Mr. Mobini Highlights - Week 3

Well, what can I say, the German Immersion trip also referred to as GAPP is now coming to a close.  Each student is now enjoying their last weekend with their host families, doing all sorts of fun activities to soak in the most of this experience.   I can tell you that the students look exhausted.  Lots of walking, steps to climb, seeing this - seeing that, and more.  I can see that they miss home and most importantly they miss their families.  I was able to enjoy a good mountain climbing this weekend before leaving Bavaria and completing another successful exchange.  

Thank you all for your prayers and support.  I am sure that our students have benefited from this experience, maybe after a month of so they will process all that they have seen and done in these short 3.5 weeks.  We are scheduled to arrive on Wednesday, July 25th with Lufthansa flight # 490 at 11:15 AM... Please make sure to check www.lufthansa.com to see if our flight has been delayed or is arriving earlier than expected.  Each student will have to go through Immigration and customs since Seattle will be the port of our arrival back into the USA.  Add an extra 25-30 minutes to our arrival time in order to give you time to park or take the light rail to see your son/daughter.  We all look forward in returning back home to Seattle.
This coming week, each student will be writing a 5 paragraph essay summing up their entire experience, this will be made available on the blog by Friday, July 27!  Have a blessed rest of your weekend.   See you all soon, until then... Auf Wiedersehen!

Day Trip - Herren Chiemsee

As I sit here and sip my cappuccino and gaze out at Lake Chiemsee, known to the Bavarians as “The Bavarian Sea” for its great size, I realize how big of a trip we embarked on today.  Right now, Katie, Renee, Karanjot, and Lisa are passed out on the table…and I don’t blame them. 

This morning I woke up at 6:30 so I could get to the station at 8:05 with Bianca to catch the S-Bahn.  After having a great time the last train ride we took together, Nik, Tobi, Bianca, and I grabbed four seats and laughed and joked the whole hour to our stop ‘Prien am Chiemsee’.  When we got off the S-Bahn, we thought that we had reached our destination BUT NAY! We had one more train to catch, however this train was the coolest one we have been on because it was a steam engine from the 1800’s.  Dad…it felt like I was taking the train to Tombstone or something, it was so cool! When all the students saw the small green cabins we were getting into, jitters came over the group because the Chiemsee bahn was just so cute and quaint! WHOOT WHOOT! The whistle was authentic and it screeched as steam came barreling out of the train.  After 15 minutes, we arrived at another place we thought was our final destination, but again, we were wrong. 

The group boarded a boat to go to the first island ‘Herreninsle’.  On this island we saw the German version of Versailles.  IT WAS BREATHTAKING!  It was built by King Ludwig II in the 1860’s but only one third of it was finished.  Before they could finish the rest of the building in the extravagant gold, frescos, chandeliers, and other profuse and gaudy decorations like custom curtains, tables, dressers, beds, and more, the King bankrupted Bavaria.  With a bathtub that can hold 60,000 liters of water, it is no wonder that this castle sent the entire state of Bavaria into debt.  After we left this beautiful castle with fountains and paintings on the ceilings and more, we hustled back to the docks to catch another boat. 

This time it took us to ‘Frauen-Insel’.  On this island, we were given 2 hours of free time.  I went with Bianca, Tobi, and Nik, and grabbed some fish for lunch before sitting down in a park for the rest of our time.  Oh, and there was also a small water fight that ended with Bianca and I looking like we peed our pants…this time the boys won, unfortunately. 

After free time we took another boat back to the mainland, caught the Chiemsee bahn again, and now I am sitting in the S-Bahn station (we moved locations) talking to a 13 year old boy named Constantine. 

Constantine has a big windsurfing board with him and has been surfing the lake for the last week.  He was born in Iowa City and later moved to Munich.  He didn’t have a ticket to get home so he asked Mr. Mobini and I if we had an extra ticket because he also has no money to get one.  Quickly, the group adopted him and now he is sitting in a pack of teenagers with his board talking and laughing.  This kid is awesome! Now aboard the train (keep up, we are always on the move here) we are headed back to Markt Schwaben for a night of needed relaxation after this day of traveling on planes, trains, and automobiles. 

