Eighteen students from Bad Harzburg, Germany, have been attending Boothbay Region High School since late September. These students are part of the German American Partnership Program, or GAPP, and this is the 25th year that BRHS has welcomed students from Germany. On Oct. 10, the students returned home with stories about their experiences.

While here, GAPP students stay with host families. Some families hosted one student, while some hosted two.

Some students who wanted to participate in the GAPP program were unable to host a student. So families like the Deweys of Boothbay Harbor, Tom and Stephanie, stepped in to help, and hosted a student even though their kid isn't participating (their son, Ben Dewey, now attends college). In the spring, students from BRHS will be traveling to Germany to see their new friends again and stay with them.

The Deweys hosted two parties this year, one to welcome the students and their chaperones on Sept. 27 and another on Oct. 7 to bid them farewell. At the October party, it was clear the many students who two weeks ago hadn't known each other had become fast friends.

“It's very cool here,” said Falco Heidzig, who stayed with Daniel Drummond and his family. “It was my first time in America and I enjoyed being at the school and the YMCA. Boston was very big and it was fun going to Freeport for shopping.”

“I love it here, it's great,” said Paula Kappler who stayed with Molly Thibault's family. “The people, the food, the landscape. It doesn't matter if people know you or not here, they are nice and friendly.”

When asked if she plans to return someday, Kappler said “Definitely.”

Thibault said she was very much looking forward to visiting Germany in the spring. This will be her second time.

“This is a good experience and it's nice to see the kids having fun,” chaperone Tanja Heldt said.

Several host families also attended the barbecue. Parent Gina Drummond of Boothbay said the time with her student had simply “flown by.”

“They are so busy every day with new stuff,” Drummond said. “The Freedom Trail in Boston, Portland, fishing during family trips. It's been wonderful.”

Taylor Eddy of Boothbay also hosted a student this year and attended the farewell barbecue.

“It's been so much fun,” Eddy said. “The students fit in so well.” She spoke about introducing her exchange student to lobster, and while he “wasn't a fan,” he did enjoy maple syrup and whoopie pies very much.

“It's an important program and we are happy to continue supporting it,” Tom Dewey said as he flipped burgers on the grill.