Jeffrey’s visit to Thief River Falls, Minnesota, USA
Lincoln High School
Day 1
Jeffrey arrived in Thief River Falls on a cold day in mid-March safe and sound! He was tired from his journey but excited to get a tour of Lincoln High School, “home of the Prowlers.”
He told me he was surprised by how modern-looking everything was. He took note of the art-deco style of the columns and the brightness of the room. I explained that the high school building was recently rebuilt and modernized after receiving a bond in 2017 and with support from the local community. One of the goals with this project was to modernize but to still hold on to important historical aspects of the building, such as our gym, which is called the “Brickhouse” by young and old sports fans alike. This is one of the many places in the community where we cheer our team, the Prowlers, on.
I explained to Jeffrey that this is our school cafeteria, which is actually one of the students’ favorite places to hang with friends after school or to work on homework during the day. There’s often music playing over the speakers and students put in requests to hear their favorite tunes. In addition to being a pleasant place to work, students eat lunch at two different times during the day. Some students receive free and reduced lunch if they are unable to afford it. Many students leave campus for lunch to go pick up something quick to eat from one of the nearby fast-food restaurants or gas stations. Some students bring their own lunches from home. Breakfast is also served at two different times, once before school, and then once between 1st and 2nd block, which students also take full advantage of. Pictured in the foreground are two hard-working German students. On the left, you can see Elaina B. and on the right, Elaina K. They were excited to meet Jeffrey and hear all about his previous travels.
Jeffrey arrived in Thief River Falls on a cold day in mid-March safe and sound! He was tired from his journey but excited to get a tour of Lincoln High School, “home of the Prowlers.”
He told me he was surprised by how modern-looking everything was. He took note of the art-deco style of the columns and the brightness of the room. I explained that the high school building was recently rebuilt and modernized after receiving a bond in 2017 and with support from the local community. One of the goals with this project was to modernize but to still hold on to important historical aspects of the building, such as our gym, which is called the “Brickhouse” by young and old sports fans alike. This is one of the many places in the community where we cheer our team, the Prowlers, on.
I explained to Jeffrey that this is our school cafeteria, which is actually one of the students’ favorite places to hang with friends after school or to work on homework during the day. There’s often music playing over the speakers and students put in requests to hear their favorite tunes. In addition to being a pleasant place to work, students eat lunch at two different times during the day. Some students receive free and reduced lunch if they are unable to afford it. Many students leave campus for lunch to go pick up something quick to eat from one of the nearby fast-food restaurants or gas stations. Some students bring their own lunches from home. Breakfast is also served at two different times, once before school, and then once between 1st and 2nd block, which students also take full advantage of. Pictured in the foreground are two hard-working German students. On the left, you can see Elaina B. and on the right, Elaina K. They were excited to meet Jeffrey and hear all about his previous travels.
Day 2
After I introduced Jeffrey to my German classes, he was ready to go experience the daily life of a student at LHS. Jacob, a German student who is very passionate about music and learning languages, took Jeffrey with him to band class.
Jeffrey tried out a few notes on the trumpet, but he found that it was difficult to produce much sound without lips. Jeffrey wanted to know more about the music program, so Jacob explained that students can join band, choir, and/or orchestra. More advanced classes, such as AP music theory are also offered. Jacob’s band teacher, Ms. Hahn always reminds students that enjoying and playing music is an important part of the human experience, and it simply brings a person joy!
There are also many other after-school activities and sports programs for students at LHS. Jacob is on the Knowledge Bowl team. The KB team competes against other schools in quiz-bowl competitions. There are both written and oral rounds during which the team can earn points. The green strip is what they use to buzz in with an answer. Jeffrey, being the world traveler that he is, was very helpful during their after-school practice.
After I introduced Jeffrey to my German classes, he was ready to go experience the daily life of a student at LHS. Jacob, a German student who is very passionate about music and learning languages, took Jeffrey with him to band class.
