Sister city group arrives in Rolla

Six young men from Germany arrived Wednesday in Rolla from Sonderhausen, Germany, as part of Rolla’s sister-city program.

Rolla is hosting Thomas Weise, 20, a business school student, Hendrik Hund, 21, a physical therapist, Soeren Kraft, 22, who works in foreign affairs, Martin Riessland, 20, a student, Marko Zillmann, 38, a manager and Jens Schmidt, 30, a mining engineer.

For all but Weise, who has visited Florida, it is their first trip to the U.S.  The men arrived straight from the airport at a small reception for them and their host families. 

“Today we woke up at 3 a.m. German time, and now it is 3 a.m. German time again,” Schmidt said.

The men are all members of a soccer club and play in the highest league in their region of Thuringia.  They will compete in the Thomas Whitefield Memorial 3-vs.-3 Soccer Tournament on Saturday.  Schmidt and Zillmann are co-coaches of their team, the Sonderhausen Stars, and Schmidt will sit out of the game on Saturday. 

Schmidt said he hopes they will make a good impression.

“We are looking forward to gaining experience, and bonding with local people to continue the sister city relationship,” Schmidt said.

Rolla families will host the men for the duration of their stay, with each family hosting two men.  The three host families are Kay and Bob DuBois, David and Grace Pommerenke, and Klaus and Madonna Woelk.  All the families, including their children, speak German fluently.

Kay DuBois taught German for 15 years in Washington State and then for three and one-half years at Rolla High School.  She and her husband have hosted visitors from Sonderhausen on two previous occasions.

Kay said the sister-city program is important to promote understanding between the two cultures.

“People can see, even though they speak a different language, people are people all over the world,” Kay said.

The Pommerenke family are German citizens, but have lived in the U.S. for several years.  David teaches electrical engineering at Missouri S&T.

Klaus and Madonna Woelk met in Chicago.  Klaus is German, and they moved to Bonn, Germany after their marriage, where Madonna learned German.  They lived in Germany for nine years.  Klaus teaches Chemistry at Missouri S&T.

Speaking with the men, Klaus encouraged them to pay attention and try to see as much as they can, because the experience is one they will not forget.

“I still remember my first time here,” Klaus said.

The men ate pizza and discussed how the U.S. is portrayed in Germany.

“We see America in the Hollywood films,” Hund said.

They said Americans seem “more open-minded, friendly and welcoming.”
Schmidt said that the bonding between the U.S. and Germany is very positive, although the countries and people may not agree on every decision.

“We can count on each other,” Schmidt said.
The men were hesitant to give an opinion on the upcoming presidential election.
“The best man should win,” Schmidt said, smiling.

They may keep their opinions on American politics to themselves, but the men were more than willing to talk about Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is the equivalent of America’s president.

“It’s hard to believe a politician does a good job, but she does,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt said he hopes Merkel, who is a member of the Christian Democratic Union, will win next year’s election.

The men will be kept busy for the duration of their stay.  John Petersen, Sister City Program Chairman, said the schedule is part of a strategy to keep the men exhausted so the Rolla teams have a chance to win the soccer tournament.

Yesterday the group went on a canoe trip and attended a party for the hosts and trip sponsors.

Today they will drive to St. Louis to see a Cardinals baseball game, visit the Gateway Arch, and do some shopping. 

At 2 p.m. Saturday, the men will compete in the soccer tournament against local Rolla teams in the adult under-40 competitive division.  The tournament raises funds to support the Rolla High School soccer program and a soccer scholarship distributed through the Champions of Rolla Education program to an outstanding soccer player.  

On Monday, the men will attend the Rotary Club breakfast at Zeno’s, visit the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City and meet Rolla’s city council.  At City Council, Rolla Mayor William S. Jenks, III will present the men with a key to the city.  Scott Grahl, Rolla Communications Coordinator, said that presenting the key is a special occasion.

“It’s a symbolic gesture of friendship and hospitality,” said Grahl.  “It shows that we’re trying to make a connection with your sister city in Germany.”

Tuesday the men will tour Missouri S&T and the Wal-Mart Distribution Center.  They will return to Sonderhausen on Wednesday.