European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 19, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday May 19, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 9over Here shoulder to shoulder with the soviets by Deedee Arrington Doke Kaiserslautern Bureau Span Dahlem a West Germany a Oleg Balabanov wrinkled his freckled nose and sniffed As he poked his Fork at the steaming lasagna. Gingerly separating the layers of pasta he suspiciously eyed the Tomato sauce meat and cheese. A no try a the 13-year-old said shaking his head As he left the table to join other friends. Across the table Danielle Pollard 14, and a companion giggled. A i was like telling him a try it a a Pollard said. Moments later Oleg gave in. He sampled the dish and declared it to be of to the amusement of friends new and old american and russian. The lasagna dinner was one of the multiple events held for a group of 26 soviet students Ages 13 to 16, and 14 adult chaperones during a we Klong visit to Pitburg a and Span Dahlem a. They came from school no. 18 in the russian City of Yaroslavl on the Volga River. Consider it a Cross cultural taste test. A a we be Given them As much of America and Germany As we can pack into a week a said Margo Perry one of two Pitburg Middle school teachers who coordinated the recent visit. Students at the bases Middle and High schools played Host to the visitors in their Homes bringing full Circle the Exchange program that Pitburg Middle school and the soviet institution began three years ago. The visit sponsored by Pitburg Middle school eventually involved most of the Pitburg and Span Dahlem communities evoking generous gestures from Large organizations and individuals. Utopia Hageman 10, for instance followed the soviets to an evening event clutching in her hand a bookmark with a German verse and a picture of a Sunflower. She asked an american teacher to find her a russian to whom she could present her gift. �?o1 want to be their Friend a Utopia said. American students and teachers have made several trips to Yaroslavl since 1988. But a return visit by the soviets was a not even thought of an impossibility until recently said Mary Micallef. Micallef is the other teacher most steeped in the project. A it was in my dreams to make this saws amps Peggy Davidson and Ezela Kalmikova above studiously squirts whipped Topping on her dessert As Nadia Simantov watches the soviet girls had to be shown How the can worked. Igor a Alyston below was surprised with a birthday cake on his 16th birthday from his pen pal Jerrell Carpenter.  Oleg said. A this is my first trip i like to  despite the fall of the Iron curtain a visit to the West does no to come cheap. The trip including air fare Cost each traveler 1.000 rubles or $6,000 by the official soviet Exchange rate of 6 rubles to $1. That amount is equal to live months pay for the average soviet worker. Relatives of the children and working parents Trade unions contributed Money for expenses. A we wish we had More Money Quot said teacher Nadja Isaeva. What pocket Money they brought with them was spent on such items As dual cassette boomboxes. The youngsters were so overwhelmed by the array of consumer goods that they were afraid to spend Money the first few Days one traveler said. Oleg picked up shampoo and a Good lipsticks Quot for his Mother As Well As several air Force pins for himself. He also wanted to buy some Black walking shoes. On May 10. The americans and russians spent the evening at Span Dahlem a for the lasagna dinner and a series of a a let a get physical demonstrations. The entertainment included Folk dances performed by the russians As Well As jumping rope weightlifting martial arts and presentations by the Span Dahlem Honor guard and Span Dahlem Middle school cheerleaders. The russians approached Honor guard member senior airman Thomas Stevens inspected his uniform and asked a number of questions including whether he liked being american a a it a like they re at an amusement Park a another Honor guard member said. Of equal interest to the russians were an ice Cream Topping that solidified when poured and a birthday cake and a loud rendition of a Happy birthday presented to Igor a Alyston. Who celebrated his 16th birthday during the trip. Igor a birthday wish was Quot that everyone is Happy and there is love around me Quot he said through a translator. His wish came True that night. Senior airman Jeff Thompson an Honor guard member reflected on the memories hell share with his family in the United states. A i came shoulder to shoulder with the soviets Quot Thompson said. Quot it just lets me know the world is changing. Its coming closer and closer . Team scouts foes in warm up to cavalry test by John Millar Wurzburg Bureau Fulda West Germany a it was a Chance to pick up such Trade secrets As How to lighten your Backpack and whether screaming gives you a competitive Edge. The event was a we Klong practice run of the Boeselager scout Competition an International test of cavalry skills hosted by the West German army. This years Competition will be held the last week of May in Eburn West Germany. It will involve eight Man teams representing Belgium Canada Denmark France great Britain West Germany Italy the Netherlands Spain and the United states. The training Camp hosted by the 11th army Cav regt in Fulda in late april gave teams representing great Britain Canada West Germany and the United states a Chance to look at themselves said sgt. Shannon Thomas who helped run the Camp. Boeselager throws eight cavalry scout tasks at competitors in the Span of vhf Days Thomas said. A with All the events one right after the other  Only get two to four hours of sleep a night probably. Its kind of like running a  the events offer such physical challenges As running obstacle courses and swimming with a full Load of combat gear As Well As performing mental exercises such As night land navigation and enemy vehicle identification. A we put them through the same Boeselager week that  face at the internationals to let them react to the stress handle three Days with no sleep and get a look at them a Thomas said of the Fulda Camp. Aside from the practice soldiers from the four nations got a close look each others team. The americans picked up some ideas they Hope will give them an Edge when Competition begins. The West germans for example have a few tricks on stuffing their packs before the combat swim. Quot they pack a lot of Straw so it will float better Quot said staff sgt. Mark Mcmahon a member of the american team. Chi. Shaun Bannister the assistant patrol Leader of the British team said his scouts also borrowed a few ideas particularly from the americans. But he added with a smile Quot i done to think we picked up As much from them As they picked up from  actually . Team members did no to get to Sec the British in action but they heard them. A they were always real hyper a Mcmahon said. A they were always real psyched in everything. Really Well motivated. In a not saying we re not but they had Guys screaming and Yelling All the time. They were