West Laurel
- Virginia May Geis
- Jul 22
- 3 min read
Local news covering the West Laurel and Burtonsville areas
Another Reunion—How Time Flies!
I recently had the amazing privilege of attending yet another 50-year reunion, this time in Sweden rather than Laurel High. The year after I graduated from high school, I was an AFS (American Field Service) exchange student and lived with a family in Sweden on a potato farm. The Swedish high school system is very different, and one group of students follows a specialized line of study together for 3 years. My host mother had requested that I be placed in a specific class because the students were particularly friendly and fun to be with—even though they were studying advanced math and sciences!
My year in Sweden set me on a lifetime path of studying languages and cultures—there is no better way to have a total immersion experience than out in the middle of nowhere. I was matched with the Mattsson family because we had music in common; I was a flutist, and most of the family played violin in their spare time, Swedish folk music to be specific. The farm was located about 9 miles from school, and I rode a local bus to get there. (I had always walked to school in Laurel.) I learned to enjoy the lifestyle on the farm and spent much more time reading! My classmates were very supportive and even got a chuckle when I made errors on an English test—I had immersed myself in Swedish and had “forgotten” my own language somewhat.
Gathering with my class from Domarhagskolan (my Swedish high school) after 50 years was almost surreal. The 18 class members present for the day—from a class of 22—included a nurse, a chemist, economists, teachers, and entrepreneurs. We started the day at “Verket & Avesta Art,” the old iron works in Avesta—the reason the town was founded—which had been turned into an industrial history museum. We participated in a guided tour in both Swedish and English and learned the history of the factory, heard explanations of art exhibits portraying the differing lifestyles through the years, and learned the significance of the factory’s proximity to a major Swedish river. Afterward we ate a buffet-style lunch together at a restaurant called Koppardalen and enjoyed a typical meal of ground meat, mashed potatoes, and lingonberry sauce. As we toured the school where we had spent so much time together, we reminisced about the teachers and marveled at how little some parts of it had changed even after 50 years.
Dinner was at Koppardalen also, but this time it was a fancy sit-down dinner with the canal in view: shrimp toast for an appetizer; salmon, potatoes, and salad for the main course; and a fancy chocolate cake for dessert. The food was delicious, but it was the company that made the occasion memorable. After 50 years, we were still the same fun-loving group of people who had cared so deeply for and supported each other during school days. We were all close friends together once more. It was indeed difficult to part at the end of the evening, but, of course, we all promised to stay in touch and to attend the next reunion.
Upcoming West Laurel Recreation Council Events
The West Laurel Recreation Council (WLRC) sponsors several activities for residents. Here are a few coming up to round out the summer:
55-Plus Exercise Class. Running July 15 to September 2, with a cost of $40 for an 8-week session; held from 10 to 11 am at the West Laurel Community Building. Contact njwhip54@verizon.net for information.
Lego Robotics. Two 8-week sessions are being offered: September 2 to October 21 and October 28 to December 30. Cost is $75 for each 8-week session. Meets from 7 to 8:30 pm at the West Laurel Community Building. Contact Rush Kester at rwkester@aol.com.
This year’s West Laurel dumpster and shredding day will be held on October 17 from 8:30 to 11:30 am. Contact Cassandra Hostetler for information at ctseckares@comcast.net.)
If you want to contact me, write to me at westlaurelvoices@gmail.com, and please call me Ginny.
Virginia May Geis is a native of Laurel and a graduate of Laurel High School, class of 1975. After a few decades away, she has been a Laurel resident again, since 2018.
Comments