Stockton High School - Blackhawk Yearbook (Stockton, IL)

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Living in an American community, or in a school, could compare to life in a hive. Everyone has his academic preferences and his gregarious needs of activities satisfied in the most favorable way. The action of a single conscience, or a group, is a concern for everybody, for the common spirit. The whole school in America cheers or cries at the defeat or the victory of the basket- ball team: a French school does not. In America, any time, any place, and on any occasion, the words “How to get along with thy neighbor” are an important precept to a son of the Founding Fathers: they do not seem to be so important to the Frenchmen. However, through different ways, both of these nations have common interests - to enjoy life and live harmoniously with other people. The American citizen does it through the virtue of the precept “how to get along with thy neigh- bor,” the Frenchman proceeds differently, but toward the same goal. He will lose rapidly his so-called formality with his guests around a good table thriving with good foods, or even when kissing the hand of a lady. Finally, we often hear the words: “There is no better place than home,” or better expressed by the poet Frost in his poem “The Death of the Hired Man”: “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.” I went to live in Stockton and the people had to take me in. They did, and I often think there is no better place than here because similarities are much more important than differences.

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SaJwcL “r o Ke 7o- vtditL Sabra introducing a chief guest at a basketball game. The girls play in open-air and by our boys rules. “Namastey,” That’s the way we greet friends in India. Remember, I demonstrated it in almost all the talks I gave. You join your hands in front of you, as if in prayer, and give a gentle nod of the head and say, “Namastey.” Stockton is going French these days. I envy Mike but actually 1 shouldn’t; 1 had my share of it and I should be satisfied. 1 bet it was difficult for Stockton to make a sharp turn from thinking Indian to thinking French. Well, it was the same for me. In the unbelievably short time of 16 hours, I had to begin thinking Indian from thinking American. I can tell you it did take me some time to get re-adjusted. But I’m fine now and fitting in so comfortably in everything (clothes included) that I almost wonder whether I even went to America. But, of course, I did. Your frequent letters, the ••ARROWHEAD,” the STOCKTON HERALD help to keep every memory of that memorable year fresh. I love receiving letters from everyone and especially Stocktonitcs. Now to give a brief run down on the past months. To commence at the commencement: The bus trip in the States was a really enjoyable one—the World’s Fair, lobsters in Maine (I got quite scared of the broiled lobster I ate because the eyes seemed to stare at me from the head which was the center piece of the dish,) the rough Maine beach, Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and Washington, D.C. I took fifteen rolls of photographs and they have turned out pretty good. I reached Bombay on the 24th of July at 1:10 a.m. Ammi and Papa were there to receive me; quite unexpectedly because Suratgark is not far away from Bombay. After a little rest at Bombay, 1 reached college via New Delhi on the 30th of July. I was already fifteen days late, so I just plunged into a whirlwind of activity. I gave a few talks to different classes and have also given two talks at a popular club so as to get an AFS chapter started. We have done pretty well so far. Another AFS returnee and I have selected six families for this Americans Abroad program. I have my doubts about the AFS winter programs being carried on in India yet, but perhaps we will be able to carry the American Abroad part of it. We had three weeks for Christmas holidays this time which none of us really enjoyed, because we usually get 1 1 2 months holidays every Christmas. Nice, isn’t it! This semester is even more full of activity, because it is the final semester and the teachers and students arc all nervous about finishing up the prescribed course for each class. But political science teacher is so nervous, I wonder how she has the heart to let us off after her period or get a wink of sleep at night. We, being juniors, gave our seniors a farewell social. The theme of it was “Aloha.” We had palms and banana leaves and garlands of bright paper flowers to greet our guests. The last tune played by the orchestra was “Aloha” and our seniors were rather overcome. We gave our customary parting presents to each senior as well as special presents to the prefects and secretaries of the different clubs. I was very busy with the whole affair. By the way, this actually took place on the 28th of February. The last exciting day up to date was the 4th of March, that was yesterday, we finished our final Psychology practical. It was such a relief that this letter is a really spontaneous production. By practical examination, I mean, we had to perform certain psycholo- gical experiments and had an oral exam based on them. 1 liked my experiment and oral test very much. I hope I get a good grade. Now we have to begin to study hard again for the theory exams which begin on the 22nd of March. 1 don’t know when they end because we don’t have our time table yet. Besides all the studies 1 have also been busy with games. 1 joined this all India hockey tournament as a Uttar Pardcsh player. The tournament is an interstate one. I’m sending a picture of our team. Let’s see if you recognize me. I hope I haven’t taken up more than the allotted space in the annual. So bye everyone. Help me keep those memories fresh by dropping a line whenever you can. I know I am a bad correspondent, but I’ll try and turn over a new leaf. Your real live Indian, Sabra At the Bhapal Hockey National Tournament, a mixed group of both the Gujrat state team and U.P. state team. Coaches on the ends. 10

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s4 wued Sta ROW 1-Craig Masters, Pat Murphy, Assistant Editor; Mr. Bretl, Adviser; Jane Buford, Editor; Darlene VanDeWeerd, Assistant Editor; Robert Eden. ROW 2-Jane DeBauche, Allen Fredericks, Peggy Clark, Elaine Steinstal, Marlene Miller, Tom Nagel, Peggy Rees. 7elC , The Blackhawk staff consists of juniors and seniors, who, in a mad moment, volunteered to spend half their waking hours in The Hole slaving over misplaced modifiers, faulty pronoun references, deadwood, and dangling word groups. After a consensus was taken, the group decided that meeting the deadline in unseemly haste was not at all dignified or proper. Our despotic editor, Jane Buford, nonchalantly ate erasers as she drove her overworked emaciated slaves into creating interesting layouts, writing copies, and insisting on an effort to meet deadlines. Mr. Bretl, a snarling, barking Simon Legree type, is our incompetent adviser. He realized early this spring that we would never get the book finished, and the only advise he could offer was to go to Mexico with the subscription and advertising funds. Illiterate seniors on the staff include: Jane Buford, Editor; Pat Murphy, Assistant Editor; Darlene VanDeWeerd, Assistant Editor; Peggy Clark; Craig Masters; Bob Eden; and Jane DeBauche. Juniors, a weird form of sub-human life, also had a hand in destroying whatever value a yearbook might have at our school. Junior staffers include: Marlene Miller; Allen Frederick; Tom Nagel; Peggy Rees; and Elaine Steinstel. 12