VOL. XV, NO. 14

Well, with exactly one month' left in Des Plaines, the time has come to look back on the greatest year in my life. How does one go about summarizing a whole year in a nutshell? How does one even begin to say thanks to everyone involved in making this year what it has been?

It is not the easiest thing in the world to start life over again, knowing no one and not quite knowing where to start the year. However, I believe that my job as an AFS student was made remarkably easy with the help of everyone, students and faculty alike, at Maine West.

So what makes Maine West so much different from my school in South Africa? Well, Kearsney College has a total student enrollment of 440 boys, 400 of which are boarders. We had a special dress code and although there were no deans, or S-201's, discipline was administrated by means of corporal punishment, the primary instrument of which was a well-oiled, flexible four-foot cane issued to every teacher. To put it lightly, schools differ a tad but this fact alone promised an exciting year for me.

I must say that when I first arrived here, the members of the student body that I could best assimilate myself with were the freshmen. Why? Because I was as lost as many of them. That soon corrected itself, though.

My thanks to all who frequently salvaged me from the underground track, or the boiler room in my efforts to reach B-205, or something. Then I met Mr. Coburn, and when I saw that smile, I knew I was welcome indeed. Thank you, sir. Sure, there were times when I made a fool of myself at school, like when I asked Ms. Voell who her homeroom teacher was, or when I opened the front door for a girl, but all this sort of thing added to the fun of a new way of life.

Apart from the fun side of school, I did learn a lot in class. I tried not to make it too obvious that I had already left school back home, but the adjustment of coming back to sitting in a high school classroom wasn't all that bad. I sincerely hope that my peers enjoyed their senior year as much as I did.

Finally, I must put in this vote of thanks to Student Council, for without their friendship and financial help, this year would have been very much more difficult for both Maria and myself. And to all my teachers, thank you all for your patience and interest.

It would be farcical to say that we will all meet again one day, but I know that if I do come back one day, I will surely see some of my friends at Maine West.

Thanks to everyone, but there is far more behind that word in my heart. One final word. I DO NOT LIVE IN A JUNGLE. Anthony Lloyd