Twenty-two German exchange students from Berlin and their two teachers, Wolfgang Gehlen and Bernhard Lange recently stayed at Rio Rico High School for two weeks. They attended classes, lived with 22 Rio Rico families and attended a variety of activities in their two week stay at RRHS from Oct. 13-27.

Visiting recently from Berlin, Germany, were 22 exchange students who lived with families in Rio Rico and participated in many activities at the high school. Contributed photos

The students went to a welcome dinner, received honorary citizenship and attended their first homecoming assembly in Rio Rio High School and their first football game.

They visited the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and took part in University of Arizona Family Weekend activities before watching a football game between the Arizona Wildcats and the Stanford Cardinal. Arizona won in the last seconds 43-38. This was the first time the two Berlin teachers got to see a college football game in the United States.

They also went to Rocky Point, saw the Grand Canyon and visited Yellowstone on their way to Rio Rico. "The Germans definitely have 'Wanderlust,'" said Rene Ramirez, director of the German-American Partnership Program at Rio Rico High. They love to travel and boy did they see a lot on this trip."

Rio Rico High School has hosted more than 200 German students from their respective partner schools – Schule am Ried in Frankfurt and Max-Beckmann Oberschule in Berlin, Germany. The academic relationship with Rio Rico High School has lasted 12 years.