SHS International Student Linus Beck, Shares Christmas In Germany with GFWC Seward Woman’s Club
Launch the media gallery 1 playerLinus Beck, an International Exchange Student and a Sophomore at Seward High School, was the Christmas program at the annual Holiday Luncheon of the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club on Saturday, December 13th at noon. A Christmas luncheon and special holiday piano music preceded his presentation.
Linus is from Wuppertal, Germany, with a population of about 400,000 -a suburb of Colon, Germany and now lives in the country, near Garland, Nebraska with the Joe and Christi Arnold Family on a farm/ranch. His father Hardy Beck works for Bayer Corporation, and his mother Tanja Beck is a teacher in the local hospital. He is the youngest of three children and has an older sister and brother. He is here with the FLAG International Student program for one school year.
He shared four special aspects of Christmas in Germany, the first being the traveling to the “Christmas Market” in Germany to join with friends and family-not so much to shop with the importance of being together with family and friends for hot coco and new wine. Next, he shared the importance of the Advent program, sharing that each week for four weeks-a new candle is lit by the family--offering morel light and excitement in the home. His third point was the exciting “Nicolas Day” on December 6th, when the children clean their shoes and place them outside by the door and St. Nicolas fills the shoes with candy, chocolates and oranges or small gifts. It is also a time for neighbors to come and share and be together. Finally, Christmas is celebrated in his home on Christmas Eve-December 24, with activities including a church service and Santa Claus arrives with gifts while in church! A major celebration happens with a banquet of food with friends and family. He noted that his Grandmother has many live Christmas trees at her home, and the family loves to cut down a live tree for their home from Grandma’s house. He even has a small one in his room. He did note they do not decorate them like here in the US, but they are just as special. He spoke on the holiday foods of Germany and shared photos of the customs.
Linus spoke on his home and school, indicating that Seward High has many more offerings and many more practical, “hands on” classes that are not offered in Germany. He noted that the German Schools do not have sports programs- it is all about club sports. At SHS Linus was in the Cross-Country program with coach Curt Holliday and now in involved in SHS Soccer with Coach Jamie Ophfer. Linus loves soccer and has played since he was a small boy. He likes to play as the “Left wing” on the soccer team and looking forward to the season.
He noted that there are a few music and art classes in his school and Germany, but nothing to compare to those extensive music and art programs at Seward. His school does not have a choir, band, or orchestra and for those activities, he has to seek club organizations.
He enjoys his classes of Algebra II, US History, and Music History and his favorite local food is the American Hamburger. He is not a fan of the Nebraska cold weather and commented that he experienced a tornado in Nebraska and strong winds out in the country.
Linus pointed out that in Germany, young people are allowed to drink alcohol, wine and beer and smoke cigarettes at the age of 14 but not allowed to drive until 18 years old. They must be 16 to buy the alcohol however! This makes parities much more different in Germany then in Nebraska.
Linus is looking forward to an exciting Spring in Nebraska and thanked the members of the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club for the experience to share his insights and knowledge from another side of the world with them and wished them all a Merry Christmas.
GFWC Seward Woman’s Club President, Bonnie Kruse presented Linus with a large gift bag of Seward Gifts from the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club, welcoming Linus to Seward and Nebraska, They are wishing him all the best with his new second semester at Seward High and thanked the Arnold’s family for giving him the opportunity to experience the “Nebraska Good Life.”
He was presented with a Seward Tee Shirt, Seward puzzle, Christmas Ornament, USA cap, a 3’x5’ US Flag, smaller US flags, a Seward Memorial Hospital Cookbook (for his mom who works in the hospital in Germany), a Nebraska Life Magazine Cookbook and assorted USA flag pins. A special pack of brochures and magazines on Seward and Nebraska was also included in the Gift Bag.
The GFWC Seward Woman’s Club is affiliated with the General Federation of Women’s Club’s Inc. (GFWC)-an international volunteer service organization- enhancing the world through volunteer service and it is only fitting that the club has an international focus at one or more meetings.
The pre-music for the Holiday Luncheon featured Christmas piano solos by students of Sally Jost-Maren Kolterman-Third Grade at St. Vincent, Zoey Martin-Freshman at Seward High and Carly Kolterman-Sophomore at Seward High. Sally Jost, the student’s instructor was presented the “Seward County Woman of Note” Award by the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club.
A short business meeting concluded with the Holiday Luncheon. The club recognized club member Angela Belew for her work with the annual “Fill the Grocery Cart” food drive, Barb Shauer and Ellen Chaffin for their chairmanship of the “Girls Only Writing Workshop” and Ellen Chaffin and Rene’ Chandler for their leadership and chair of the “Seward Christmas Festival” -The “Festival of Trees” and the Gingerbread House “Make it and Take” activity.
The event concluded with a special “Toast to the Holiday” by President Bonnie Kruse and the sharing slices of the last GFWC Seward Woman’s Club’s 125th Anniversary/Birthday cake-as the club celebrated with birthday cake throughout the year!
The GFWC Seward Woman’s Club is the oldest civic organization in Seward, organized in 1900 and celebrated their 125th anniversary throughout 2025. The club meets at noon on the second Saturday of the month at the Seward Civic Center. For more information contact Bonnie Kruse -GFWC Seward Woman’s Club President at 402-643-4714 or email her at jonandbonnie@hotmail.com