ge
Exchantudent
S
ers
aulsen
Kurt P
By Sarah
Table of Contents
R og
He loves meeting new people,
as well as playing sports, which
created more than enough opportunities to socialize with other
Westview students. His favorite
sport is soccer, one of the most
popular sports in Bolivia and one
As the weather begins
he’s been playing for as long as he
to show signs of warming
can remember. This year he is going
and the days grow longer,
to play Baseball as well, which will be
an entirely new experience. There is
we who reside in the Midwest know that, at long last, no baseball in his home country, so
he’s very excited about the upcoming
spring is nearly upon us.
season.
For many still in school, it means the
Kurt has also had no trouble
end of long days studying and the
breaking the language barrier here
beginning of bright, sunny days out of either. Unlike many foreign exdoors. For Kurt Paulsen, an exchange
change students, Kurt actually has
student at Westview High School, it
family that lives in Virginia whom
means the end of one school experihe has been able to visit for long
ence and the almost immediate begin- periods of time in the past. He began
ning of another. Kurt is seventeen
learning to speak English at an
years old and a senior both here in Inearly age from his Virginian cousins,
diana and in his home country, Bolivia. which also inspired him to become
He arrived last fall to attend school in
an exchange student to the US. At
the US and has had such a wonderful
seventeen, Kurt is a senior both here
time that he is not ready to go home
in the States and at home in Bolivia.
yet. “I don’t feel like it’s been
However, their school year begins in
seven months already,” he
February and ends in November, so
said, “It feels like it’s only been one
in order to graduate this year Kurt
month.
I’ve been so busy!” will have a lot of catching up to do
Kurt is very
when he returns home in July. He
talkative and
hopes to earn a scholarship to attend
outgoing,
college in another country, where his
making it
plan is to study medicine and become
easy for him
a doctor like his father. His family
to settle in
lives in La Paz, Bolivia’s capitol and
at school and largest city. Along with his parents,
make lots of
Kurt has two younger brothers who
new friends. are hoping to follow in his footsteps
and study at school in other countries as exchange students.
Sherry Good, Kurt’s host mom
who has raised four boys, has had a
delightful time having Kurt live with
them. She was first inspired to host
an exchange student thanks to a
continued on page 25
Monthly Feature
Pedal Power........................................... 14-24
Bennett Cleveland demonstrates his bike jumping
abilities.... hmmm, what happened to his wheels?!
Columns
Healthy Hearts, Healthy Homes......... 5
Recipe.................................................... 6
Smart Choices.....................................67
Spiritual Treasure...............................11
Spotlight on Nature...........................41
Contests & Puzzles
Clueless Crossword.............................. 8
Coloring Contest......................... 38, 70
Drawing Contest.................................71
Gold Coin Contest..............................71
Mystery Farm Contest.......................45
Word Search.......................................... 8
Everything Else
Classified Ads .....................................65
Community Calendar .................. 26-28
Display Advertiser Listing.................72
Hometown Church Listings..............13
Kids’ Club (Birthday Page).................42
LaGrange County Library..................32
Shipshewana Town News..................63
Westview School Board .....................62
Westview Sports Section............. 56-59
Entry Forms
Topeka/Shipshe Garage Sales..... 29-30
Mayfest Events......................13, 34, 65
The Hometown Treasure · April ‘13 · pg 1