Are American teenagers different from those in Germany? Americans are more easy going and carefree, according to senior Renate Nissen. Born in a small town in East Germany, Renate came to the United States last June and is now attending Maine West. But, she added that German teenagers, like Americans, "love to talk on the phone for hours."

Renate is impressed with the size of America and the informality and friendliness of the people. Knowing no English when she came to the United States, she was forced to learn it in order to understand people. Does she still have trouble with English? "Oh gee, I'd be lost without my dictionary!" she exclaimed, laughing. Renate has also studied French for several years, and is now taking French IV.

German schools are more strict and formal than American schools, according to Renate, who finds the casual relation­ship between teachers and students different, but nice. She also said that in Germany one starts high school at the age of ten and goes for nine years, every day except Sunday. Everyone is required to take 25 subjects a year, and of course the homework load is much heavier than it is in America. There are also few extra‑curricular activities in German high schools, only bands and music activities.

Renate stated that boys and girls attend separate schools in Germany, and meet each other through parties and tennis clubs, and she added the old standby, the girlfriend's brother.

Renate plans to remain in America till next year, when she will go back to Germany, to finish high school and then probably to study publicity and English in Munich. She likes America, and remarked, "I'm very grateful to everyone who's helped me. I like to be here and become acquainted with the Americans"