Reflections from Renee S.

There are no words that can describe me trip to Germany. I have learned and experienced so much that I don't even know where to start with this blog. From the people, to the food, to day to day life, I have experienced it all, beginning the very first day. 

My first day in Germany despite my weariness I was able to take into account that Germany has a much different aspect to it than the U.S.  Unlike the new and modern Seattle area, Buch am Buchrain (where I live) and Markt Schwaben have an old town feeling to them. The cobble stone walkways, cottage looking houses, and the atmosphere that the citizens maintain all create an at home feeling. My house in Buch am Buchrain, for example, and the other houses in my neighborhood look as though they come from an old German story book but a little modern. Therefore from the start I felt right at home upon landing in Germany just based on the environment. 

Lucky for me I was not just provided a place to live but I was provided food as well! The number one thing I think I am going to miss about Germany, other than my host family, is the food. Lunch was always my favorite meal and was ready soon after I got home from school. My favorite meal I have had while I was here was a tender pork dish and knödel. I had never had knödel before I did not know what to expect! To me it had the texture of and tasted like mashed potatoes but in a doughy ball shaped form. Everything I have eaten in Germany has not tasted less than wonderful. Although, I'm not gonna lie, I do miss the good ole' Kraft Mac and cheese from the box. 

While in Germany I have made many friends in the school and even more outside of school. Lucky for me, carina is very good friends with her neighbors and I got to also become good friends with them. Despite the language barrier my new friends were very accepting and even helped me improve my German, including some Bavarian! After spending the past few weeks with all my new friends I feel so sad knowing that when I go back I will not be able to just walk down the street to stop by and say hi. It has been great getting to know everyone and I hope that I will be able to return to Buch am Buchrain in the future or that they will come visit me in the states. Overall I have made some pretty good friends that I hope to stay in contact with now and in the future.  

There is so much more about my trip that I just can't find the words for! I can't believe how quickly the month has passed by and I wish I had almost another month here. It will be hard adjusting to American life again not because of the jet lag but because when I wake up I will not go upstairs to eat breakfast with my best friend every morning. Or read books after school with my little sister. Or have basic conversations with my little brother on the way home from that day’s adventure. Lastly, I will not be able to say guten nacht and schlaf gut to my German parents. These are things that will miss but I am so happy I got to enjoy while here and plan on enjoying again when I return in the future.   -Renee 

Reflections from Connor W.

Time is an interesting concept.  Or as Ford Prefect once said, “Time is a bunk, lunchtime doubly so.”  I have spent the past three years studying the German language and the last three weeks living in Germany.  Those times add up to only a fraction of my life, only a fraction of my experiences.  However, the experiences I have had both in German class and actually in Germany feel much more significant than ³/₁₇ of my life.  My understanding of the German culture has created an impact on my life.

Two of my main concerns before going on this trip was that I would not be adjust to the culture adequately and that I would have a hard time communicating with other people.  While my family have already hosted two other German students prior to this exchange, I did not get close or indeed talk very much to either of them and instead let my sister be the main host.  While I took three years of German, class time was not always spent wisely.  I tended to study with the short term goal of getting good grades on my tests instead of actually trying to remember everything.  As a result, I often feared speaking due to my extremely limited vocabulary and need to think out what I was going to say for an awkward amount of time.  However, I was quick to bond with my partner Philipp and found out that my communication skills were better than I thought they were.  I quickly found out that a large number of people spoke English and were looking forward to practicing speaking with me.  By listening and paying attention to my German friends’ conversations, I was able to greatly improve my ability to understand what was being communicated.  One life lesson that I learned from this experience is that I realized that it is more important to seek to understand rather than to be understood. 

Besides increasing my understanding of the German language, I was able to get to know the people better.  Unlike the other two Germans that my family has hosted, I actually made an effort to get to know my exchange partner.  I was a bit unsure of who to pick as it is very difficult to get a good feel for personalities just from reading to bios.  I chose Philipp because he seemed pretty normal and because he said that he played video games.  I was a bit embarrassed while he was staying with me in America as most of the Germans wrote that they were athletic and did sports in their bios whereas I sat around at home and was kind of lazy.  As it turned out, he tended to sleep in and play video games too in his free time.  It was also a little bit awkward at first as I am not the type of person to start or engage in conversations unless I am really excited about the subject.  Luckily, there seemed to be a mutual understanding for the situation.  Philipp and I did have some cool conversations about Final Fantasy and The Legend of Zelda as both of us were shocked that the other did not play the other’s favorite game series.  I enjoyed talking with some of Philipp’s friends and thought that it was interesting how similar American and German teenagers are.  I also spent some time talking with my host parents and visiting some of their relatives.  Lessons done in the classroom did not prepare me and words cannot describe all of the emotions and energy I felt while talking to other people and experiencing their culture.

