Many people view exchange students as teens who travel to a new country for roughly six months, but how many are aware of the GAP (German American Partnership) program? This particular exchange is between Germany and the United States, sending students to the partnering country during alternate years. For example, this year, it is Wenatchee’s turn to host students from its German sister city, Herrenberg.

The temporary students arrived on Oct. 20, have since started taking classes within the high school. One interesting aspect of the exchange is that Wenatchee students taking the German language class have accepted students into their homes and will continue to provide for the individual staying with them until the Nov. 4 departure date.

Hosts Aimee Sanchez and Courtney Grimm, noted how “weird” it was trying to plan ahead for their upcoming visitor, whom they had never met before. German teacher Carrie Christensen explained how the exchange proves to be a very enlightening experience by “helping students consider other cultures and get other ideas into their heads,” Christensen said.

From the school’s standpoint, all students get the opportunity to see a glimpse of other cultures and how each one functions in a school setting. From a teacher’s perspective the GAP program, “lets us to work together, understand the strengths and weaknesses of our language programs, and practice speaking the language we are learning,” Christensen said.