Paula Junck
We would like to introduce you to Paula Junck who comes to us from Rockenhousen, Germany. We had our grandson, Isaiah, with us when we met Paula at Dulles International Airport on
July 17, 2018. Paula was with us through August 27, 2018. While four weeks, in my mind, is a minimum time for an exchange we like to have the students stay at least six weeks. It takes 1-2 weeks for them to really relax and get comfortable with us, our surroundings and the community.
One of the first activities we took her to was a Krautwurst family reunion in Maryland. She was not shy about jumping right in and meeting new people and was very comfortable talking to everyone. It is hard enough to just meet your host family, but then to be thrown into a crowd of 40 or 50 more NEW people. At that point I knew she was going to be a good fit for us and our community.
Shortly after she arrived, we visited Gini LaMasters at her home where she was hosting boys from France. It didn’t take the boys long to get to know Paula. They invited her to go tubing with them on the Capon River. We had many days at home and to the stores in the area. We took her to Walmart and she enjoyed shopping there. On the way home from Washington, DC we passed the Walmart in Winchester, VA at about 11pm. We stopped to pick up a few grocery items and she was so excited to be able to go shopping that late at night. She told us in Germany the stores close at 8pm.
We took Paula to a Lions Past District Governor’s Appreciation Luncheon in Flatwoods, WV which is right in the middle of the state. From there we visited Tamarac which is a center for items produced by the artisans of WV. We went to the Beckley Demonstration Coal Mine. They have a guided tour into what was a working mine. Once back above ground there was a reproduction coal town where you could go through the buildings and homes.
While at the mine I spoke to someone sitting next to me. When we got out of the mine she asked if I knew that person. I told her I did not and she told me that in Germany they don’t talk to people they didn’t know. Then she said, “That’s one!” By the end of the day we were at our last stop at the summit of Spruce Knob and again, I’m talking with someone in the parking lot and later she said, “That’s 12 and I’m quitting!” After returning to Germany she told us she found herself talking to people she didn’t know and said they looked at her very strangely. She told us now she knows what they are thinking…
We visited a lot of places, met a lot of people and did a lot of thing with her. We went to Washington, DC, Seneca Rocks, Spruce Knob, Luray Caverns, Skyline Drive, New River Bridge and Gorge, Grandview and lots of other places.
One day early in her stay we took her to CaCapon State Park with Lynn & Glenn for Irish Road Bowling. We met the Sines who were hosting Sarah from Finland who came to them through the Lions Youth Exchange program. They still have two daughters at home so it was a good opportunity to bring all the girls together. It wasn’t long before they became close friends. Paula saw them several times while they were here. Just before Paula returned home, we had them over for a cook-out. There was a teary-eyed good-bye as the Sines left for home that night. One of the best things that came out of this exchange for Paula was the friendship that developed with Susannah and Savannah Sine. During the summer of 2019 Susannah and Savannah spent about 3 weeks with Paula in Germany. Now, that is what comes out of the Youth Exchange program.
The day we went Irish Road Bowling was a particularly long fun day. After the road bowling we went to John & Merrie Hammond’s home for a yard party and Bocce Ball tournament. Lorrie and Paula were a team. Paula had never played before and they came in 3rd place out of about 8-10 teams.
After the yard party it was time to introduce Paula to some good ole WV mountain music. We took her to Bluegrass in the Barn. Something new for her. We met two other Lion host families there. They were hosting girls from Japan. We finally got home about 11pm.
One morning while having breakfast Paula causally mentioned that her mom would like to see New York City before she turns 50. I told Paula to call her and tell her to come on over and we’d go to NYC. After MANY are you sures?, Daniela arrive on Paula’s birthday: August 16, 2018. The next morning, we departed for 4 days in NYC.
On Oct 2, 2019 we went to Ft. Myers Beach, Fl. Where we met Paula and her family on their vacation. Her father, who we had not met, invited us to join them for a few days if possible.
German National Anthem
Photo Gallery of Her Stay with US
To silence the music you must mute your computer speaker or just let it play through to the end