German class was filled with mostly learning about different grammar rules and vocabulary for three years.  Most of the stuff that I learned was not directly useful during this trip.  Being able to use the genitive properly and knowing how to say evil witch and diarrhea are not the most beneficial things to remember, especially if I do not remember other grammar rules and vocabulary used in everyday speech.  Being able to write grammatically correct German sentences and fairy tales has no use if I have to have my text book with me to do it.  Knowing about the history of Austria, various artists, and how the story of Max and Moritz ends is very interesting but has almost no use in the real world.  What I found mattered most were the valuable skills of being used to feelings of being uncomfortable, adapting and learning by observing others, and most importantly, not getting frustrated while struggling to do something and still making mistakes.  While it is extremely beneficial to be able to effectively communicate with other people, there is no other feeling than that of being able to laugh with those laughing at you and thoroughly enjoying every experience that you take in.

I feel proud for haven taken part in the GAPP exchange and challenging myself with a cultural immersion experience.  There is a big difference between visiting a bunch of countries for a few days each only to sightsee and go do touristy things and living with another family.  I was not only able to see many amazing sights such as the Alps and visit cool churches and castles, but I was also able to experience the everyday life of another culture.  The moments I have experienced through immersing myself in the German culture have given me a greater understanding of my own life. – Connor Wise

Reflections from Jessika L.

Germany has been on my top five places to see for a while and when the opportunity arose for me to go on this trip, I was immediately interested.  Being the only student that had not taken German as a language in school, I was worried about how I would fit in and if I would be able to understand anything that would be going on.  I was also slightly turned off by going because it would mean that I sacrifice a month of my last summer home before college.  However, Frau Asch convinced me and I realized that this would be a once in a lifetime opportunity.  Making that decision to come was the right choice because while I left my US home and family, I gained a new home and family in Germany.  The people I stayed with, the group as a whole, and the sights and experiences I had on this trip have truly changed and enriched my life. 

When I think about my host family, I cannot help but smile.  Tom, Petra, and Bianca were warm and welcoming from the second we met.  From making a welcome sign for my arrival to our last meal together in Germany, they made me feel like I was a part of the family.  I do not think my trip would have been as amazing had it not been for them.  Weekend excursions to Austria and around Munich were always adventures filled with laughs.  Short trips to go get ice cream turned into deep conversations about everything from life to funny faces made by those at the table.  Just a few days into the exchange, we were already calling each other long lost family.  The relationship we built in just 25 short days is going to last forever and I cannot imagine not keeping in contact with them or not seeing them again. 

My German friends are also important people I will never forget.  There was never a dull moment on our group trips to the mines and Chiemsee.  Yes; it got awkward and people did not get along all the time, but the camaraderie we shared was something truly special.  Something more special than the group as a whole was the closeness that developed amongst my fellow American students and I.  Again, we were not always bright and cheery but we were there for each other.  Stupid jokes became funny and the beautiful country around us was amplified by my friends.  Before this trip, I was not extremely close with the others on this trip but because of the exchange, I made friendships that will last me a lifetime both in US borders and beyond.  

Lastly, the immersion itself was something totally new and memorable.  Seeing important and well known landmarks such as the Glockenspiel in Marienplatz or the Brandenburg Tor in Berlin was amazing.  I had heard stories about how breathtaking and cool these sights were, but the stories could not compare to the actual locations.  Being in these exciting places definitely lightened the mood after also going to places like Sachsenhausen or Nuremburg where horrifying historical events occurred.  Touring not only exposed me to a new and beautiful country but it gave me an opportunity to experience places or events I learned about in school.  Being the nerd that I am, being able to tie my studies to where I was standing gave even deeper meaning to the trip.  - Jessika Lackie

Reflections from Karanjot G.

Starting out German freshmen year, I did not expect much out of the class. I figured I would learn a new language, but nothing more. I never thought I would be able to come to Germany and experience their culture and listen to natives speak at such a close level. From the beginning I loved our class: it was fun and we did learn a lot while having tons of fun with Frau Asch. Then sophomore year came and Frau Asch told us about the GAPP, which she had mention earlier before but we paid no attention, and what the exchange is all about. It sounded interesting, but I knew I would not be able to go because I would be unable to host. I was totally wrong.

At the beginning of the year everyone started to pick and choose who they would host, while I just sat around looking at the hustle. Then, one day, Frau Asch told me that I have a chance of going even if I did not host anyone. I was really happy, but it was a tough decision that I had to make with my parents. The trip is a long one and I did not want to rush, but I eventually agreed. In the earlier months, when the German were here at school, I did not think about the trip at all. I was too preoccupied with school and I really did not know what to expect considering the fact I have never really seen Europe. However, I was not nervous about communication because I had already taken two years of German and could get by with simple language. I was nervous about our group though; I did not know most of them and I was nervous about how the traveling part of the trip would unfold to be. But, I did not think of these things until the plane ride: I was too preoccupied. But, I was very prepared to come to Germany considering the fact Frau Asch took entire class periods talking Willow, Jena, and I about Germany and what to expect. In that sense I was prepared, but the before trip excitement, or nervousness, never kicked in. I was completely mellow about the entire trip, even when I met my host and her family.