And so, until next time, I say…happy trails, to you! Until we meet again! ~Jessika

Day trip to Munich (Take II)

After our presentations on Wednesday, Mr. Mobini gave us an option of either continuing with presentations on Thursday or heading to Munich for the day with our group on his gracious offer to pay for tickets and lunch. We all accepted very graciously. We met at the S-Bahn at eight o’clock in the morning to head out to Munich. We started our day at BMW Welt. We saw a showcase of all of the newest and nicest cars, most pricing over one hundred thousand euros. This ultra-modern and sleek building is placed in the Olympic Park, where the 1972 Olympics were held.

We walked around this nice park and looked at the cutting-edge architecture and stadiums built. All around, this was just a nice place to sit and walk around.

Next, we took the S-Bahn to Karlzplazt for souvenir items and other knick-knacks then to Marienplatz. We arrived right as the Glockenspiel began its show. From here, we were given the option to part ways, but most of us stayed with Mr. Mobini because we love his company and heart-warming jokes.

We puttered around Munich shopping for souvenirs at just about every store. We walked around the market and around old gates/cathedrals before Mr. Mobini bought us lunch, our favorite, Doner Kebabs.  We continued to walk around and just enjoy Munich. Once navigating the trains, we arrived back to Markt Schwaben.

Once back, Aaron and I (Chris) met with our partners to go to Erding, the home of a SUPER AWESOME WATER PARK! This ain’t no American water park; this was a lawless German waterpark, an extremely dangerous and law-suit enticing water park. We peed our pants with happiness as we launched down the slides. It was nuts. After multiple bruises and stubbed toes, we called it good after 4 hours.  ‘Twas a good day.

Presentations - Day 2

Waking up at my own leisure on a school day is ultimate bliss.  Since there was a sports festival during the school day and presentations started at around 11, Lisa and I slept in until 9.  We lazily woke up, got ready, and ate our breakfast, and then we rode our bikes to school.  Lisa and I separated and went our ways.  I walked into the classroom lazily, sat down lazily, and waited for everyone to come together so we could start presenting.  As everyone sat down together we moved to another, more high-tech, class room.  Then a class of seventh graders came in and sat down waiting for us to present.  Aaron and Jessika presented first about the life of an American teenager, then Chris and Willow presented about Seattle.  Since it wasn’t their first time presenting they seemed relaxed and confident; they also managed to involve the class by asking questions and trying to get them involved.  

After the questions stopped and the presenting was over we all went back to the old classroom for a break and debriefing.  During the break we got food and just relaxed until we had to walk over to another classroom to present our projects.  We had to wait for the room to clear, but the class managed to get out and we managed to come in. Connor and I were the first ones to present to this class of tenth graders.  Honestly, I was a bit afraid to present to them because they are our age and presenting to little kids seems easier. However, we didn’t present right after they came in, we had to wait because the teacher started to pass out tests. Connor and I stood at the white board waiting for the opportune moment to start our presentation on Washington State. When we finally got their attention, Connor started his part of the presentation with plenty of information wrapped around with witty humor and random facts.

It seemed to entertain the kids, so I had no complaints.   Then came my turn; I took the clicker from Connor's hands, a bit nervous, and started talking about the Geography of the State of Washington. However, I had to go quite quick because Connor had taken a long time, but I had no complaints.  I tried to go as quickly as possible, while giving all the information, and trying to make it entertaining.  I tried my best and from Mr. Mobini’s reaction Connor and I did well.   After 2 brief questions we were excited to give the stage to Katie and Renee who presented about Kennedy Catholic High School.  Their presentation was also a slideshow, but with clips.  They had clips from school sports, assemblies, and cheer.  Then when their presentation was over they started to teach the class, which consisted mostly of boys, a Kennedy Catholic cheer.  I must say it was very entertaining and very funny as they tried to keep up with Katie and Renee’s pace.  

