Jordan-Elbridge High School welcomed back a familiar face from across the globe, as former Dutch foreign exchange student, Marieke Gilissen-Krikke, returned to our campus after an incredible 33-year journey.
Gilissen-Krikke, originally from Pesse, Netherlands, some 3,678 miles away, spent a memorable year as an exchange student at JEHS during the academic year of 1989-90.
Now, after more than three decades, Gilissen-Krikke has returned with her daughter, Kaatje Gilissen, to the school to reminisce, reconnect, and share the enduring impact of her experience.
During her year at JEHS, Gilissen-Krikke quickly became a beloved member of the community. Her warmth, curiosity, and enthusiasm for embracing a new culture left an indelible mark on both students and staff alike.
She was actively involved in various school activities, including being on the girls tennis, volleyball, and softball teams, and made lifelong friendships with her American peers.
“I had no idea where I was going to be placed and the foreign exchange program said, ‘Hey, looks like you’re going to Upstate New York,’” Gilissen-Krikke said. “I initially had a tough time with the language barrier, but the staff and students helped me along greatly and made me feel a part of the school community in no time.”
Gilissen-Krikke came back to relive those cherished memories.
Marieke and Kaatje received a grand tour from School Resource Officer Tim Siddall, who showed them the many new additions to JEHS since 1990.
She gazed out to the south, from where the buses had dropped her off and picked her up so many years ago, and out to the “large and impressive” concession stand.
She went up into the art room, where she remembers molding clay, and out to the gymnasium, where she playfully bumped volleyballs before the Girls Volleyball teams matches began.
By the way she was reminiscing about the community that so graciously took her in, there seemed to be a sense of coziness, or as the Dutch say, “gezelligheid,” amid the positive educational environment she fondly remembers.
For the Dutch, gezelligheid represents a broad spectrum of fun, jovial or amicable situations that are united by their sense of personal comfort and togetherness.
“I just want to say thank you to the district for welcoming me back all these years later with open arms,” said Gilissen-Krikke. “There is so much nostalgia in these great halls, and it means a lot to be able to show my daughter where her mother learned, lived, and grew, all those years ago.”
Gilissen-Krikke’s visit to Jordan-Elbridge Central School District is a testament to the enduring impact of cultural exchange programs and the bonds that transcend time and distance. It is a reminder that the world becomes a smaller and more connected place when we open our hearts and homes to international visitors.
