The Light - An Alumni Publication Fall 2015 | Page 24

FACES OF YFU

GARY BACHULA
PROGRAM: Netherlands, 1963
OCCUPATION: Deputy Under Secretary for Technology,

US Department of Commerce
HOME: McLean, VA

A DAY IN THE LIFE
I wouldn’t have had the vision or the guts to apply to
Harvard if not for YFU. It was a narrow time. I came from
a working class neighborhood — a blue collar Polish
kid. Going to college at all was an open question. Even
going to the University of Michigan, two hours away,
was a bold move at the time. When I returned from my
summer exchange, I knew I could make it anywhere.
Read select excerpts below from Bachula’s
exchange journal for insight on day-today living in 1963 Netherlands – view the
rest online on the YFU USA blog.
June 14, 1963: First day of school
We rode the bicycle to school through a hard rain.
Although we were late, we were permitted to go to class
because I was an American. We first had a Dutch class.
Then came the English class. The teacher spoke excellent
English (English not “American”) and was very friendly.
I showed him my yearbook, and then I sat in the front
and answered questions from both the students and the
teacher. The first question was about the racial problem.
The events in Alabama make headlines here often. They
are very interested. They also asked about driving cars,
television, teenage music, prices, sports and schools.
They asked what I thought about our space program.
June 15, 1963: Classroom environment
In the average class, the teacher calls a student to the
front of the room. The student then recites answers
to questions or works out a problem. The whole class
thus learns from the discussion between a student
and the teacher. The school is not nearly as formal as
I had thought it would be. Although the teachers and
students aren’t “pals”, as they can be in the US, they
are good friends. They make jokes, etc. Students are
the same the world around — acting up, talking, etc.

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June 21, 1963: Where’s the twist?
Tonight we went to Wÿbe’s graduation party at his
school. After a series of stuffy speeches, the dancing
began. The band consisted of a piano, accordion and
drums. It was very good but I couldn’t dance very well.
All these kids danced to was fox trots and “English
waltzes.” Seemed like they were 30 years behind the
time. They only had one twist! I tried my best and danced
often. Everyone was really friendly, especially the girls.
The next day, a dance took place in a nearby hall… I have
never seen a hall so crowded. I bet there were 300 in a
hall built for 200. The White Comets were playing. With
five electric guitars and one pair of drums, this band
is the hottest rock and roll combo on this side of the
IJssell River. The dancing was a little more modern, too.
But it was way too crowded to move around much.”
June 25, 1963: Reflection
Dad and I went to [Arnhem] Oosterbeek, a war
cemetery for English soldiers killed in WW2. The
cemetery was beautiful. Even though these men were
Englishman, a sort of lump stuck in my throat as I
walked through the rows of stone markers noticing
that most of the dead were only boys when they were
killed, noticing beautiful phr ases on each stone – “He
died that others might live”, and noticing the frequent
stones with this written on it in place of name – “A
soldier of the 1939-1945 war. Known only to God.”
August 10, 1963: Last day
My last day! It’s hard to believe that time flies so
fast. As I sit here writing this I already feel homesick
for Apeldoorn. I know I’m going to miss it. Leaving
Saginaw was easy because I’d be back in nine
weeks, but this leaving is so permanent! ■