Jeffrey tried out a few notes on the trumpet, but he found that it was difficult to produce much sound without lips. Jeffrey wanted to know more about the music program, so Jacob explained that students can join band, choir, and/or orchestra. More advanced classes, such as AP music theory are also offered. Jacob’s band teacher, Ms. Hahn always reminds students that enjoying and playing music is an important part of the human experience, and it simply brings a person joy!
There are also many other after-school activities and sports programs for students at LHS. Jacob is on the Knowledge Bowl team. The KB team competes against other schools in quiz-bowl competitions. There are both written and oral rounds during which the team can earn points. The green strip is what they use to buzz in with an answer. Jeffrey, being the world traveler that he is, was very helpful during their after-school practice.
Day 3
Jeffrey wanted to learn about some of the sports that students participate in, so another German student, Emma, took Jeffrey with her to figure skating practice. Jeffrey realized that ice-skating with one skate is tricky! Emma helped him out and took him for a spin. Both figure-skating and hockey are popular winter sports in the area.
Jeffrey wanted to learn about some of the sports that students participate in, so another German student, Emma, took Jeffrey with her to figure skating practice. Jeffrey realized that ice-skating with one skate is tricky! Emma helped him out and took him for a spin. Both figure-skating and hockey are popular winter sports in the area.
Day 4
After Jeffrey learned about sports at LHS, he wanted to learn more about what students did for fun outside of school-sponsored activities. Elaina, K. thought it would be fun to share one of the oldest winter pastimes in Minnesota with Jeffrey: Snowmobiling! With such long winters and so many frozen lakes, Minnesotans find all sorts of ways to get outside when they’re a lot of snow and not much daylight.
People love to go cross-country skiing, ice-fishing, snow-shoeing, and, of course, snowmobiling. The company that made Elaina’s snowmobile, Arctic Cat, is actually located right here in Thief River Falls!
After Jeffrey learned about sports at LHS, he wanted to learn more about what students did for fun outside of school-sponsored activities. Elaina, K. thought it would be fun to share one of the oldest winter pastimes in Minnesota with Jeffrey: Snowmobiling! With such long winters and so many frozen lakes, Minnesotans find all sorts of ways to get outside when they’re a lot of snow and not much daylight.
People love to go cross-country skiing, ice-fishing, snow-shoeing, and, of course, snowmobiling. The company that made Elaina’s snowmobile, Arctic Cat, is actually located right here in Thief River Falls!
Day 5
Jeffrey spent one more day at Elaina’s house over the weekend, and he learned all about what life on a farm in northern Minnesota is like. He was pretty lucky too because Elaina is the regional president of FFA (Future Farmers of America), so he was able to learn a lot from his visit. Although, he wasn’t quite sure what to think about the chickens.
Jeffrey spent one more day at Elaina’s house over the weekend, and he learned all about what life on a farm in northern Minnesota is like. He was pretty lucky too because Elaina is the regional president of FFA (Future Farmers of America), so he was able to learn a lot from his visit. Although, he wasn’t quite sure what to think about the chickens.
Day 6
The tour of America’s farmland didn’t end there! The next day of his visit, Kaden, took Jeffrey to his farm. The cows were just as curious about Jeffrey as he was about them! They gave him a warm welcome even though it was pretty cold outside that day.
On the one hand, taking care of animals can be a big part of daily life for a lot of Minnesotans. Northern Minnesota is a rural area with pockets of small towns and a lot of farmland, and many people still live on farmsteads that their great grandparents built when they first came to Minnesota. In the winter, depending on how far someone lives out of town, the drive to school can be treacherous on bad weather days. This is one reason so many people have big vehicles. Sometimes we’re even lucky enough to have a snow day. On the other hand, quite a few students live in town, which offers a very different lifestyle!
The tour of America’s farmland didn’t end there! The next day of his visit, Kaden, took Jeffrey to his farm. The cows were just as curious about Jeffrey as he was about them! They gave him a warm welcome even though it was pretty cold outside that day.
