1983-06-16 Thu Schoolbook 83.pdf

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Alpenfest authentic: Swiss visitor
By LINDA HEPPE
Herald Time* Staff Writer
GAYLORD — If Gaylord was plunked down in the
middle of the mountains of Switzerland, would it look
like an authentic Alpine village?
Yes, it would come pretty close, according to
Veronique Schmid, 19, a native of Switzerland who
has been living in Gaylord for nearly six months.
"When I first came here," states Schmid, "I was
amazed at these little tiny Switzerlands they could
make right here in America."
The Alpine buildings in her native country are bigger
than those found here- Because of the smallness
of the buildings, Schmid refers to downtown Gaylord
stores as "little doll houses." —.
Switzerland isn't all Alpine style villages, though.
In the city of Lausanne, where Schmid lives with her
family, not many of these type of"buildings are
found.
"Most of the people live in apartments because the
country is so small," says Schmid, who enjoys the
spaciousness of this country.
"When I open my window in Switzerland, it's cars,
cars, cars. Here, I open -it and it's all trees."
"You'd have to go to the country though to findthis
type of town," she remarks. "They have chalets all
over the country in Switzerland that have the little
windows and roofo just like the ones here."
SCHMID'S family owns a chalet in the country,
but she it just a "regular" chalet compared to
the ones she's seen here.
"The most beautiful ones in Switzerland are like
the ones that are here," states Schmid.
Schmid has only been to a few celebrations in
Switzerland like Gaylord's Alpenfest. (She has never
even owned a dirndl).
The activities which are planned are similiar to
— cows. .
"They decorate cows with flowers and bells as
—_part of the parades and parties over there," she
states.
The people whe's met while in Gaylord have impressed
her.
'Everybody's relaxed here," states Schmid. "And
they're a lot friendlier here than in Switzerland." _
Some of the food and eating habits of Americans
have taken some getting used to for Schmid.
PEOPLE who pile all U>eii fwd «i we piate still
amaze her. In Switzerland, people have separate
plates for different foods.
The worst thing about American food is the bread,
says Schmid.
"We have fresh bread every day and it's hard
bread. I don't understand why you put it in plastic
. bags like you do."
Vhmirf has been staying with Mr and Mrs. James
_ Count since she arrived last December. Her May
there was arranged by Eric Meyers of Vanderbilt, a
friend of her father.
She wanted to come to the US so she could sharpen
her English and Increase her chances for getting a
job back home.
For week of June 16 23
Published by Gaylord, Ml
• •
• • ' a
When she arrived, Schmid coukl hardly even cammunicate
wtth the Counts. Now, she speaks English
fluently.
Her parents are currently staying wtth Meyers,
along with 11 other Swiss natives, as part ol a five-
HANGING IN Veronique SchmicTs room
Is a clock she brought from her native
country of Switzerland. Schmid will
spend her last days In the US sightseeing
with her parents, who are on a five-week
visit here, with 11 other Swiss natives.
week visit to America. When they leave next week,
Veronique will be going home with them
sunungC