Subject: RE: More memories
Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2002 10:51:35 +0200
From: "Susie (Hampy) Lentz" [Susie.Lentz@t-online.de] To: ALL

Greetings, everyone, again from Germany! Since I have had some people ask why I am in Germany, I thought I would fill you all in -- briefly, I hope -- at the same time. We are all having great fun with the memories of high school and the 60's, but we all need to be brought up-to-date also on the present. I have certainly had a life that I never dreamed of in high school. Back then I was the most local yokel around, I'm sure. I had been out of the state of Illinois only twice, to Sioux Falls, S.D., to visit an Uncle and Aunt, and I had been to Chicago for a day with another Aunt and Uncle. Otherwise, my summer excitement was to spend several weeks on my Grandpa's farm in Patoka, Illinois -- so you've never heard of Patoka, huh?

A month out of high school I met Brad Lentz and my life took another direction. He was also from Peoria, but was Woodruff Class of '58. He had just graduated from Wabash College in Indiana, and was going to go to Harvard Graduate School. After seeing each other for less than 3 months, and writing letters for 8 months, we were married. Yes, we just celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary (and I only feel 25, so how did that happen?!) We spent 4 years in Cambridge, Mass., he at Harvard Graduate School in History (modern German history to be specific), and I worked and somehow supported us on my small salary doing secretarial work at Harvard Business School in the Fund Office, and supplemented it with extra typing of term papers, etc., for students. It was a bit overwhelming for this high school girl to live in a graduate school atmosphere.

Brad taught at the University of New Hampshire for 5 years, and we had 2 children. He then decided teaching was not for him long term (teaching the same courses every year is boring), so he changed careers. He learned Systems Analyst work on-the-job at Texas Instruments in Attleboro, Massachusetts.

Brad prefers to live and work in Europe, and I have been following him. We've been in Europe for about 25 years now. I, however, never realized I would be here forever. We started in 1976 with a year in Italy, just outside Naples. We have lived in Holland for 8 years, always close to the German border on the east side of Holland. We then moved to France for 10 years, just over the border from Geneva, Switzerland. And now we are in Germany for 5 years, just outside of Munich.

Languages have been a struggle for me, but a challenge as I love to communicate. Dutch was the first other language could speak and dream in. French is also under my belt finally, thanks to dear friends who just kept speaking French to me. And now I'm feeling more comfortable with German, even though I think this language could certainly be simplified. My problem is keeping my languages straight and separate -- my Dutch and my German will always be a bit tangled together. The key to learning and speaking another language is to be able to laugh at yourself and your mistakes, of which I have made many.

What do I do besides follow Brad? Well, I've learned pottery (throwing on the wheel), and have gotten pretty good at doing something I love. I sell my pots, and I gave lessons for 7 years in France -- at the end I had 32 students a week, and one year I had 13 nationalities (the United Nations is in Geneva, plus many NGO's). And another year I had 9 Japanese ladies -- some were good at English, and several preferred to speak French with me. Now just imagine this Peoria gal communicating and giving pottery lessons in French to a Japanese woman!! My husband did a web site for me several years ago, but hasn't updated it. However, you can check out some of my pottery at www.Susie.de. Jim Lightfoot talked about his gas station plates in his home -- well, I make complete sets of dishes and sell them. My other passion is playing tennis. Anyone want to squeeze in some tennis during the reunion?

We have 3 grandchildren -- Rachael, age 7 1/2, is the daughter of our son, Jake. And our daughter, Kiki, has Emma, 3 1/2, and Katie, 6 months. We're called Oma and Opa, which are both the Dutch and German words for Grandma and Pa. We have dear friends all over the world for whom I feel so blessed, and I've had a challenging and amazing life. Yes, I'm still American, but living overseas gives one a different perspective. And I don't feel completely comfortable in the States, and not completely comfortable in Europe -- sort of a fish out of water, but quite adaptable and flexible. One has to be flexible to still enjoy life so much! I have always returned to Peoria at least once a year, both to see my Mom and other relatives, but to stay grounded and touch my roots, too.

I'm looking forward to the '62 Reunion and seeing lots of you there. If I'm making an effort from Germany, you, too, can make an effort to be there and have a laugh.

Cheers,
Susie Hampy Lentz