Hans Joohs Exchange intern Samuel Knoops (right) gives cheers with Richard Seeboth during the Sister Cities Commission welcoming banquet Monday. Seeboth will host Knoops during this first six-weeks in New Ulm.

NEW ULM – Samuel Knoops of Ulm, Germany, was welcomed to New Ulm, Monday by the Sister Cities Commission during a special banquet at Kegel Klub.

Knoops arrived in New Ulm a week ago on Sept. 2 as part of the Hans Joohs Intern Exchange program. For the next three months, he will live and work in New Ulm as part of the program.

Back in Germany, Knoops lives and works in Ulm, Germany. Specifically, he works at the Gold Ochsen Brewery. For that reason, during his stay in New Ulm, Knoops will be interning at August Schell’s Brewery. His first day at Schell’s was last Thursday. By the end of his internship, Knoops hopes to work in every department at Schell’s.

“I’ll get to know everything in detail and that is what’s importance,” he said. “I learned the craftsmanship in another country and that is the main reason I wanted to come here.”

Knoops said he learned about the Hans Joohs exchange program from a colleague last November. The colleague gave him a newspaper article about the program and said “you’re still under 25, why don’t you go and try.”

Knoops thought it was a good suggestion. He said that at age 24, he is still learning every day and wants to know more.

“I want to see as much of the world as possible and a lot of different breweries,” Knoops said. “Beer is never the same in other countries and the people are never the same. I find that very important to meet a lot of people and get to know a lot of views.”

Although he has only been in the United States for a week, Knoops said he has noticed some big differences in how breweries operate.

He said in Ulm, there is a tradition of restricting what ingredients go into the beer. His brewery restricts the brew to malt, yeast, hops and water. In the U.S. there are restrictions with some beers using corn syrup. Knoops has even seen a peanut butter chocolate ail. Though he has not sampled this ail yet, Knoops said it will be a goal of his on this visit.

Other goals Knoops has on his visit to America, is to see nature. He is especially excited about a trip to Duluth with his first host family, the Seeboths.

“I’ve heard it is really beautiful up there,” he said. “I am very excited for the landscape because in America, the nature is overwhelming.”

Knoops is also interested in seeing some local landmarks, such Mount Rushmore.

Another interest for Knoops is music. During his stay in America he wants to attend as many concerts as possible. Last Friday, he attended a Concord Singers performance in Stillwater. Knoops said he was impressed with the Concord Singers.

Over the weekend he was able to catch a blues concert. On Sept. 24, he will travel to St. Paul to see a German Power Mental band. Knoops said he is already familiar with the band from Germany, but is excited to see them in Minnesota.

Knoops’ internship in New Ulm will last through November. For the first half of the internship he will stay with Richard and Sharon Seeboth and Jim and Konnie Bartles for the second half.

Starting Nov. 1 the Sister Cities Commission will begin accepting applications for the outbound Han Joohs intern. The chosen applicant will live 12-weeks in or near the City of Ulm, Germany. The New Ulm Sister Cities Commission will provide transportation to and from Germany and a modest stipend. The cooperating Ulm organizations will provide housing and a paid internship in a job setting or settings based on the recipient’s background and interests.

Candidates must be within 18 to 35 years old and show interest in German culture. Applicants should be from the New Ulm, MN area or have ties to New Ulm.

To learn more about the program or obtain an application write New Ulm Sister Cities, 100 North Broadway, New Ulm, Minnesota 56073 or contact the City Manager’s Office at (507) 359-8233 or e-mail lisap@newulmmn.gov.