Frau Mettler

Today, we stopped by Ethan's former German elementary school to try and find his 3rd/4th grade teacher, Frau Mettler. After walking around, we found the principal who told us that she had retired. Fortunately in Germany, there is no thought about privacy and he gave us her phone number. Ethan called immediately, and as it turned out, she lived right down the road. We were there within the hour.

After chatting with her for a few minutes, it really hit me that so much of what Ethan is now is because of what Frau Mettler did for him for so long ago. While other teachers adopted the "survival of the fittest" attitude in most situations with my children in the schools, Frau Mettler knew that Ethan needed two things in order to be successful: private tutoring, and a friend.

Within days, Ethan had a new best friend, Konrad, who was fun AND patient with Ethan and who helped Ethan work himself into the culture. Frau Mettler had personally approached Konrad, explained Ethan's situation and asked him to be Ethan's new best friend. He took on the challenge and served as Ethan's best friend for years.

Frau Mettler sought opportunities to teach Ethan when the other kids were busy with other things. Too, after only two years of German, she had the confidence in him to send him onto gymnasium, the school for the smartest children in Germany. Although he didn't appear smart because of his basic language abilities, she knew that he could do it.

Just last year when Ethan submitted his college applications, his personal essay was about his experience in Germany and about his growth through the experience. Because of his essay and his abilities, he received a half-tuition scholarship to American. All of it began with Frau Mettler and her belief in him.

My heart overflowed as I saw this very giving, very kind older woman sitting in front of me, asking Ethan about himself. She made no references to the struggle he had in the beginning and commented on how good his German is now. Although try as I might, there was really no way to convey my feelings of gratitude towards her. Ethan counts Germany as his "heimatland" and sees himself as German and American. I can't imagine what he would be without this part of his identity. How thankful I am for Frau Mettler those many years ago for giving us the vision of what Ethan could have and be through studying German.