When we finally arrived in Germany, I was completely neutral: neither excited nor nervous. Then when I met my host, Lisa Fassbender whom I did not recognize, I was still not excited or nervous I was just tired. I had no trouble communicating with her or her mother, but her father spoke little English so I had to use German around him. I was fun, putting my two years of German to use. When I got to see Germany; the farmland, the sites, and the cities, I was honestly surprised at how beautiful it all was. There was lots of farmland and the cities, especially Munich and Nuremburg, were also beautiful. My personal favorite city that we visited was Berlin. I never expected it to be so spacious as well, Frau Asch had described to be very crowded, which the cities and towns were. Then the school was more like a college than a high school: Kids come and go, they have different schedules each day, and everything is so lax. Even though I got to use my German, I was unable to understand most of what everyone was saying. They spoke very fast and it was hard to follow so I just let my mind wander. Mixing in with the Herman culture by going to their folk festivals and living in their homes was probably the best part of the entire trip. We got to make new friends and see true Germany: I can’t wait to impress Frau Asch.

The trip itself was great, but now that I think about it there were many things that really changed me. I was able to make new friends in our American group which was surprising, but they all turned out to be great people. I will miss this group of people and hanging out with them: talking, making jokes, and just having fun all around Germany. I will miss this group and I will miss my host family as well: though Lisa and I did not make a life-long relationship we did enjoy each other’s company. It was fun hanging out with her and going around Munich. Other than missing this group and host family I do realize that my understanding of Germany, Germans, and Europe has completely changed than it was before. Before this trip I did not know what to expect of Germany, but now I know that Germany is a great country, besides I learned new German words that I can use in my own life now. It was a great learning experience and it definitely worth going on.

In the end I learned more than I ever thought I would, made many new friends, and became a certified traveler in Europe. Thanks to Mr. Mobini’s training I am now a certified traveler that can make her way around Europe. Not only that I also have a host family whom I can always got to if I ever go back to Germany again. Though I did not cry, or become emotional, I will miss Germany. Tschuss Deutschland!  - Karanjot Gill

Reflections from Jena K.

Before I went on this trip I was really anxious. I didn’t really know what to expect. I had been to Germany twice before with my family and had a really great, memorable time. It would be different this time because I would be with people my age, along with a teacher, instead of my parents. As a reflection of my whole experience on this trip to Germany, I would have to say that it was filled with lots of laughs, beautiful sights that I will never forget, and great food! I was also able to learn more about the traditional German culture and improve my German speaking skills.

When we first arrived, I wasn’t very surprised at the things I saw because I had been there before, while most of the other students hadn’t. This time, I was able to successfully travel around the country, without my parents and with the help of Mr. Mobini. I never realized before that Germany used so many different kinds of transportation while in Seattle; people mostly drive themselves to get around instead of taking a subway or bus to school or work, although few do.  I learned how to navigate to different parts of cities just by using a subway and a map, which I had never done by myself before.

I was able to speak German with native speakers, which was very helpful after taking two years of the language. They were able to help/correct me when I said something wrong, which is a great way to learn. I was also able to teach my host family a few English phrases and common words and tried speaking with my host sister’s younger brother.

During the trip, I was also able to visit my family that I had not seen for six years. It was good to catch up with them and practice my German speaking. It was very helpful because they are all fluent English speakers because they were taught in school.  I think it’s very interesting that taking the English language is required in schools all over Germany, along with taking another language such as French or Spanish, while in America you only have to take one. When we travelled as a group, we visited places that I had never seen before and that I will never forget. I’m glad I was able to experience this and be a part of this program. I am also happy that I chose to take German as my language in school; I hope to come back soon.  -Jena Karl

Reflections from Willow P.

My freshman year I decided to take German as my language extremely last minute, but to this day I feel it was one of the best decisions I could have ever made for not only my education but for me as a person. I have gained so much from taking German. I have the best teacher ever, Frau Asch, and the others who are taking the language, especially the ones I got to share this amazing experience with, are by far the best as well. Not only have I gained these friendships but I have also gained the ability to (at least somewhat) speak such an interesting yet difficult language. In my first year of German, I never expected taking the class would take me so far but then after my second year I was able to put my studies to the test by taking part in the GAPP trip.

Before the trip I was super nervous, yet excited because I had never travelled abroad before and I certainly had never stayed with a host family before either. But after actually experiencing all of this and immersing myself into the German culture I can definitely say I would do it again in an instant. I love the people and their traditions and how different their lives are. It’s almost like a whole other world over there! I guess you can say I didn’t feel very prepared for such a big adventure because we had only ever really read the text book and I’d only really heard American-German, not straight up native German! After settling in and being there for a few days I felt my communication skills improving. I definitely had to get used to not understanding everything because I was surrounded by everyone talking in a different language, and talking extremely fast.

