Saturday Centerpiece: Student Seeing the World on One Wheel
Four consecutive vehicles stopped and drivers stared for several seconds Friday morning before continuing down Washington Street in Gettysburg.
After all, it isn't every day you spot a girl riding a unicycle on the sidewalk let alone walking on its wheel.
The activity has become customary for Janne Brandt, a 16-year-old exchange student from Hamburg, Germany who is being hosted for the next 11 months by Mary and Brian Eastman, co-owners of Mom's Coffee Pot along West Middle Street.
"At home, I am a part of a team of 15 to 20 people and we actually dance on our unicycles," Brandt explained. "It takes a lot of practice but it is an activity I have come to love."
Brandt arrived in Gettysburg
"This is my first time in the States," Brandt said. "I wanted to learn the language and the culture here. My brother did it two years ago in Dallas, Texas and he had such a great experience I wanted to get my chance as well."
Since touching down on American soil, Brandt has been hanging close to Mom's Coffee Pot to meet customers and potential new friends. She has already noticed a large difference in personalities between people here and in Germany.
"People are more open here," she said. "They will just talk to you. I've still been really nervous. I met a girl last week who doesn't go to Gettysburg but she is going to introduce me to two other seniors at the high school."
When school starts, Brandt said she'd love to participate on the Warrior swimming team and possibly get involved in other activities such as Interact Club. She also wasted no time in preparing for Spring, as she already selected her prom dress.
"There are a lot of things I am looking forward to," she said. "I want to go to the football games. We have soccer in Germany but this will be a new experience for me."
While obtaining a solid year of U.S. education is Brandt's ultimate goal, she also plans on seeing the sights. Trips to Washington D.C., West Virginia and New York are already scheduled, but she wants to add to the itinerary.
"I want to go to Philadelphia and Disney World," she said with a smile.
Brandt's time in
"We read the letter and found out Janne had Celiac Disease, meaning she needs to watch what she eats and stick to a gluten-free diet," Mary Eastman explained. "In Germany, Janne can just go and select a yogurt off the shelf and eat without worry, but here we have so many additives in our food. My husband Brian is a Celiac and we wanted to be able to help Janne select what to eat and provide a safe environment for her."
According to Eastman, 200 students in the Ayusa program could not find host families this year. That number, she said, is high most likely because of the economy.
"It is unfortunate because you learn so much from these students," Eastman said. "For example, we had a boy from Iraq a few years ago and the stories he told us compared to what we hear on the news is incredible."
Brandt said she feels fortunate to have found such a welcoming host family and is still able to communicate with her friends, brother, sister, mother, who is an artist, and father, a chef, back in Hamburg.
A new country hasn't stopped Brandt from doing the activities she loves and riding a unicycle is certainly at the top of the list.
"My host family borrowed a unicycle for me to use here," she said. "I got started riding it eight years ago. My kindergarten teacher in Germany is my trainer. My friend and I just started riding one day and then I practiced about one hour per week. It took me about a year-and-a-half until I got good at it though."
Brandt said she will continue to adjust to American life but has already tried several foods and drinks unique to her taste buds.
"It was my first piece of French toast and it was delicious," she said. "I don't normally drink coffee either but I have come to enjoy the cafe mocha."
As she looked out the window of Mom's Coffee Pot toward a dug up Middle Street, however, Brandt noted that some things are the same.
"We have a lot of road work in Germany too," she laughed.
Brandt's time in the U.S. will undoubtedly go fast, Eastman said, as it does for most exchange students. The future, however, holds many possibilities including some day returning here.
"I'd like to maybe do the program again in the future," she said. "When I return to Germany, I still have two more years of schooling there. I haven't really decided what I want to do as a career. I'm just excited to experience this next year in Gettysburg
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