“Big cars, big streets, and big landscapes.” That’s how first-time visitor to the United States, Dan Wessling, described his first impression of Idaho after he landed at the Idaho Falls airport. Wessling and his colleague, Nico Huelsmann, are visiting the United States for the first time as they work as interns at Spudnik Equipment Co. in Blackfoot.

    From a small town of 8000 inhabitants called Neuenkirchen, Huelsmann and Wessling are getting their first introduction to the States as they work in Southeast Idaho. The two young men are working in Blackfoot, but staying in the Pocatello home of their hosts, Dick and Eva Elliot.

    “I think what I’ve seen mostly fits in with what I expected,” said Wessling, of what he thought Idaho might be like. “I thought there would be an open landscape, and little population, and no big cities,” he said. “I didn’t expect that the people would be so open and friendly, and after two weeks, I can say that the people in Idaho are very, very nice people,” he stated.

    Huelsmann said that he could describe America as a place where everything is “higher, faster, and stronger. Everything is bigger than it is in Europe,” he said, explaining his impression that things in the U.S. just seem bulkier and stronger, including the cars and the buildings. Huelsmann also said that “In Europe the buildings are more detailed, and everything just seems smaller.” The wide-open spaces and extended views of Idaho’s landscapes have impressed both the young men. “Coming to Idaho, I expected to see a lot of nature,” commented Huelsmann, and what he has seen has lived up to that expectation.   

    Both the young men work for the German Grimme Landmachinen Co., the parent company of Spudnik. They are studying in what they called a “dual system,” which allows them to alternate three months of university study with three months of hands-on experience in the workplace. The Spudnik internship is part of the slate of work experience offered by Grimme, the world’s largest manufacturer of heavy-duty agricultural equipment, specializing in equipment for potatoes and sugar beets. The Grimme company sends out six to ten interns a year to work in the agricultural industry, not just in the U.S., but in places Britain and China as well.

    Nico Huelsmann is 22 years old and is studying Business Administration. He is an avid soccer fan, playing for a local football club called Tus Blue White Lohne. “It is my great hobby to watch and play football,” said Huelsmann, but he also watches American style football. “Every year I watch the American Superbowl on ESPN,” he said.  Huelsmann also enjoys winter sports, as well as going to the cinema, and hanging out with friends. “But I also like learning things about business,” he said. Huelsmann expects to graduate from his study program next October, with a degree in Business Administration,

    Huelsmann would like to continue his education and earn a Master’s Degree under the same kind of dual system that is now providing him with excellent work and study experience. “My dream job would be to become a manager for a big company, or maybe found my own company,” he said.

    Dan Wessling, 23, is studying Industrial Engineering, and is scheduled to graduate from his program one semester later that Huelsmann. “I like the Grimme Co.,” he said, and he hopes he will someday have a job with plenty of responsibility in the engineering field. “And we will see what time brings,” he smiled. “We are still very young,” he said.  Wessling enjoys mountain biking and running, two activities that are readily available in the open spaces of Idaho.

    “I came here with open mind,” said Huelsmann, and said he tried not to have too many expectations of what America would be like. Nevertheless, there have been a few surprises. “One thing I didn’t expect is that life is much cheaper here than in Europe. When I first went to the fuel station I was surprised at how cheap the fuel is,” he laughed. “And people here are much more open and friendly to strangers than they are in Germany,” he commented.

    The young fellows were also surprised to find guns for sale in Walmart, that traffic on the freeway between Pocatello and Blackfoot is so leisurely, or that strangers would be so friendly and initiate conversations while shopping in the supermarket. “I think this is the spirit of America,” conjectured Huelsmann. “People are very interested and they care about others, and they stop to talk to you,” he commented.

    “At first, I had to look at the map to find out where Idaho is,” chuckled Huelsmann. “I thought maybe Idaho would be a little bit boring because it seemed like it was just desert. But that was wrong,” he said. “After these first two weeks I am able to say that I really like Idaho. It’s a great place for doing sports, like skiing and hiking, riding ATVs and water skiing,” he said.

    Neither of the young men are letting any grass grow under their feet on their first visit to America. They visit local sights whenever they can, and both work out regularly at Gold’s Gym. “It’s a good place to meet other people, and get to talk to them, and everyone has been very nice to us,” said Huelsmann. They have also enjoyed an outing of camping, American style, along with Grimme Co.’s two other interns who are staying with a family in Blackfoot, as well as several of their work colleagues from Spudnik. They even had a chance to go shooting and four-wheeling.

    But it isn’t all fun and games, as the young men take a good look at the American workplace. “I didn’t think it would be so relaxed,” commented Huelsmann, “relaxed in a positive way,” he added.  While careful to note that American workers work very hard, he also sees that American workplace as less stressful. “The quantity and quality of the work is the same, but it is done in a less formal, less stressful way,” he described. This aspect of working in America, and a more streamlined approach to corporate decision-making are two things he might later apply to his work in Business Administration.

    The two young men will spend a total of 6 weeks in the Pocatello area, departing September 9, and will then spend another two weeks as tourists traveling in the western U.S. Wessling and Huelsmann plan to visit Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Los Angeles, and San Francisco before flying home to Germany.

    Both Huelsmann and Wessling are gaining valuable experience as they work in Blackfoot, and are grateful for the time they get to spend in the United States, and at the Elliot’s Pocatello home. “I think we have the best hosts,” said Huelsmann. Wessling agreed. “Dick and Eva are really very nice people,” he said. “It’s been really nice to be here.”

    Host Dick Elliot praised their two houseguests, and is happy to provide them with a chance to learn positive things about America. “They are great young men,” he said. “We are really enjoying having them here with us.”