Every chance I could, I would use my speaking skills and take pointers from the people I was speaking too, whether I pronounced a word wrong or just didn’t make any sense at all. I learned something either way, just by putting myself out there and giving it a try. Towards the end of the trip, I was having actual conversations in German and people kept saying my German was really good! I also understood a lot more than I did before. I’m ready to go onto my third year in German because I know so much more about the culture and the language! I can’t wait to go back to my favorite class.

Another thing I gained from this was not only my speaking skills in German, but being able to get up in front of people and give a presentation doesn’t seem so hard anymore. I became more outgoing towards meeting new people as well since I was surrounded by strangers. It was awesome, and I really enjoyed it. I definitely want to stay in contact with the people I met and send them things from the U.S.A like Lucky Charms!

Throughout my stay in Germany I have made so many memories that I won’t ever forget. I’ve become closer with everyone in our group and it makes me really happy to know I shared this experience with the people that I did. We were constantly laughing and having a good time, making jokes and messing around. It was the best time.  And of course our professional tour guide, Mr. Mobini, did a really great job in getting things done and planning out this trip for us. We couldn’t have done it without him and I’m extremely thankful! I think each person who came on the trip added something to it which is what made it so awesome. Chris and Aaron and their hilarious jokes, Conner and his rants about Hitch hikers guide to the galaxy, Jena and Eleana and the funny things they would say, Karanjot and her wise cracks, Katie and the fact that she is Katie Michel Michels (BOOM), Jessika and her laugh and awesome leadership skills, and Renee and how easy to get along with she was. I love them all! This trip has been totally rad, and all I have left to say is ICH LIEBE DEUTSCHLAND!  - Willow Powers

Reflections from Aaron S.

About three years ago, I received a highly anticipated letter in the mail; a letter that, at the time of its arrival, seemed to contain my future neatly folded and stamped with a familiar insignia of a lancer.  This letter was my course registration for my freshman year at Kennedy Catholic High School.  I was not faced with too many decisions as to which classes would be appropriate to enroll for; however, one category did pique my interest and stimulate my brain enough to ruffle the neatly groomed feathers of my sense of educational security: world language.  Other than a brief Japanese education during the first four years of my life, I had not been familiarized with the idea of studying a foreign language, and therefore did not have a sure sense as to where to turn.  The basis for my decision rested on a couple of observations: I could not take Spanish simply because everyone takes Spanish and I did not see any logical reason to devote a portion of my education to a dead language such as Latin, for I knew I wanted to learn a new language to expand, not isolate, my communication skills into other parts of the world.  By excluding these two, I was left with only two other options: French and German.  For a while I was entirely neutral between these two languages, until one day I discovered a crucial factor that would lead me to make a decision: the French department does not have an exchange program; the German department does.  So a few years passed; years full of laughter, tears, and farts in the German department at Kennedy Catholic High School, until the next thing we knew, it was our turn to participate in the GAPP program.  And now, as the exchange is coming to a close, I can whole-heartedly admit that although each program is individually successful, the combination of the Kennedy German department and the GAPP program is one that allows a student to be fully immersed in German culture, both through the excitement of hosting and the adventure of travelling to Germany. 

When the Germans arrived in Seattle, we were all squirming with anxiety.  Questions swirled around our minds about whether we will be able to get along with them or if we will even be able to fluently communicate with them.  Although resistant at first, we soon realized that having acquired three years of German education, this would be a perfect opportunity for us to expand our knowledge of the German language.  It was not long before we realized that language was not a major obstacle between us and the Germans, though it did help immensely that many of the Germans practically spoke flawless English.  Nonetheless, we were still able to practice our German, but more importantly, we created friendships that have the potential to last a lifetime.  With the thought in mind that we would see them again only weeks from their departure, we said our farewells to the Germans and sent them off, anxious to experience the second half of the exchange. 

Finally, the time came for us to venture out into the mystical land we had heard so much about: Germany.  From day one, I immediately felt welcomed by my host’s heart-warming hospitality, and before I knew it, I felt at home.  Not trying to become overwhelmed, I initially spoke as little German as possible, but after I had settled in over a couple of days, I realized this was prime time to apply anything and everything I had learned in German class to real life.  No matter where we were, whether we were in Munich, Berlin, Cologne, Aachen, Nuremburg, or even with our hosts in Markt Schwaben, I realized over and over again how three years of occasionally-endless school work paid off, for I now felt if not a part of the German culture, then at least immersed in it.  A time in which I was especially grateful for my education of the German language was during the scavenger hunt in Berlin, where we broke off into groups in order to fight tooth, nail, and hoof in a quest to find a series of landmarks throughout the massive city.  The hunt often required us to converse with strangers, some of which did not speak English, allowing us to practice our German in real-life situations.  These are moments I will remember the rest of my life and improved my knowledge of both German language and culture. 

If there were to be one main aspect of the relationship between the German department at Kennedy and the GAPP program that I have witnessed through this exchange, it would be this: the German department benefits from the GAPP program by allowing its students to experience German culture first-hand and apply what they have learned to daily situations.  Through the opportunity to engage in an exchange such as this one, students become more worldly and open to experience the places and people around them, even in a foreign country.  I hope this exchange continues to thrive throughout the Kennedy High School German department for years to come, so that future students may experience the immersion that I have had the opportunity to be a part of over the last month, and so they may become more aware of the world around them, starting with Germany. 

