City Faces in Different Places
By Michelle Duez on June 15, 2014 from City Faces
City Faces blog is sponsored by Bad Lizard Granite.
Yesterday was a really tough day. Jerg Riethmueller, our exchange student, headed back to Germany. He lived with us for ten months and quickly became a member of the family. It was an amazing experience to host someone from another country. We know will have a lifetime bond with this young man. Our seventeen year old son Michael went back to Germany with Jerg for a ten day visit. Someday, our entire family plans to visit as well. We also hope Jerg and his family come back to West Virginia to visit. I am re-running Jerg's City Faces interview in his honor. For his last dinner he chose Chick Fil A, which he stated was his favorite.
If you ever have the opportunity to host an exchange student, I highly recommend the experience. I can refer you to the local FLAG program, Foreign Links Around the Globe, which is the program Jerg came to America with this year. Click here for more information on FLAG. There are also others such as Rotary and Youth For Understanding. Another Bridgeport family, the Parrishes, hosted a student from Sweden this year. Please click here to learn more about their experience.
Please take a moment to meet my German son, Jerg. This story initially ran December 15, 2013. I'd also like to wish all the dads out there a very HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! A shout out to Matt Duez who is a wonderful father to our four sons, Jerg included.
Our family was presented with an opportunity to host an exchange student this summer and we jumped at the chance. It has turned out to be such a blessing. The initial commitment was just for a few weeks but it has turned into a year-long stay and we are loving every minute of the experience! Jerg, or Joe as we call him, is a fantastic kid. He fits right into our family and goes with the flow. We are learning about Germany and he is embracing and learning American culture. Please take a moment to meet my German son, Jerg Riethmueller.
How long have you lived in Bridgeport? Since August 10, 2013. He will be going to back to Germany at the end of the school year.
Where are you originally from? Born and raised in Tubingen, Germany.
Family? Parents are Joachim and Anke. Joachim is a pediatrician at University Children’s Hospital Tubingen and Anke is a social worker. Jerg has a younger brother Veit, 14 and younger sister Jetta, 8. His family dynamic is almost identical to ours.
What is your favorite color? Green
Where do you go to school? Junior at Bridgeport High School.
Favorite Bridgeport spot? Chick Fil A
Favorite WV spot outside of Bridgeport? Coopers Rock
Favorite food? Lasagna
Favorite musical group? Eminem and Seeed (Seeed is a German group)
Pets? 2 guinea pigs named Flackie and Milo
Hobbies? Swimming – Jerg has been swimming year round for 10 years. 100m backstroke is his best event. He also enjoys soccer, playing video games with his friends and skiing. His favorite resort to ski is Disentis in Switzerland.
Interesting fact about you? Jerg is an exchange student with a group called Foreign Links Around the Globe (FLAG). He is enjoying experience and thinks Bridgeport is an awesome community. He played for the BHS boys soccer team and plans to be on the BHS track and field team this spring.
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