THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 13, 1994 TAG: 9410120169
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
LAST JULY, JOHN BERRYMAN had gone to bed when he received a call that an Austrian exchange student, Christoph Wenna, had arrived at Norfolk International Airport and found no one to greet him.
``Security police called and said they had a lost boy from Austria,'' Berryman said. ``He had been traveling for 22 hours and was exhausted. I got out of bed and brought him home.''
Berryman, who is the host-family chairman for exchange students for District 24D of Lions International, said the misunderstanding had occurred when another student had canceled his trip to the United States and the host family believed no one would take his place.
The midnight trip was only one of 16 that Berryman made to the airport last summer to meet students.
``I made a point of being there,'' he said. ``I wanted to make sure the host families were there to meet them.''
Berryman and his wife, Trudy, promised they would find another host family for 19-year-old Christoph. After spending one night in the Berrymans' guest house, however, Christoph asked if he could stay with them.
Although two bedrooms in the Berrymans' northern Suffolk home were already occupied, Christoph was invited to stay. Exchange students Velina Liegeois of Anthisnes, Belgium, and Eluid Lopez-Caballero of Morelia, Mexico, had arrived earlier.
The Berrymans took their guests shopping, swimming, camping and canoeing. They also attended church services and visited Busch Gardens and Jamestown.
A surprise 20th birthday party was planned for Velina and other exchange students, whose host families also were invited to attend.
Velina, Eluid and Christoph occasionally took turns cooking dinner for their hosts. They prepared Austrian wiener schnitzel, Belgian meat balls with gravy and a Mexican chicken dish made with spicy, homemade seasonings from Eluid's mother.
Two weeks of the students' visits were spent at the John B. White Youth Exchange Camp at Virginia Wesleyan College, which is led and supported by Lions Club members. The itinerary also included a three-day trip to Washington.
The students' favorite pastime, however, was shopping in malls.
``Everything is very expensive in Europe,'' Berryman said. ``In Austria, one pair of jeans costs $104, so they can buy three pairs here for the price of one in Europe.''
After their guests returned to Europe, the Berrymans accepted an invitation to visit Christoph's family in September. They toured Switzerland and visited Velina's family in Belgium and the Paris home of Isabelle Dumont. She was an exchange student and guest of the Berrymans three years ago.
``We have seen both sides of the coin,'' said Trudy Berryman. ``We know now how the students feel when they are here. You have to feel your way with their customs, but they treated us like family. We must have traveled in their vehicles over 1,000 miles, and they made special dishes and desserts for us. It was a unique experience.''
John and Trudy Berryman are Lions Club members, but they belong to different clubs. John is the first vice president of the Suffolk Lions Club, which admits only male members, while Trudy is third vice president of the Western Branch Lions Club.
Both Berrymans are Hampton Roads natives but have lived in other areas during their 20 years of marriage. John, 62, hails from Newport News, and Trudy, 61, grew up in Portsmouth. They have 11 grown children from previous marriages. John is the father of one, while Trudy is the mother of 10.
``We have 25 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren,'' said John, who recently retired from Virginia Power.
As host-family chairman, it was Berryman's responsibility this year to find temporary homes for 30 students from 16 countries. He contacted Lions Club members throughout District 24D, which has 58 clubs and includes Hampton Roads, western Tidewater and Northumberland County. And, if all goes according to plan, he will assume the responsibility again in 1995.
Berryman begins to search for host families in March and continues until June 1. Accepted families must complete an application and are given a book to read on the subject.
``Each student must be chaperoned and is expected to pay their own expenses,'' Berryman said.
``The Lions Club program was founded to promote friendship between students of different countries. It's a lot of responsibility, but a lot of fun.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Trudy and John Berryman share pictures of the exchange students who
have stayed in their home recently. Berryman is the host-family
chairman for District 24D of Lions International.
by CNB