 –Aaron Spieldenner

Reflections from Katie M.

For the past three years, I had the pleasure of studying the German language and some German culture with my favorite teacher, Frau Asch. Although the language was very difficult for the entire class, we were all thrilled to be able to immerse ourselves in the culture this summer.  We heard stories from Frau Asch over the past three years about her experiences and memories from Germany which made us all even more excited. We were soon counting down the days until our flight to Munich and now that we are already leaving, it’s hard to believe how fast the time went by.

Experiencing the German culture taught me a more simple way to live. My host family was always so relaxed and comfortable. It made me feel instantly welcomed knowing that the house always felt stress free.  One aspect of our daily lives that I loved the most was how the family does everything together. When I would wake up every morning for breakfast, the whole family would be in the kitchen, chatting. It is something I wish I could bring back to America with me.  Even while waiting for trains to arrive, the German people were patient and calm. I never imagined such a peaceful environment while waiting for transportation, especially since the traffic in Seattle can get really bad and stressful for everyone. The simplicity and ease of the German people is something I will never forget because it is something we don’t usually get the chance to experience in the United States. There are so many aspects of the German culture that I wish America would be able to inherit.

I asked my exchange partner’s uncle, Uncle Daniel, about why there is a restriction on the height of buildings in Munich. He was explaining how for over a hundred years, there has been a law that states that a building can be no taller than the cathedral. Basically, the Catholic Church came first in society, and it still does. This law is still in order today, except for an exception or two. This amazed me and I was in awe as he was explaining it to me. Through all the busyness and stress that may come with working in the city, there is always the sight of the church to ease the worry.  The entire area of Bavaria was primarily Catholic which was comforting as a traveler.

My host family showed me a side of Germany that I would have never experienced if I had not participated on this trip. They introduced me to family life in a German household. They showed me a basic daily routine of a family in much different conditions than in America. Firstly, we ate breakfast all together every morning. Sarah helped me get acclimated to the different environment of school, which is completely altered compared to what I’m used to in America. Classrooms are not assigned to teachers, every class has the same students, teachers can release their students whenever they feel, and my favorite part, school ended at one o’clock for Sarah and I. After school, the environment at home was peaceful which differs from the sometimes very hectic households we all know in America. When Sarah’s parents got home from work, the family was all together, doing different activities as a household.  My host parents served appetizers, then dinner, then dessert and every day I was completely satisfied. The rest of the evening was very relaxed as we all prepared to sleep. The GAPP program is amazing in that we get the full experience of a German family.

Two years ago, I hosted a German exchange student when I was a freshman in high school. We instantly became great friends and I was disappointed that I would not be staying with her in Germany that summer. When it was decided that I would be travelling to Germany this summer, I knew I had to see Tina and catch up with her. I spent the day with her and it was amazing to be able to see her again! Saying goodbye to her was very hard because I still don’t know when I will be able to see her again although she said I will always have a place to stay for when I return to Germany. This is what I appreciate most about participating with GAPP; it truly does form friendships for a lifetime and I know that Tina and I will still be great friends in years to come.

I am eternally grateful to have been able to participate on this trip. It was the trip of a lifetime and words cannot express how amazed I am to see the similarities and differences between these two different cultures. I want to thank my parents for sacrificing a vacation for themselves to allow me to be able to travel to Germany. I want to thank my Oma and Opa, and my Grandma for their generosity and amazing support and prayers. Thank you GAPP for having this program available for my peers and students across America.

(: - Katie Michels

Reflections from Eleana S.

I am so happy that I was able to be a part of this amazing 2012 GAPP trip to Germany. I have made so many amazing memories, and made so many relationships with people that I never would have got to experience if I did not go on the exchange this summer. To say the least, Germany was a life changing experience, which gave a first-hand look into the lives and culture of a people half way across the world. From the time I spent with the Grabke family, to the beautiful sights that I saw around Germany, I was able to experience something truly one-of-a-kind.

My time spent with my host sister and her family was very memorable. They made me feel so welcome in their home, and their hospitality made it easier for me to adjust to the lifestyle of the German people while staying abroad. They took me to some beautiful sights, and showed me the way that they live day to day. Although their days and lives are so different from mine at home, the difference began to grow on me, and developed into an exciting, wonderful experience. Hanna and I biked everywhere, and this made me appreciate the German way of life even greater. We were never in a hurry, and for those short three weeks, time seemed to go by just as it should, allowing me time to take in all the beauty of this foreign country. I was able to see how the home life of Germans is, and how family is an enormous aspect of their everyday lives. We would sit around the dinner table; altogether, just enjoying each other’s company long after the meal was finished. There was never the rush and chaos that comes along with my daily life in the states. I appreciated these small differences, and grew to appreciate the time off from my hectic life.

