A farewell to ‘Rosie’
Sister Cities says good-bye to exchange intern Jan 'Rosie' Rosenberg
Members of the New Ulm Country Club kitchen staff gather around Hans Jooh Exchange Intern Jan “Rosie” Rosenberg one last time before he return to Ulm, Germany. From left to right: Elly Apitz, Prudence Thompson, Cassie Perl, Trisha Homan, Jan “Rosie” Rosenberg, Nikki Dittrich, Crystal Frederickson, Josh Portner, Choloe Peil, Alex Marty, Callie Peil and Anthony Lopez Photo by Clay Schuldt
Jan “Rosie” Rosenberg thanks the Sister Cities Commission, his host families and the staff at the New Ulm Country Club for allowing him to visit and work in the New Ulm community the last 12 weeks. “It was a great pleasure to live here,” he said. Photo by Clay Schuldt
Members of the New Ulm Country Club kitchen staff gather around Hans Jooh Exchange Intern Jan “Rosie” Rosenberg one last time before he return to Ulm, Germany. From left to right: Elly Apitz, Prudence Thompson, Cassie Perl, Trisha Homan, Jan “Rosie” Rosenberg, Nikki Dittrich, Crystal Frederickson, Josh Portner, Choloe Peil, Alex Marty, Callie Peil and Anthony Lopez Photo by Clay Schuldt
Jan “Rosie” Rosenberg thanks the Sister Cities Commission, his host families and the staff at the New Ulm Country Club for allowing him to visit and work in the New Ulm community the last 12 weeks. “It was a great pleasure to live here,” he said. Photo by Clay Schuldt
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NEW ULM - The Sister Cities Committee and the staff at New Ulm Country Club gave a fond farewell to Jan "Rosie" Rosenberg on Wednesday.
For the last 12 weeks, Rosenberg served as the Hans Joohs Cultural Exchange intern. Rosenberg was born in Ulm, Germany, and lived there until May, when he moved to Blaubeuren, where he works as a paramedic.
Earlier this year, Rosenberg applied to serve as the Hans Joohs intern.
"I've actually wanted to visit the United States for a long time," Rosenberg said. "I grew up hearing stories about the United States and seeing all those old western movies."
Earlier this year he saw the advertisement for the exchange program between the Sister Cities. Rosenberg realized this was his last chance to apply for the program because he would be too old next year. Fortunately, his application was accepted.
Rosenberg arrived in New Ulm on July 24 and he began working in the New Ulm Country Club kitchen. Typically, interns would be match with a position in his field, but state laws and licensing prevented him from working as a paramedic in New Ulm.
Rosenberg said he did enjoy his time working at the Country Club and he did have an interest in cooking.
"I enjoyed being around here," he said. "It was very nice for you guys at the Country Club to have me around for 12 weeks. I made new good friends here. It was a great pleasure to work with them and that is something I am really going to miss."
Crystal Frederickson, General Manager at the County Club's Cottonwood Grill, said the staff adored Rosenberg and he introduced them to multiple new dishes. They are looking to add a new item to the menu called "The Rosie" in his honor.
Rosenberg said he was fortunate to see quite a bit of the United States during his visit. During a trip to Wisconsin, Michigan and the Duluth area he was able see the changing of the fall colors, which he said were "beautiful and brighter than in Germany."
A highlight of his time in The United States was a special road trip he took to Yellowstone. Rosenberg said he had heard some much about the park and wanted to see it firsthand. He was able to see the park thanks to Sister Cities volunteer Rick Isabell.
The two drove all through the night to reach Yellowstone, traveling through the badlands. They managed to visit Devil's Tower just before sunrise.
Rosenberg said Yellowstone lived up to his dreams.
"It was beautiful to see the difference between the north and south of park," he said. "Going into the park in the early morning, we saw a lot of wildlife in the north of the park and then the geysers in the south."
Rosenberg said the biggest surprise he had in visiting the United States was its immense size. He was aware the country was large from viewing maps but it surprised him how far people drive. When it was picked up at the airport, he was told it was only a quick two hour drive to New Ulm.
"When I drive two hours in Germany to the south, I am almost in Italy," he said.
Rosenberg said the best surprise of his visit was the people he met.
"It was a great pleasure to live here," he said. "You see life in a different way here."
He said the United States is often portrayed very differently in the media and it is not always accurate. His time in New Ulm let him experience what the country was really like.
"It is a great pleasure to see it and feel it for yourself," he said.
Rosenberg plans to return to the United States some day. He said when he does return, it will be to see the people here that have become his friends.