On the one hand, taking care of animals can be a big part of daily life for a lot of Minnesotans. Northern Minnesota is a rural area with pockets of small towns and a lot of farmland, and many people still live on farmsteads that their great grandparents built when they first came to Minnesota. In the winter, depending on how far someone lives out of town, the drive to school can be treacherous on bad weather days. This is one reason so many people have big vehicles. Sometimes we’re even lucky enough to have a snow day. On the other hand, quite a few students live in town, which offers a very different lifestyle!
Day 7
Jeffrey’s trip to northern Minnesota was coming to a close, and Zachary, another German student, asked him what he wanted to do. Jeffrey couldn’t pass up the chance to go on one more snowmobile ride! This time he had the chance to ride a snowmobile made by Polaris Industries, which is another manufacturer of snowmobiles only an hour away in Roseau, MN. An hour ride on a snowmobile was too far for a school night, but Zachary told Jeffrey about how many people will ride their snowmobiles for hours and hours! When they do that, they need heavy-duty, jackets, gloves, facemasks and helmets. Even though it’s a lot of fun to go snowmobiling, it can be very cold and sometimes dangerous. There are snowmobiling trails all over Minnesota in the winter, and people take full advantage of them!
Jeffrey’s trip to northern Minnesota was coming to a close, and Zachary, another German student, asked him what he wanted to do. Jeffrey couldn’t pass up the chance to go on one more snowmobile ride! This time he had the chance to ride a snowmobile made by Polaris Industries, which is another manufacturer of snowmobiles only an hour away in Roseau, MN. An hour ride on a snowmobile was too far for a school night, but Zachary told Jeffrey about how many people will ride their snowmobiles for hours and hours! When they do that, they need heavy-duty, jackets, gloves, facemasks and helmets. Even though it’s a lot of fun to go snowmobiling, it can be very cold and sometimes dangerous. There are snowmobiling trails all over Minnesota in the winter, and people take full advantage of them!
Day 8
On his last day with students, he tagged along with Mason, another student who takes German at LHS. In his free-time, Mason enjoys working on cars with his dad. Mason was really excited to share this experience with Jeffrey. If all goes well, one of these trucks will be Mason’s when he gets his driver’s license. Jeffrey noticed that, all of these activities, snowmobiling, figure-skating, doing chores, and fixing-up trucks, were enjoyed the most when done with family and friends.
On his last day with students, he tagged along with Mason, another student who takes German at LHS. In his free-time, Mason enjoys working on cars with his dad. Mason was really excited to share this experience with Jeffrey. If all goes well, one of these trucks will be Mason’s when he gets his driver’s license. Jeffrey noticed that, all of these activities, snowmobiling, figure-skating, doing chores, and fixing-up trucks, were enjoyed the most when done with family and friends.
Lincoln High School
Day 40
Even though his time with students had come to an end, Jeffrey stayed in Thief River Falls a little longer to have to chance to go to Bemidji, MN to see the famous statue of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. He also went cross-country skiing in the woods at Itasca State Park and crossed the headwaters of the great Mississippi River!
(Jeffrey not pictured)
Even though his time with students had come to an end, Jeffrey stayed in Thief River Falls a little longer to have to chance to go to Bemidji, MN to see the famous statue of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. He also went cross-country skiing in the woods at Itasca State Park and crossed the headwaters of the great Mississippi River!
(Jeffrey not pictured)
Jeffrey also was a big help to Frau E. when she moved from a small apartment to her first real home in April. He’s giving the Miles, the cat, a stern look because he knows he’s not supposed to be up on the counter...
As time passed, there was no more snow on the ground, and it was almost beginning to feel like spring. Spring sports were in full swing at LHS, and the leaves on the trees were just beginning to bud. Jeffrey was ready to fly back home.
As time passed, there was no more snow on the ground, and it was almost beginning to feel like spring. Spring sports were in full swing at LHS, and the leaves on the trees were just beginning to bud. Jeffrey was ready to fly back home.