For a week, our group left our host families, and went on an excursion around Europe. Our travels included Berlin, Aachen, Nuremberg, and Cologne. We saw beautiful churches, landmarks, ate delicious food, and experienced what it was like to back pack through Europe. I will never forget the truly beautiful sights that we got to see on our journey. Along the way, we stayed in two different hostels, one in Berlin, and one in Koln. Although these weren’t the most comfortable surroundings, it was definitely an experience to try something new and exciting. It almost felt like we were having a big sleepover with friends. Our group definitely became more closely knit because of this experience, and made it that much easier to feel like we were at home.

I experienced so much culture while in Germany. Being able to attend the Franz Marc Gymnasium was enthralling, because I was able to see how German teenagers live. Although there are definitely differences between Americans and Germans, I was surprised to see how truly similar that we are to each other. They love to listen to music, hang out in groups, go shopping, and have fun being kids, just like us. The relationships that were formed while I was there will never be forgotten, and the memories will most definitely be cherished. I had so much fun going out with my host sister, and her friends, and appreciated how welcome that they made me feel, in this country that was so unfamiliar to me.  I was definitely culturally enriched throughout this trip, and will forever remember my experiences.

Although it was a very long time away from home, I am very happy that I experienced this GAPP trip. I think that it is a once in a lifetime experience that a kid as young as seventeen is able to go to a beautiful foreign country, and live the way that they live for almost a month. I will never forget the memories, experiences, friendships, and traditions. I am very lucky to have attended this trip, and give all my appreciation to the GAPP cooperation for making it possible. Many thanks! - Eleana Stevens

Reflections from Chris D.

Once you immerse yourself into a culture or country that is when you can truly experience how life is like in their shoes. Learning in a classroom can teach you, but nothing can beat experience. Over the past three years I have studied German at Kennedy Catholic High School and learned a decent amount about the language and culture so I decided to go on the GAPP exchange to Franz Marc Gymnasium. This experience has taught me so much about German culture and made me realize what I have learned over the past three years.

First, living with a family in Germany is about all an American can do to attempt the culture, short of moving here. I started my experience with my first host family, the Netts. They were a very warm family who took me in as their own. The biggest aspect of German culture that I received from this family was traditional Bavarian food and meal customs. Every morning, we sat down as a family and ate a normal Bavarian breakfast consisting of mostly meats, cheeses, and very hearty breads. This was a good start to every morning. Lunch was usually the same food but on Tuesdays Julian would go to his grandparents’ house to meet with his whole family and eat a big meal. When I joined him, the grandma gave me hearty portions of everything, expecting me to finish and eat seconds. This was as traditional of Bavarian food as it gets. Then every dinner was another traditional type of food. After dinner they offered sweets and coffee, but I never accepted because I was too full. This has also taught me how important family is because at every meal they would talk about their lives and what was going on.  All in all, staying with this family informed me of the classic traditions of Bavaria. The second family I stayed with were immigrants from Hungary. Staying with this family, I ate a lot of Hungarian dishes which is slightly similar to German in some aspects. While with this family, they were not as into eating every single meal together which I am not sure if that is a Hungarian thing or just specific to this family. Staying with these two families has taught me more than I ever could have learned in a classroom about culture and has brought me to ponder on American culture as a whole.

Next, this trip was also meant to further my learning of the German language. While in Seattle, we learned an okay amount of German and had a decent understanding but when coming to Germany and meeting people who spoke no English at all, you are forced to use your German and further learn. Unfortunately, most of the people here speak English so at times there was no practice so I had to continually remind myself to continue speaking German rather than English. Once specific experience I had was when my teacher, another student and I were in a supermarket and an old woman began to talk to us! This forced us to use what we had learned in the classroom and we talked with her for a good five minutes in German. We learned that she had a son living in Ohio! Experiences like this make you appreciate what you have learned. Another point that many of us German students have noticed is that even though we cannot speak very well sometimes, we all have very good understanding capabilities. When someone is talking, we usually can decipher the message they are trying to get across which brings about a really accomplished feeling.

All in all, this trip has brought me a new understanding of Germany as a whole. I was thrown into their culture and way of life and quickly learned their way of doing things. This trip has not only taught me, but reminded me of what I have been taught which is truly a gift in itself.  - Chris Dwyer

We have arrived!!!

How bittersweet is this? My last blog entry :( After staying up until the wee hours of the German morning, I woke up at the bright and cheery 4 AM to reluctantly leave my second home.  After a night filled with lasts and goodbyes to my friends at the farewell BBQ, the stomach ache I felt when I woke up reminded me that I have so much to be thankful for and so many happy memories.  I got dressed, threw the last of my clothes into my suitcase, and had my traditional Bavarian breakfast the way I have these last few weeks; I sat in my spot at the table with Bianca at my right and we had a piece of toast and a cappuccino.  We sat there and I thought about all of the things I would miss.  For example, German radio “BAYERN DREI” and “ANTENNE BAYERN”.  I can still hear the station jingles in my head.  Consciously holding back tears, I said goodbye to my German home and cat named Rosie.  Tom, Petra, Bianca, and I climbed into the car still half asleep and we drove to the airport.  I looked out over the landscape one last time and watched Anzing, my ‘hometown’, shrink into the distance.  A few tears slipped out, but the waterworks turned on at the airport. 

