goes To The Netherlands My summer in the Netherlands was made possible by the American Field Service. I sailed from New York on June 26, 1963, on the SEVEN SEAS, one of the smallest ships afloat. It was an unusual cruise because the ship was filled en- tirely by 700 AFS students, representing all portions of the United States and going to all parts of Europe and the Middle East. We spent ten days on the Atlantic, and getting there was half the fun. Unlike most summer students who spent their two months with the same family, I spent one month with each of two families. I like to think this was because AFS thought I was exceptional and should have one extra experience from which to learn (or maybe it was because one month is the longest any community could stand me at one time). My first family lived in a dairy region sur- rounding the town of Terschuur, and my father made his living by keeping milk records for a cattlemen’s association. My immediate family was made up of my father, H. Bouwman; his wife; Gert, my fifteen year old brother; Els, my nineteen year old sister; and Gerry, my twenty- two year old sister. The family’s main pastime was horse-back riding. They owned four horses and rode about twice a week. They were en- thusiastic about physical exercise — always tak- ing long hikes, bicycle and horse-back trips. My second family lived on the southern coast, in a town called Wemeldinge, and my father, C. Boey, made his living as a government Policeman. My immediate family included my mother and father; Maaike, my nine year old sister; Kees, my fifteen year old brother; and Ina, my nineteen year old sister. Ina had been an AFS student the past year, having just returned home from Port- land, Oregon, three days before I arrived in Wemeldinge. While with this family, most of my time was spent taking motor-bike trips to beaches, amusement parks, and more beaches. I also took a five-day trip through the Belgium canals on a river barge. Near the end of August, my stay in Holland ended. On the way back in the ship, I, with seven other boys, got a room which was laughingly called “The Bilge.” The ten days back over the high seas were more riotous than the trip to Holland, and I was glad to get home to take a vacation from my summer trip. The AFS believes that if people get to know one another personally, they will be more apt to sit down and talk over their differences than start another war. For this reason, I believe the AFS to be a major contributor to the peace of the world, and a program well worth backing. Dick Neebel Dick with some friends in Rotterdam. Dick, Gert, and Gerry. The Boey family.

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American Field Service The idea of AFS in Stockton was conceived by Terry Neebel’s Student Council of 1961-62, carried on by last year's Council, and brought to reality by a central committee composed of Dr. Rachuy, Mr. Orin Arnold, Mrs. Harold Nagel, Mrs. Robert Taylor, faculty members Mrs. Thomas and Mr. Bretl, and student representative Bobbi Curry. Exchange student Winie de Veyra from the Philippines and com- munity host family, the Eugene Borsdorfs, provided ideal subjects by which to ensure an initial successful year. Winie was quickly incorporated into the student body and, after two semesters, left behind a con- siderably enlightened population. Contacts sincjj an overwhelming number of opporti communities. About mid-summer a bus 1 hosted by thirty-four Stockton f: goals. The exchange student: opposed to the artificial Hoi especially its host families And exchange students le; the Guatemalan). Mr. Harold Pa] as treasurer, Mrs. from the high schd return to the Philippines indicate that Winie has had re ytogJF merican experiences with several Filipino [esenting twenty different nations was st three-directional in terms of AFS ca as represented by Stockton (as ng people arrive). Stockton, and srent workings, of foreigners. Turk, the South African and publicity, and Mrs. Robert Taylor—Americ Mr. Bretl coordinating rs. H. C. Feltmeyer— mundThomases have graciously opened their home as AFS host family and Sabra Raza.of coursers charmingly filling the post labeled foreign exchange student. Sabra has been a benefit in the classroom, and will, before June, have attended some thirty informative community forums revolving about interest in India. Her alert, absorbing mind is molding a much more realistic and complimentary picture of an American of which she admittedly had formed an immensely distorted image. There is little doubt that we as a nation, though far from Utopian, have lost much in the translation. Foreign students, without exception, find us a considerably more human, more understanding, more un- selfish, and less power-hungry lot than our world-wide publicity