European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 8, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The growing experience on this Side of the Ocean if visiting Europe Souris exotic to Many african americans what about growing up Over Here a i liked spending most of my life overseas a Joyde Mace said while visiting her parents air Force master sgt. Courtney and Kathy Brown at Raf Lakenheath England. A if i had grown up in the states i done to think i would have liked  Mace who spent 12 of her 21 years overseas married recently and moved with her husband to Mountain Home fab Idaho. A socially and economically its More relaxed in Europe a said Mace 22. A politically i love it because there a always something new going  she explained that american politics arc Boring with elections for president and Congress pre set. In Europe Quot we the people done to like you a poli Miciah and we re taking you out. Politically its very intense and i like  Mace also found it strange How men particularly italian treated Black women no matter where they came from. A the men in Italy love Black women a she said. A they love african women and jamaican women. They just love dark skinned women. It was so strange to find a place or Region geographically that praises Black  she explained that while you do find a similar attitude in Africa the Man is still in charge. A the s still Superior in their african traditional value system. A but Here in Italy they weren to like that. We. Were placed on a Pedestal. Joec Mace that was very strange. It was Nice but  Mace admits that for any teen Ager overseas it can be difficult. One of her main concerns is a problem with transportation. In most european countries like England people can to get Drivers licenses until the Are at least 17 years old. In the states licenses can be issued As Early As 15 years old depending on the state. A a that a the Only thing that really bugged me a said Russell Frier who recently graduated from Lakenheath High school. A i wanted to drive really  Mace feels that with the bus and train systems in Europe american teens can still get around easily. As for missing the african american culture and experiences Frier has mixed feelings. He likes having spent 14 of his 18 years in England. But he misses going to night football games basketball games and College Black fraternity step dance shows. But he realizes its hard to compare life in England with the states. �?o1 can to compare it to anything else because i had nothing else to compare it to a he  missed out when people in school came from the states and told me what was going on. I was missing the malls and so forth.�?�. However because his Mother is a Black briton from Liverpool Frier can make a comparison Between the american and English cultures. A a one thing i noticed when i visited my fathers family in Houston Black people there think White people owe them something a he said. A a that a not the Case Here. The hatred and animosity is not As deep in  Frier noted that while British Blacks and Whites seem to get along a lot better some British Blacks done to like americans Black or White. And he has had first hand knowledge. A i believe its jealousy a he said. A when i first started dealing More with British Blacks when i was about 13 or 14, they thought we were Rich and had it made. Many of their impressions came from newspapers and  he noted that Many children he talked to in Liverpool had american fathers who they thought just abandoned them. A some May have been abandoned while others parents May be divorced a Russell said. A but once they get to know you their attitudes do change As Long As you treat them  Mace started missing America More As she got older particularly when she started attending the University of California at Davis. A in my first year of College while on my own i really found out what its like to be a True american teen Ager a she said. A i went out to parties and did All those things you done to normally do when overseas. I had a Chance to be More  Mace figures a lot of that has to do with being brought up in a military family overseas. A if you re an american growing up overseas 85 percent of the time you have the military Over you and that Means strict discipline a she said. Back in the states she Felt the military was t that evident even if a family lived on base. A you get to see what its like being a civilian teen Agar a she said. A a its that discipline and controlled environment that the Browns and friers appreciated most when it came to raising their children in Europe. A i preferred to be Here near Raf Lakenheath because its better for the children a said Jackie Frier the Mother of Russell and two other boys. A it Hasni to done them any harm. But sometimes i think it protects them a Little too  she Hopes that when her children Are old enough to leave they a have enough sense to know what a right and what a  the Browns who have spent time at Small bases in England and Greece said Joede did complain about people getting into her business. A in a Small base everybody knows you Quot Courtney Brown said. A but the children have to realize that there Are people concerned about you and who  Jocic Mace and Russell Frier believe they be adapted Well Between dividing their time in Europe and the states. For Frier it could have been More difficult since his Mother is British. A i consider myself american a Frier said. A i have British family which i have nothing against but when i grow up i plan on living in the  part of his decision with going to the states comes from spending his most recent years at Lakenheath. A i can to Sec myself living Here Quot he said. Quot its too country. I love that cosmopolitan atmosphere that you find in London Liverpool and most places in the  his father Leon a master sergeant at Lakin Heath feels part of russells attitude comes from the time he has spent in the states with his relatives. A when he sat my Home in the states he gets together with relatives his same age Quot Leon said. A they argue. They laugh. They do everything and go everywhere together. He has a Good time there and that a what he  since Russell has spent All of his time overseas in England he has had no problem with a language Barrier. As for Mace she has spent time in Italy and Greece As Well As England. She Speaks French and italian fluently. A when we moved to Italy we did no to live on base a she said. Quot All my friends were italian. We had hot Summers and i wanted to get out. But if you done to learn to speak the language you re not going to be Able to do  Mace went out and started speaking French. Her italian friends taught her the difference Between italian and French. Thais How she Learned. A i did no to take any classes a she said. A i Learned to speak read and write italian just from  Mace and Frier done to regret having been raised almost strictly overseas. It s an adventure they wont soon forget. Frier had an Opportunity to go Back to the states and Complete High school there. Quot but i would have been in a school with 1,600 people who i did no to know Quot he said. A a in a glad i stayed  murid1th Winder i August 8, 1933 sunday pages