We met at the Munich airport at 5:15 with the exceptions of Chris, Aaron, and Renee who extended their stays and said goodbye to our families for 20 minutes.  I hugged my family with tears pooling in our eyes.  Once we were in the terminal and checking into our flight, the ticket lady probably thought I was crazy because my face and eyes were bright red.  On our first flight to Frankfurt, I watched Munich slip into the distance and realized that I was actually going home.  I don’t know what I will do when I get home…I will be able to understand what everyone is saying around me; I’ve become accustomed to German 24/7. 

Right now I’m on our big flight to Seattle and Katie is passed out next to me.  While I am extremely sad to leave, I know that I’m sad because I had a great time.  This trip has been amazing, liberating, relaxing, fun, lässig, wünderbar, fabelhaft, and so much more! Thank you to everyone that made it possible, especially my Dad (see you soon and I love you to the moon and back x+1 times and more!).  I know I will take the traveling skills Mr. Mobini taught me and use them when I return to Germany.  Thank you to all of the Germans for having us, you were all so fun and it was more than great to meet you and hopefully we will meet again. 

For the last time, this is Jessika Lackie signing out….you stay classy Munich.

Reminder!!!

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!

Farewell Party

Today is my last day on the GAPP exchange. We picked flowers as a gift for our host families to present to them later. After school had ended, I went back to my host families house where I typed my final essay which summed up my experience in Germany and began packing because I am leaving with my family tonight! After all of the fun, I played some last minute video games with Andy until we went to my other host families house for coffee and cake with my parents!

It was really nice to see my family after being gone for about three and a half weeks. At the Nett house, we an assortment of homemade cakes which were very delicious and my parents shared stories with my host parents about their experiences. After this nice time we headed to the farewell party where we met up with all the other families to say goodbye. It was filled with merry conversation and joyous laughing.

It was a bittersweet goodbye leaving the people who I had been surrounded by for the past while, but filled with excitement for the trip to come shared with my family. I truly had a wonderful time.

- Chris 

Presentations - Day 4

After nearly a month filled to the brim with touring, adapting, and immersing ourselves in the German culture, the final day has come.  I woke up as if it were any other day, with only a fleeting thought of the cold fact that the finish-line was enclosing rapidly upon us exchange students.  I had a normal breakfast and walked to school just like any other weekday.  All of the American students gave their presentations to one class over the course of two periods, finishing with a wipe of the brow and a sigh of relief. 

It was good to know that our hard work had paid off, and even though we were glad we would never have to stand awkwardly in front of a group of foreign students again, we did feel a sense of accomplishment, knowing we were able to spread American culture to people on the other side of the world.  We then headed out into the urban jungle of Markt Schwaben for one last time, stopping to purchase snacks for the plane-ride back and collecting sunflowers as a gift to our wonderful hosts.

 The sunflower-collection seemed like something out of an Amazonian safari: we ventured into the depths of a field of sunflowers, seeing the monstrous beasts looming over us in an ominous fashion, while we dodged and swatted the local breed of bumblebee.  It was an adventure to say the least. 

After we finished, we trekked back to the Franz Markt Gymnasium; and now, we wait… -Aaron

Presentations - Day 3

 

Today was our second to last day of presenting our projects to the Germans. We each presented to two different classes of eighth graders and tenth graders. Everyone tried to involve the students so that it would be more interesting for them. They learned new facts about our state, way of life, school, and the American school system. The students and teachers asked us questions about our presentations, and way of life in America. They were especially curious about our drinking age and our driver’s licenses. It was interesting to learn about all the differences between teens in America, and teens in Germany.  - Eleana & Jena

Week in Review - Week 3

Saturday morning was the first day I was able to sleep in during my stay here in Germany. It was amazing! I didn’t realize how tired my body was. My host mom drove me downtown to Munich to finish getting souvenirs and presents. My host mom is very sweet and I was glad I was able to spend the day with her before I left! When we got home, we relaxed for a little bit and ate dinner before going to Volksfest, a miniature Oktoberfest. It was loud and hot and there was a lot of German music and celebration and I was happy I was here to be able to experience it! The next day I woke up at nine to get ready to spend the day with my friend, Tina. I hosted Tina two years ago when the German’s came my freshman year. She and her boyfriend Markus (Schatz, as we called him while she was in America) took me to Skyline Park, an amusement park about an hour out of Munich. There were huge roller coasters and water rides and it was all so exciting! After the park we went to Tollwood to finish off the day. It was very crowded so we didn’t stay for long. She drove me home and I was starting to tear up when I had to say goodbye. It was awesome to be able to see her and I hope I can see her again someday (: I ate dinner with my host parents and chatted with them for a couple hours. It was an awesome last weekend in Germany (: - Katie

