The German Exchange

The German exchange started bright and early on Saturday 23^rd October. The 3.15 start didn't dampen spirits, though, and it was an excited group who on arrival at Karlsruhe-Baden airport were greeted by their partners and whisked off to their houses for the weekend.

The weekend activities with the host families were many and varied, ranging from shopping to swimming at the Europabad in Karlsruhe, to cycle rides, boat trips, crossing the Rhein into France and excursions to the Schwarzwald. Students got to taste some of the regional specialities, such as Brezel, Spätzle, Maultaschen,  Flammkuchen and of course Schwarzwälderkirschtorte.

Monday was a chance to experience life in a German school; no uniform (for pupils or staff), an earlier start and finish time and a completely different style of classrooms (no interactive whiteboards and barely a computer in sight). Ms van Deelen helped in English classes and Mr Stoddart experienced a variety of science lessons, quickly learning the German for crayfish (Flußkrebs) following its escape from a Biology lesson!

The rest of the week sped by with visits to the museum of mechanical instruments at Bruchsal;

to Freiburg, where we visited the Münster and the Altstadt with its beautiful Fachwerkhäuser (half-timbered houses);

to the ZKM in Karlsruhe, a museum of contemporary culture and media which incorporated a workshop in German using digital picture manipulation;

and finally to the Europapark, Germany's largest theme park and legendary finale to the German Exchange.

Comments from the students summed up the fantastic spirit of the exchange perfectly: ‘I love Germany'; ‘Germany's so cool'; ‘Germany's like England, only  better'; ‘I want to live in Germany'.... The tears as we said goodbye on Friday evening reflected the real warmth and friendship that developed between the students and staff. Only an exchange can give such a genuine experience, and if you haven't been brave enough to try yet, then make a decision to go for it next time round!

Our partner school returns in June/July 2011 with their Big Band, and as usual we will be asking families if they are able to host a German student or teacher (or two!). Your child is welcome to come back to Germany next October half term as part of this cultural exchange even if they do not study German.

For more information on the German exchange, or if you would like to host a German student, please contact Ms van Deelen at the school (vandeelenj@ashfordschool.co.uk).

Finally, a huge thank you to Mr Stoddart and to Mrs Brentnall, who came out of retirement especially because she values the exchange so highly.

Bis nächstes Jahr!