St. Joseph’s welcomes visitors

Anna and Kerstin shared a presentation with St. Joseph’s students about their hometowns in Germany.

Over the summer, two of St. Joseph’s high school youth visited our sister school in Handrup, Germany. Trinity and D’Kera learned about the German culture and educational system, while sharing with their host families and students at Gymnasium Leonium important aspects of the Lakota (Sioux) culture. 

Now, Trinity and D’Kera are the hosts for Anna and Kerstin from our sister school. 

Anna and Kerstin, students from Gymnasium Leonium, spent nearly two weeks in South Dakota, sharing their German culture with the Native American students at St. Joseph’s Indian School. The girls also spent time in St. Joseph’s homes and attended classes at Chamberlain High School with Trinity and D’Kera. 

Girls in the Hogebach Home showed Anna and Kerstin the sights of South Dakota, including the Black Hills.

Younger students made connections with the visitors through popular culture. “Have you ever heard of Justin Bieber?” “Do you have the Hannah Montana show where you live?” “Is there Facebook in Germany?” 

The answers came back a resounding YES, leaving younger students in awe of the idea that there are kids on the other side of the world who are just like them, but also totally different … speaking a different language and eating different foods, but watching the same shows and enjoying the same hobbies. 

In addition to spending time in classrooms, the girls and their chaperone visited South Dakota landmarks like Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial. 

D’Kera and Trinity visited Kerstin and Anna’s families in Germany over the summer and now return the hospitality shown to them.

In their mission to provide social justice and education for all, the Priests of the Sacred Heart (SCJs) have established schools and missions all over the world. Though their backgrounds are vastly different, students from St. Joseph’s Indian School and from Gymnasium Leonium found they had much in common. 

Wopila tanka – many thanks – for the learning opportunities you help us provide for the Native American youngsters.

Quelle: >>> St. Joseph’s Indian School