Consul General Powell (center) at the Emil-Gött-Schule in Freiburg

Freiburg opens a "Window on America"
February 28, 2008. Consul General Jo Ellen Powell traveled to Freiburg to introduce the "Windows on America" program at the Emil-Gött-Schule to students and their parents on February 28. (Photo Gallery) The Emil-Gött-Schule was selected by the U.S. Embassy to participate in the program initiated in 2006 by Ambassador William R. Timken Jr. and his wife Sue Timken. "Windows on America" is a public-private partnership that provides opportunities for students of immigrant backgrounds who have been underrepresented in traditional exchange programs between the United States and Germany. The students travel to the United States for a ten-day trip, visiting American cities such as New York, Washington, DC, and Cleveland, Ohio. While on their trip, the students are exposed to all aspects of American culture, school, and life by visiting American museums and monuments, touring American high schools, and participating in home stays with American families.

School director Luise Blanken opened the evening and thanked the U.S. Consulate on behalf of her students for this great opportunity to experience the country first-hand. Consul General Powell explained the details of the program and emphasized how pleased she was about the students' interest in the United States, developed through their work with American dancers the year before when the school participated in the Dancing to Connect program.  Freiburg Lord Mayor Dr. Dieter Salomon encouraged the students to look beyond stereotypes and form their own opinion about the U.S. based on their experiences.  He shared some of his own impressions from his U.S. government-sponsored trip to the states a few years ago and still recalled the friendliness and good food in America. Angela Berg of Experiment e.V., whose sister organization World Learning puts together the program in the United States, spoke about their role in organizing pre-departure briefings as well as the program in the U.S. and the stays in the host families. Students of the school are currently handing in their applications and are scheduled to travel to the United States May 8 - May 20, 2008.  Photo Gallery