To the Editor:

Welcome Back!

Birgit Zorgiebel from Bad Konig, Germany, the first exchange student at Washington High School, is coming to Washington for a short visit July 6.

About 32 years ago, this bright-eyed, brunette, curly haired youngster arrived in Washington from Frankisch Crumbach, Germany.

She was 15 years old and never traveled far from home. She came to us quite by accident because my daughter, Nancy, raised her hand in French class and told her teacher, Sylvia Briley, that she knew her parents would love to keep a student for a year. She excitedly informed us of this when she returned home from school that day. My husband, Tally Lassiter, and I mulled this over for a while, thinking that we were getting a French student (so did Nancy), another girl, to add to our family of five did not seem to be too much of a burden. Our two sons, Tally Jr. and Fred, were in college at Chapel Hill at the time, and Jane was married. That left us with Elizabeth and Nancy to care for at home.

All the children were here for the weekend that she arrived. Several cars were parked in our driveway at Riverside Drive. She looked at the cars and said, “You must be very rrreech.”

Tally just rolled his eyes and laughed and said, “Not with two in college and more to educate.”

As we sat down to eat, the telephone rang, and it was Birgit’s dad on the line. He was wanting to know if everything was all right. She replied that all was well. Tally Jr. told us that was what was asked, and he also knew the answer because he had studied in Germany for a while. That year was the most exciting one in our family’s life and Birgit’s, too, I believe. Never had she seen American football or basketball, and certainly not cheerleaders with a marching band, all dressed in uniforms.

She began to fit right in at school. She was a manager for the cheerleaders, a homecoming senior, riding in a convertible in a parade. And last, but not least, she made the highest grade on her English exam at Washington High School. Jim Ferrell called to tell me, and I was thrilled for her. Of course, she had studied English for six years in Germany. That was still remarkable to me.

We took her to most of the churches here, to our family reunions, to the beach, and — best of all — to California, where none of us had been.

The teachers were all quite enamored with Birgit and her charming manner and superior intelligence.

At Christmas she sang “Silent Night” in German at the Episcopal Church, enjoyed eating goose, which I had never cooked before, and she also gave each of us a gift from Germany.

Some changes have taken place since she lived with us such as, a new high school and football field, new hospital and, of course, Tally is no longer here to receive her hugs and questions, always calling him Papa. Now I even live in a different home. It’s behind my old one.

Birgit is a school teacher. At home are her husband, Bernd, and two daughters, Hannah and Ida. Her parents are living in Germany, as well as her sister and her family.

On July 8, come to Washington Park’s waterfront if you were a classmate or old acquaintance and give Birgit your special welcome as only good old Washingtonians do. Show up between the hour of 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., and stay as long as you wish. In case of rain, go to 108 Riverside Drive.

FRANCES LASSITER
Washington