HEIDELBERG, Germany -- Fourth graders at a local German elementary school were able to get a little taste of celebrating Thanksgiving with a group of Soldiers who were willing to share the American tradition.
"The Americans are coming," yelled a group of students at the Englisches Institut Grundschule, as troops from the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program entered the bilingual German elementary school in Heidelberg to celebrate Thanksgiving Nov. 20.
The German students welcomed their visitors by sharing their knowledge about the holiday and telling them why their American English teacher likes Thanksgiving so much. All children agreed that "the yummy food" must be the best part of celebrating this day.
Following the event's educational part, the kids and the BOSS Soldiers were divided into two groups - the Indians and the Pilgrims. In separate rooms, students and Soldiers worked together in their respective groups to make Indian headdresses or Pilgrim hats.
Based on the historical background, the "Indians" then brought food to the Pilgrims and all sat together for a joint meal. The kids were thrilled about eating pumpkin pie, "Indian corn" made of crunchy cereal and melted marshmallows, and a "turkey" constructed from various fruits.
"The interaction with the kids was the best part today," said Pfc. David Henderson, 43rd Signal Battalion. "It's always interesting to see how kids react towards Americans or Soldiers."
While making their hats, the fourth graders were thankful for the Soldiers' help and excited about their ideas of how to create a fancy Indian hat.
"Working with kids is the best place to volunteer, because children don't have any prejudices against our culture, the military, or people in general," said Spc. William Perkins, Heidelberg BOSS president.
"The kids are excited about having visitors from outside," said Theo Schiff, learning group leader for the approximately 20 fourth graders involved in the event. "They are able to see how Americans feel about Thanksgiving and how they celebrate it. They gain an insight in another culture."
To keep the holiday's actual meaning in mind, all participants shared with the group what they were thankful for. From a teacher's perspective, Dan Bland - an American who teaches third and fourth-grade English, science and sports all in English - thanked his students for the progress of their language skills.
Remembering the first year he taught them in English compared to how his students speak today makes him feel proud of what they have learned in the past years, said Bland, who coordinated the Thanksgiving event with the USAG Baden-WAfA1/4rttemberg Public Affairs Office for the second year in a row.
"Events like this help our students to playfully use their language skills," Schiff said.
Depending on subject and topic in a grade, the school welcomes people who can share experiences, cultures or languages with the students, Schiff said. It helps the students make use of their knowledge in a different way.
"We would be interested to go back to that school to teach the students in American sports," Perkins said. "It is important to give something back to our host city or local communities, because they are partners with us."
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