would have us. We think Winie and dozens like her are correcting that condition in the Philippines. We expect that Sabra and the seventy-five others visiting from India will return to a similar task. In fact a total of 2288 young students from fifty-nine nations now representing the AFS program in America will next year be performing person to person magic all over the world, the ultimate goal always being international understanding. With the continuation of this goal in mind, new local officers have been chosen: President, Mrs. Eugene Borsdorf; Treasurer, Mr. Jim Creagen; Americans Abroad, Mrs. Omer Neebel; Student Repre- sentatives, Darlene VanDeWeerd and Arnie Finks. These new officers, together with the hold-overs from other standing committees, ensure AFS Stockton continued enthusiastic leadership for a third year in a longevity that will hopefully encompass years adequate in number to mitigate appreciably this old planet's awesome suspicions and hostilities. Peace, dear friend. World Peace. Americans Abroad--1964-65 Understanding, of course, is a two-directional. And so is AFS. We're becoming well accustomed to the exchange program bringing foreign students to the United States. We're less familiar with the Americans Abroad facet of AFS, even though Dick Neebel was chosen to represent Stockton in the Netherlands last year. This phase of the program is less familiar because a matter of stark economics makes it less feasible. Many nations represented in AFS are young and underdeveloped by contemporary U.S. standards, and host families are understandably more difficult to come by. But moving ahead optimistically, though with an awareness of the unfavorable odds stacked against their selection (since the number of finalists must necessarily be so few), five students applied for consideration. An Americans Abroad committee of eleven chose Ann Thomas and Darlene Van De Weerd as candidates for New York office appraisal. Ann expressed a special interest in the full school year program and Darlene indicated a special interest in the summer program. Neither girl stipulated any geographical restrictions. We hope that fate again smiles brightly over Stockton, permitting one of its two competent young candidates to actively participate in world understanding, person to person style.

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 AFSing is a two sided coin. One works and one plays and sometimes one gets unbelievably tired. Sa- bra has polished both sides of the coin admirably well. During the year she has had numerous speaking en- gagements. She became sort of a walking Indian Information Agency. The other side of this polished coin has an extra sheen, for Sabra has fun in a big way. Surprise birth- day parties, slumber parties, impromptu bull sessions, penny flipping and even ordinary class, just anything seem to be livelier and perkier with “Sob” there. Sabra speaks three languages, Hindi.Urdu,and English. This year she added French to that list. Though Hindi is the national Indian tongue and Urdu is the Moslem language, Eng- lish is the most familiar to Sabra. At the age of three, she began learning (Brit- ish) English and has spoken it throughout her school years. She switches to Hin- di and Urdu at home. Besides French, her school curriculum included English 3, Algebra 2, A- m eric an history, and per- sonal typing, all of which constituted a meaty schedule. From The Mouth of the AFS’er: On September 10, 1963, the Thomases opened up their home to 23 saris, 100 bangles, 10 ivory bookmarkers, 4 sandalwood fans and Sabra. They are the 8pices which when added to the soup bring out delectable flavors. Gradually, a mutual osmosis took place in which Sabra gave to them a bit of India, and in turn, she absorbed some of America. The little girl who entered Stockton High wore a sari, a long, black braid and no cosmetics. She emerged at the end of the year in a skirt and blouse, pink lipstick, and short, curly hair. But never fear, we will not be send- ing a naturalized American back to India; we will send someone with more understanding and more affection for America and her people. And those of us who know Sabra feel the same for India. “We’ve got tons of that in India .. . pass the ketchup, please . . . even I can do that ... do American boys really put gum behind their ears . . . OHHH, those Beatles ... is it meant to snow today . . .Oh! how rude . . . soooo shweeeet ... if my grandmother in heaven could see me in America sewing up her dancing britches . . . he’s such a SWEET boy . . . HAW, HAW, HAW, HAW, HAW, ... Hi, Dod (Dad) . . . just think, I’m in America . . . what’s necking . . . That’s not right, Mr. Bretl ... I put the diamond nose stud in the left ear so I know what side to put the sponge rollers in . . .