Filled with laughter and embarrassment class ended and we all walked out and went back upstairs to debrief the whole day. –Karanjot

Mr. Mobini's Highlights - Week 2

What can I say, I am a lucky teacher to be able to visit and explore amazing cities with such rich culture and history. Berlin, Aachen, Cologne, Nuremberg, and Munich have been awesome!  After spending the last week with my 10 students, I came home to a beautiful landscape which constantly reminds me of peace and tranquility.  The sun was shinning ever so brightly and the smell of manure was permeating the air... ahh yes, I am in God's country.  This is Bavaria as I know it, fields of grain and corn with miles and miles of farm land, and yet, I find my rest away from all of the chaos that comes with not only being a teacher but a guide as well :)   I have taken many groups to Europe and have lead tours in beautiful cities throughout Italy, Germany, France, and Spain.  Yet exchange trips like GAPP are transforming!

Yesterday we hoped on a train to Salzburg, Austria and on the way we stopped to make a quick visit to a salt mine.  It was a lot of fun seeing my students enjoy themselves.  My enthusiasm of course can be seen in this photo..  :)  either way, I am enjoying myself with a great host and a very talented teacher, both of whom I continue to be humbled by.  I have been nothing but a sponge, absorbing all of the tools and methods that I see being successfully used in and out of the classroom.  I have enjoyed my encounters with them and of course with the wonderful staff of Franz Marc Gymnasium.  I just hope that I can be a better teacher to my students from each conversation I have. 

Here is a picture of the two teachers who have been amazing in allowing us to experience this trips to the fullest.  Great company of course...  Both teachers came to Seattle for three weeks to learns from our school and now I get to do the same with them.  Both are such hardworking and caring teachers, Franz Marc Gymnasium is blessed to have the both of them there on staff.  Going through Salzburg with them was a joy.  Not to mention seeing great sights and being mystified by this one person on the streets with his fancy balancing act was a lot of fun.

Most of all, these two weeks have been enriching professionally and spiritually.  Just one week to go and we will conclude our German experience trip... one that marks the 30th anniversary of an amazing relationship between our two schools.  I haven't forgotten to count my blessings for having the chance to participate in this experience, yet my thoughts and prayers are always back at home with my wife and daughter whom I miss so much.  I cannot wait to see you both real soon and to enjoy the rest of my real summer vacation.  See you in another week my beautiful principessa!  I love you!  You too Chiara :)!

Berchtesgaden Salt Mines & Salzburg

Today we woke up early for a train ride to Berchtesgaden at seven for a tour of the salt mines.  At first we expected the tour to be boring and long but when we got there we were each handed our own jumpsuit to wear in the mines which instantly got us excited. 

Then we boarded a little train and took pictures. The train went through a small dark cave and we all felt pretty cramped.  However, the train ride was very cool because it was open, we could touch the walls, and we were going pretty fast for a little train! The first thing we did when we got off the train was watch a little laser show showing how high the water level used to be and how the salt was formed. Jessika even tried tasting the salt which covered the caves we walked through as we toured the mine. 

Then we got to go down a wooden slide and the friction made our butts really hot! We went in a group of four with Eleana, Jena!

Then we went through the caves learning about how the salt was discovered and collected, until we came to another slide! This one was steeper than the last one but was equally as fun! At the end of the tour, we took the train the other direction which led us outside so we were in the public in our jumpsuits.  

Next we waited for what seemed like forever for our bus to Salzburg with a couple false alarms.  We got off the bus in Salzburg and walked all around the area until we came to an incredibly steep hill and Mobini yelled at us to go! We hiked to the top and got to see an amazing view of the cathedral, the towns, and especially the Alps in Salzburg! Then we were off again! We walked to a church that had a huge dome roof with eccentric paintings and beautiful details.  We went down to the crypt and that with candles in front of little statues creating scary shadows on the wall with scary music. It gave us all a little bit of the creeps… 

 Then we were given free time for two hours.  The first thing we did was search for something to eat.  We found a place that served Schnitzel sandwiches and we decided that it sounded like a good, substantial thing to eat. Then we did some shopping with Lisa until we had to go meet up with the group again.  Now we are on the train on our way back to Markt Schwaben.  –Katie and Renee