Christine CarrilloThey tossed the school books out...

Christine Carrillo

They tossed the school books out just before getting on the plane,

yet they could not avoid education from the moment they stepped off

it.

Every daily activity became a lesson, a lesson on the American way

of life.

For a little more than two weeks, 17 students from Borg1

Hegelgasse12, a high school in Vienna, Austria, got a taste of

American culture from students at Costa Mesa High School.

“It was very interesting to compare our differences ... speaking

English all the time, living with the families and getting to know

them,” said Wolfgang Moser, one the two teachers who traveled with

the Austrian class. “The kids are not living like tourists, so the

experience they get is much more intense.”

The students, who were 16 to 19 years old, spent time with their

American hosts in and out of the classroom.

The Austrian travelers agreed the experience, from performing at

an international assembly in front of the school to sightseeing in

Los Angeles and San Diego, was time and money well spent.

“I feel [the people] are very nice,” said Marie Aichelburg, one of

the many students who were experiencing America for the first time.

“I feel that I’m very welcomed here.”

Costa Mesa High students embraced the chance to learn everything

they could and make new friends in the process.

“They get more open-minded and they find out things about Europe,

Austria,” said Eveline Hoelbling, the head teacher of the class.

Unlike in the U.S. high school system, students in Austria don’t

make daily treks from one class to another, their teachers do. And

their classmates don’t change as their subject does. Instead, once

they find their niche, which for this Austrian class was music, the

students stay together for years.

The Austrian students, who spend 40 hours a week in school,

including Saturdays, were surprised to see how the American school

system worked.

They were almost as shocked by the casual relationships the

American students have with their teachers as the American students

were by the Austrians’ being able to drink and smoke at 16.

“We’re getting as much out of it as they are,” said 16-year-old

Carley Millian, a sophomore whose family is hosting one of the

Austrian students. “I’ve learned a lot.”

The students quickly discovered the similarities and differences

between them and their counterparts, showing school officials from

both countries how significant the experience is.

“We’ve been very pleased with the interaction of our kids,” said

John Battey, the Costa Mesa High activities director who helped

establish the program about five years ago. “Austria is a country

that values an educational trip like this. They’re here to learn

English and to make the world a smaller place.”

The Austrian students are scheduled to return Tuesday.

* CHRISTINE CARRILLO covers education and may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at christine.carrillo@latimes.com.