No matter the distance, people can make connections, whether it is across the street or across the ocean.

One example is Paul and Carrie Barr and their German foreign exchange student Maximillian “Max” Scheier, 16. Originally from Rangsdorf, he has been in Marshalltown since August.

It is not the first time the Barrs have hosted a member of Scheier’s family. In 1998, they welcomed his uncle Raffael Smykowski as a foreign exchange student. It was because of that connection that Scheier chose Marshalltown as his destination.

“I heard many great things about Marshalltown,” he said. “It’s because of him, I’m here.”

Since 1999, the Barrs have kept in contact with Smykowski, who was instrumental in getting their son, Burgess, to a safe place at the start of the Russia-Ukraine war. It was fitting as Burgess also “rescued” Smykowski from a housing crisis not long after he arrived in Marshalltown. According to Barr, Smykowski’s original host family had to inform him he needed to find another place to live within two weeks. Scheier said that is a normal occurrence with exchange students, happening 60 percent of the time.

“The kids in the locker room were talking about it and our son heard that,” she said. “He said, ‘Where is he?’ and he went over and invited him over to dinner. Then he moved in.”

Barr said Burgess eventually married a woman from Ukraine, and were residing there before the war.

“When Putin invaded, they needed a place to go, so Rafi mentioned his family had an apartment building, and Burgess and his family could move in there,” she said.

They left their Ukraine house with their two children, backpacks and a dog. For several days, Burgess and his family tried to get out, but all of the transportation options were booked. Using money the Barrs sent them to assist with their escape, they found someone willing to give them a ride, who only had room for two people.

“They said there were four of them and a dog, and the man said ‘You will manage,’ and they piled in,” she said. “The road was very crowded. They went so slow they could get out and walk beside the car. The four-hour drive took them 18.”

The family crossed the border into Romania, and stayed temporarily with another former foreign exchange student of the Barrs. There were so many Ukrainians seeking refuge that the Romanian government wanted to spread them out and an airline offered to fly anyone with a Ukrainian passport to any European country for free. They originally went to Barcelona, Spain and met the Barrs. From there, they went to Marseille, France and finally to Berlin, Germany which is north of Rangsdorf and got housing from Smykowski.

Marshalltown life

One difference between Marshalltown and Rangsdorf, Scheier said, is the age. While the United States will be celebrating its 250th birthday this year, Scheier’s hometown celebrated its 650th anniversary last year.

Since coming here, he has noticed the many churches, stating there is only one main in his German town of 13,000 people.

“It’s also more culturally diverse,” Scheier said. “Our town is not so diverse.”

He has missed some German foods, such as kebab doner, which is meat cooked on a vertical cone and thinly sliced, and currywurst, a sausage served with curry ketchup.

He has enjoyed his high school life at MCSD thus far, and is participating in track and tennis and was on the wrestling and cross country teams.

“I really like the aspect of sports and academics combined,” Scheier said. “In Germany, you have to join clubs. That aspect is really nice. I really like my teachers and my classmates are really fun. Marshalltown is great.”

Choosing classes is another aspect he enjoys. There are not as many choices in Germany. So far Scheier has enjoyed organic chemistry, American history and a college course of western civilization. The way the school system is structured is also different here. Depending on a German student’s grade point average, he or she will get placed in a corresponding high school – low, middle or higher.

“It depends on how good they are,” Scheier said. “Some people are really good, so they get to the higher high school system.”

He has also noticed people in Marshalltown are a lot friendlier. That applies to many people in the United States, Scheier said, noting people are generally more positive and polite on this side of the pond.

Athletics are something Scheier spends a lot of time with – either participating or watching. Running with his friends on the cross country team have been the best memories so far. Since coming to Marshalltown, he ran in the Turkey Trot and in the Zombie Run, has attended numerous basketball games, the state wrestling tournament, soccer in Chicago, baseball in Des Moines and a football game in Ames.

“We don’t have [Zombie Runs] in Germany,” he said, laughing. “I would say we are not so athletic, but once a year, we have little Olympic games which are track-based – 1K, long jumps, sometimes high jumps, sprints.”

Outside of sports, Scheier was able to check out Oktemberfest, noting the big parade, and the homecoming parades are events he enjoyed.

When he goes back to Rangsdorf in July, Scheier said he will miss Marshalltown High School, stick and seal cellophane and Culver’s butter burgers and onion rings with jalapenos.

Barr said having Scheier living with them has been tremendously enjoyable.

“We have loved having him around, having his friends around,” she said. “I would recommend [hosting] to anybody.”

Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com