ASHTABULA — This year Ss. John and Paul has the pleasure of hosting Florian Liebhardt, a foreign exchange student from Iffeldorf, Germany. Florian is the youngest son of August Liebhardt, a realtor and property developer, and Michaela Liebhardt, the vice mayor of Iffeldorf. He has two brothers and two sisters. Florian’s host parent is Beverly Pitt, who also hosted his sister, Stephanie Liebhardt, in 1995. “Flo” is very shy, but he likes living with Mrs. Pitt.
“She’s a good cook, we talk,” said Florian.
Flo chose not to use an exchange program to study abroad, but came to Ashtabula on his own, with the encouragement of his family. When asked what he likes so far about Ss. John and Paul, he said, “It’s a good school, a small school.” Flo said that the reason he chose to attend Ss. John and Paul was, “My sister was here, and the host family’s children were all here; they said it was the best school in Ashtabula.”
Flo likes to play golf, soccer, video games, meet friends, ski in the winter time and go to the beach in Iffeldorf. While staying in Ashtabula he has enjoyed watching sports and eating at Dairy Queen.
“Dairy Queen is my neighbor,” He mentioned. “I love Dairy Queen! I always get either a Cookie Dough Blizzard or an Oreo Blizzard.”
Additionally, Flo is looking forward to getting his driver’s license. Flo has noticed several differences between life in his hometown and in Ashtabula. “My hometown is a nice little village, we have many new businesses,” he said.
Flo says there are many differences between his school in Germany and Ss. John and Paul. When it comes to the students of Ss. John and Paul, he had this to say, “My old school had more, but they are nice.”
Homecoming dance was a new experience for him. “In Germany, we don’t have dances at school,” Flo said. “It was interesting, a new experience, I had a lot of fun.”
Flo is also new to high school athletics, “We don’t have so many activities with the school; we have more with the community in my village.”
He is also having a little difficulty adjusting to his new classes. “In Germany, we have more (classes) about business, economy, geography and the world,” he said.
Although difficult for him, his teachers enjoy having him in class. “He’s so good natured that even when he doesn’t understand, he is able to laugh about it and get us to laugh with him. He makes the experience of having him with us so wonderful,” said Rebecca Ollikainen, his art and journalism teacher.
Flo enjoys Ss. John and Paul because “classes are small, new equipment and nice teachers.” The teachers he said “are nice, they help me.” So far, he has learned many new things about the American culture and has improved his English as well, although sometimes he has trouble with having to speak English all the time.
In his short time here, Flo is already making memories.
“The best memory I shared with Flo was when I made a teepee and he called it a ‘tippi,’” said Clare Hamalainen. “He made up a song and every time we see each other he says ‘tippi, tippi, tippi!’... He’s very interesting; he’s
See SSJP, Page B2
pretty much like any normal teen-ager. He’s very nice. I enjoy talking to him about Germany and the music he likes. He’s just a pleasant person to be around.”
Flo is also a very compassionate person. Flo helped with the junior class concessions when they needed him the most and even participated in Mock-Homecoming when the junior class needed a male participant. Flo is the perfect representative for his country because even though he is in a foreign place, he still manages to remain open-minded.
Next Generation
Related Photos
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FLORIAN LIEBHARDT, a foreign exchange student from Iffeldorf, Germany, is a student at Ss. John and Paul High School this year. He is pictured with Sara Blank. (Photo by Michael Simrak) submitted photo
Discussion
German exchange student enjoying new experiences at Ss. John & Paul
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