Today several of our students joined their partners on their getting to know trip. When students enter the upper level of schools they are usually adding other students from schools in the area whose schools do not offer the two Abitur years 12 and 13, hence they provide a get to know each other field trip somewhere near by.
Students who‘se partners are already in grade 12 got to experience project days at school.
Today we traveled to Bonn, which was the capitol of Germany during the time of the Cold War and wall. Our first stop was the Haribo factory store. Gummibären and other Haribo candy as far as the eye could see. I think everyone left some of their money here.
Stop 2 was the Beethoven House
In the evening most of the Americans enjoyed hamburgers at Hans im Glück (Hans in luck)
Visit to the Lindt Chocolate museum. During their tour students learned about the chocolate making process from the cocoa bean to a rich smooth chocolate bar. They also got to taste it in the various stages from bean to chocolate.
After the chocolate museum the American students went on an hour boat ride on the Rhein river.
Sunday was the horse race at the Cologne Weidenpesch track. On this horse race day all 22 sister cities of Cologne have an information booth set up including of course Indianapolis. Unfortunately the weather took a turn for the worse and it was cold and rainy. Not much fun to hang out and watch horse races. So after the first race the students were allowed to return home to stay warm. Frau Westerhouse and Mr. Ervin received VIP access through our sister city contacts. This meant free lunch and drinks.
Some Impressions on students Weekend activities with their partners. From exploring Cologne, riding the gondola, crossing the Hohenzollern Bridge with its locks to taking a trip to Amsterdam (Nora w host family) and even participating in the Friday for Future demonstration all seemed to have had a blast.
Thursday the 3rd is a holiday in Germany Reunification Day. No school for the remainder of the week. Students spend the long weekend participating in their host families activities. Mr. Ervin and Mrs. Westerhouse visited Mrs. Westerhouse‘s Family in the Eifel Region.
Before heading in the weekend we visited the Augustus Palace in Brühl.
Trip to Altenberg/ Odenthal
Today we visited the nearby city Altenberg. To get there students learned all about traveling on public transport. We took the number 15 streetcar to the a transfer station from where we switched to the Subway 6 to Leverkusen. From there we took Bus 212 to Altenberg. Lesson number 1: It helps to know where the bus stop is to catch it on time. We missed the bus and had to wait an hour for the next one. In Altenberg we visited the Altenberg Cathedral (Altenberger Dom) and the Fairytale Forest (Märchenwald). Afterwards everyone got to enjoy endless waffle’s with milk rice, hot cherries and fresh whip cream.
Free Day: Students went to school with their Partners and then spent the afternoon in their families. In the evening they went bowling. Mr. Ervin and Mrs. Westerhouse visited a German English classroom and then headed downtown Cologne to climb the 530 steps to the top of the cathedral.
After a relaxing getting to know each other evening in the host family students spend their first morning at school shadowing their partners.
After a small welcome from the German principal students headed on their first train ride in the city for a welcome reception by under mayor Andreas Wolter at the town hall downtown. Followed by a tour of the down town area of Cologne and a welcome dinner in the evening.
After a smooth flight to Frankfurt and subsequent train ride to Cologne students were greeted by their partners family’s at the train station.
After a welcome picture on the steps of the Cologne cathedral students went to their respective host families homes for a relaxing evening of unpacking and getting to know each other. First reports from students were positive and happy.
September 27th 2019 Heading to Cologne Germany
PMHS GAPP Exchange 2019