Our Biggest Sale Of The Year! 2 Days Only!
Saturday, June 29th and Sunday, June 30th,
10am ID 6pm, Both Days, Rain or Shine!
Amir was indecisive, so he let
his BBYO regional director place
an ad with the national BBYO of-
fice in Washington, D.C. The No-
lishes, whose son and daughter
are members of BBYO chapters,
eventually came across the ad in
the monthly Michigan Region
newsletter.
"We had an exchange student
before, and it was a good experi-
ence," says Judy Nolish. "So we
called (Michigan BBYO Director)
Arnie Weiner immediately to let
him know we were interested."
The Nolishes and Amir were
soon a match. Amir successfully
completed the necessary student-
exchange tests and was accepted
into Berkley High School as a ju-
nior.
Studying English was a re-
quirement in grades five-13 in
(West) Berlin, says Amir. Still,
even with five years under his
belt, almost all Amir's English —
including the occasional Ameri-
can slang — was quickly picked
up in America.
As a result, he felt comfortable
getting involved in several ex-
tracurricular activities. At
Berkley, he was cited for his par-
ticipation on the Holocaust Re-
membrance Committee. Last
winter, after encouragement from
his weight-training coach, he
joined the junior varsity wrestling
team in the 145-pound weight
class.
"The practice was hard, but the
meets were a lot of fun," he laughs.
"I can't remember my individual
record, but the team won a lot."
Amir's devotion to BBYO has
also persisted. Last summer he
attended the International Lead-
ership Training Conference
(ILTC) in Starlight, Pa., where he
became friends with Greg Fine-
good, the Michigan Region trea-
surer and past president of Marx
AZA. Greg convinced Amir to join
Marx, a decision which he did not
regret. Amir quickly became an
active member of what he refers
to as "the greatest chapter in the
world."
His West German lifestyle, ac-
cording to Amir, wasn't much dif-
ferent from that of an American
teen-ager. "When the (Berlin) wall
was put up, America supported
West Berlin and put a lot of mon-
ey into it," Amir says. "So every-
thing became Americanized. We
have a McDonald's and Burger
King. Our German TV shows, like
"Jeopardy" and "Married with
Children," are really American
shows. I didn't realize that until I
came here."
Among the noticeable differ-
ences is the food, says Amir. The
average American teen-ager
wouldn't list sauerkraut as a fa-
vorite nosh, while stuffed-crust
pizza with the works isn't too pop-
ular in Germany. Amir's favorite
American food is Twizzlers; he's
taking cases of the flavored licorice
sticks back home with him.
German teen-agers, Amir says,
are a little more "on the edge." Al-
cohol is more preValent because
of the lower drinking age (16 for
beer and 18 for hard liquor), and
it's not unusual for teens to spend
the entire weekend at techno
clubs using easily available drugs
like Ecstacy and speed.
It's a sharp contrast to the laid-
back nature of Michigan hangouts
like coffeehouses and movie the-
aters, which is fine with Amir.
The Nolishes' suburban
lifestyle, in fact, is one of the things
Amir likes best about Michigan.
He also likes the people he's
met. "The teens are more open; I
feel like they care here," he says.
"Unlike in Germany, you can just
go up to any person and talk."
Fortunately, anti-Semitism
hasn't been a problem in the
States either. Amir first noticed
the dissimilarity with his home-
land while attending High Holi-
day services at Temple Emanu-El
in Oak Park.
"In Germany, tanks are parked
in front of synagogues on the High
Holidays. There's only water in
them, but we need them there
anyway because of all the bomb
threats. The Jewish community
is much more secure here."
Despite this, Amir says that
Jewish people in Germany are
generally more observant of Ju-
daism's traditions. "I wasn't used
to the sexes sitting together and
a female rabbi (Rabbi Amy Brod-
sky)," says Amir, who considers
himself "Conserva-dox." He re-
ceived further introduction to the
practices of Reform Judaism in
America attending Temple
Emanu-El's Monday night school.
After Amir travels through
America and Canada with his
German family, he will go back to
Berlin and resume his studies at
the American John F. Kennedy
High School. Eventually, he hopes
to live in Israel with his extended
family and study economics.
His interest in economics stems
from the fall of the Berlin Wall in
1989. "I would rather have it back
up," says Amir. "It completely de-
stroyed the German economy.
(The former) East Berlin was so
far behind before, and now it's al-
most equal to (the former) West
Berlin. But they (the East Ger-
mans) can't handle the choice and
the freedom. I remember when it
(the wall) first came down. The
people from the East moved to the
West because they thought it
would go back up again."
Amir has also witnessed the ef-
fects of economics in America.
Earlier this year, a girl he met at
ILTC sent him a ticket to Los An-
geles so he could escort her to her
senior prom. He and the Nolish-
es have also traveled to New York,
Washington D.C, and Orlando.
'1 loved Disney World," he says,
smiling. "It is really the American
way of living. I think the line was
invented there because we wait-
ed in a lot of them. It's one big
money machine." El
Save up to 70% off
everything in the tent!
Outside in the Tent- choose from hundreds
of quality showroom samples that have just arrived
from the Southern Furniture Showrooms.
Here's a sample of the
hundreds of items on sale!
All in-the-tent merchandise must be paid in full
at time of purchase. Absolutely No Layaways.
Genuine leather EVERYWHERE!
You've seen this advertised all over town...
but NEVER at this price! In stock. Available in
three colors, black, light beige or dark green.
•
LOVESEAT
5-pc. modular group as shown
SALE 29999 Ottoman optional
Available in stock in black, forest green or
burgundy durable cotton sailcloth.
SALE $77999
Limited number in-stock for pick up at the warehouse
or delivery available. Rainchecks will be made
available in case of sell-out for this item only.
eramm:rovwwwm m*:00:::av-
71" BLACK OR
WHITE FINISH
Reg. '115
SALE $6999
71" BLACK NICKEL OR
POLISHED BRASS FINISH ,
Reg. '135
SALE $7999
Reg. 51175
Reg. 5999
Reg. '600
SALE $34999 SALE '29999
SALE
$ 36999
FOUR TRUCKLOADS OF SHOWROOM SAMPLES:
Sofas, Sectionals, Occasional Chairs.
All one of a kind! All at up to 70% OFF
manufacturers suggested retail prices!
5 pc. set
Inside the store SAVE AN EXTRA 10% OFF
PLUS EITHER NO SALES TAX OR 12 MONTHS
INTEREST FREE!*
EVERY SECTIONAL • EVERY DINETTE
EVERY SOFA • ALL LEATHER UPHOLSTERY
EVERY BEDROOM • EVERY CHAIR
EVERY HOME OFFICE • ALL LAMPS
EVERY DINING ROOM • EVERY WALL UNIT
ALL ACCESSORIES!
Any piece of unassembled Teehline is available
at 40070 Off, Plus an EXTRA 10% OFF
Plus the No Tax or Financing Offer!'
All merchandise will be available
unassembled at our warehouse in late July.
Sorry, previous orders do not apply.
hillside
Woodward Ave. @ Square Lake Road in Kingswood Square (810) 334-4745
*Minimum purchase $399 to qualify for additional discounts. Percent off MSRP.