Globe-trotting Bangor athletes competed in Italy, down under> Sport for Understanding paved the way

Bangor High School students Parke Oldenburg and David Brownell should be well prepared if their English teachers tell them to write papers about what they did during their vacation.

Oldenburg, who is beginning his senior year, spent a month playing soccer in Italy. Brownell, who is a junior, spent two weeks in Australia and two weeks in New Zealand playing golf. They took part in the Sport for Understanding International Exchange program.

The program sends athletes of average or better skills in their sport to other countries as part of a cultural exchange. To qualify, students must be between 14 and 19 years old, have a grade point average of at least 2.0, and be active in their chosen sport.

The SFU program uses sport as a vehicle for cultural learning and emphasizes sportsmanship and famliy living.

Brownell, 15 other students and two coaches traveled down under while Oldenburg was one of 14 players and a coach to go to Italy.

Both students lived with host families almost the entire time they were overseas – from late June to late July.

“There was one of us per (Italian) household,” explained Oldenburg. “It was fun. They took us sightseeing during the early part of the day and we practiced or played in the afternoons and evenings.

“They served all kinds of local authentic Italian foods and asked us lots of questions about our country. Everyone was really nice.”

Oldenburg said everyone spoke English fairly well, so the anticipated language barrier was not a problem.

Brownell also enjoyed his stay with host families. He and another member of his American delegation stayed with six host families as they traveled through Melbourne, Castle Maine, and North Maribou in Australia, and Paraparaumu, New Plymouth, and Wellington in New Zealand.

“We had a great time. They all were really interested in what the U.S. was like,” Brownell said. “They served us a lot of Australian dishes like meat pies and vegemite.” That is a salty, yeast-like substance that looks like peanut butter.

Oldenburg played with and against local Italian teams as part of a tour through Italy. He traveled to Casalecchio, Venice, Florence, Bologna and Vatican City.

“Venice was my favorite city. It was really beautiful,” said Oldenburg. “One of my favorite things was playing soccer under the lights at Casalecchio.”

Oldenburg said he got more than he expected out of the trip.

Besides the culture that Oldenburg was exposed to, the 17-year-old senior also picked up a lot of new soccer formations, skills, and drills. “Skillwise, I think (the trip) improved my playing,” he said.

His team also did better than expected – compiling an 8-2-1 record.

Brownell did not pick up many significant golf techniques, but he was impressed by the variety and condition of the Australian and New Zealand golf courses.

Both young men learned about the program from a respresentative who spoke to Bangor High students. The students paid most of the costs for the trip, but each student received some financial aid from SFU.

Despite the high cost, both students said it was one of the best experiences they’ve ever had.

“I’d like to do it again next year. I think I’d like to go to Scotland,” said Brownell. “I’d been to Canada before with another exhange program, but this was just great.”

“I had never even been out of the Northeast. It was a real memorable experience,” Oldenburg said. “I just wished I’d done something like this sooner.”