Zšthen and Naumburg

It is now ten days since the 17 SST students arrived in Germany April 27 and already it seems like weeks; so much is packed into a short time. The students are immersed in German, most intensely with their host families.

The students spent their first six days in Germany at a camp/ranch in the small village of Zšthen 15 miles north of Jena. Here they studied German all morning and hiked in the forest in the afternoon. At right, Uli, the camp naturalist, explains how they came by several zebras retired from a German circus.

• Frau Bettermann leads one of the morning classes.

Sunday afternoon students traveled by train to nearby Naumburg to view its magnificent medieval buildings, untouched by Allied bombing in WW II. Most moving was a tour of the Naumburg Cathedral constructed between the 12th and 15th centuries. Facing the crucifix in the crypt of the original chapel, our students were invited to sing; in the mysterious silence, their rendition of "When Peace Like a River" will long be remembered by each one present.

Unforgettable also was standing before the portal to the west chapel where the life-sized sculpture of the crucified Christ hangs between the saddened Mary and St. John. In medieval times crucifixes normally portrayed no emotion and hung high up on the wall, but the so-called "Master of Naumburg" in these 13th century sculptures portrays the figures in breathtaking passion at eye level.

Wednesday afternoon students met their host families who took them to their homes in Jena. For the next five weeks students will have their classes at the Christlisches Gymnasium, a new school in Jena. In the photo, Dr. Zickler talks about a statue of St. Michael, Jena's patron saint, which stands in the lobby of the Christlisches Gymnasium.