My weekend was filled with fun things! On Friday after getting back from Chiemsee I went to a festival in the town where I live with Jena, Aaron, and his host Matthias and a few of his friends. There were tons of people crowded into the tent because it was pouring rain outside. Then on Saturday I woke up early to go to a medieval festival with Tim, his dad, and Levi (his little brother.) It was really interesting to see because I’ve never been to one before. It was packed with tons of people and it had only just opened. After that we met up with Tim’s mom and sisters at the mall and shopped around a little bit. Later that night we had a really good dinner that apparently originated in Sweden. You would fill this little triangular shaped pan with multiple things like mushrooms and sausages and then cover it with a slice of cheese and have it cooked on a little oven thing made just for the triangle pans. It was delicious! Then on Sunday we woke up early again to go to the mountains. It was about an hour drive to get to a town called Garmisch Partenkirchen which was located at the foot of the tallest mountain in Germany, Zugspitze! We took a lift up to the top of a mountain and then hiked our way down to a little cabin on a farm. The walk down was really difficult. The terrain was rocky and wet and we got hailed on several times. But once we reached the cabin, it was really nice to get some hot chocolateJ.  After our clothes began to dry we made our way around the mountain to make it back to the car. It took a while and was really tiring but it was really cool seeing all the beauty of the Alps. After getting back home, I ended up going to the festival in Poing again which was fun too! –Willow.

Friday, after the whole exchange group returned from Chiemsee, Matthias, Jena, Willow and I went to a festival in Poing, which was a lot of fun.  A few of Matthias’ friends were there as well, and Matthias and I spent the night at his friend Tim’s house.  We watched Lord of the Rings in German; it was great.  The next day, Matthias and I returned home for a couple hours for a quick cat-nap, after which we made a quick turnaround and went to a music festival in Riem.  Most of the bands were a little mediocre, but the last band, a German hard rock band called Kraftklub, rocked socks.  Matthias and I, along with two of Matthias’ friends, moshed it out for an hour or so and then headed home to sleep.  Around noon on Sunday, my host family took me to a traditional post-Yugoslavian restaurant; the food consisted of a variety of cooked meats, rice, and fruit on a bed of Pommes Frites (French fries).  After we gorged ourselves with this urban delicacy, we drove out to Munich into the heart of the BMW World.  We went through the BMW museum, assuring myself that my next car will be a BMW.  After this was finished, we went to Erding to eat ice cream for dinner, and then once we recovered from bouts of brain-freeze and lactose overload, we returned home.  But the night was not finished quite yet, for Matthias and I were invited last minute back the festival in Poing, where a few friends were hanging out.  We went for a couple hours, then headed home and went to sleep, completing a great weekend in Germany.  –Aaron

My last weekend in Germany was AWESOME! My host family was telling me throughout my whole stay that this weekend was going to be the grand finale…they were so right.  Saturday morning I made a big American breakfast of pancakes, scrambled eggs, and bacon.  Making the pancakes was more difficult than it should’ve been.  I totally forgot they use different measurements so I had to eyeball everything BUT the batter turned out really well and my host family actually asked for the recipe.  After breakfast, we just read and hung out until 3 o’clock when we left for ‘Münchner Sommernauchstraum’; the big music festival in Munich’s Olympia Park.  We saw Culta Candela and the Spider Murphy Gang perform until 10:20 when we went out to the lake and watched a HUGE firework show set to some epic 80’s rock ballads.  WE HAD SO MUCH FUN! It was a blast to rock out with my family.  On Sunday, we went tobogganing in Austria.  It was like being in the movie cool runnings…but in Austria and on a metal runway rather than snow.  Then we walked around a lake and enjoyed the beauty of the Alps.  We got back at around 9:00 and went right to bed.  It was a tiring weekend but it was also the best one yet!! ~Jessika

My weekend began after we returned from our excursion to Chiemsee Friday night. Once we got home, we both went straight to sleep because we were really tired. Saturday morning I slept through breakfast (oops) and woke up around 10. Then we went to Munich and just bummed around for a while. They showed me a lot of the stores that they shop at then we went to Pizza Hut because they do that every Saturday night. It was a nice taste of home. Then we went home and I went straight to sleep because I was super tired again. Sunday morning I slept through breakfast again (uh oh) and woke up at 10 again. I have been super tired lately. Since the weather has been iffy, we didn’t really know what to do. We decided to go tobogganing in the Alps which was super fun! We took a chairlift up to the top of a mountain and took a toboggan down which was crazy. I had so much fun. Once we got back, we decided to go to a big festival in Poing called Volksfest. It was pretty crazy. –Chris

On Friday, I went to Subway for dinner with my host and her boyfriend and then went to Volksfest in Poing. Me, Matthias, Aaron, and Willow enjoyed traditional German food and music. Then, I went back to Daniela’s and was able to sleep in the next day.  I enjoyed a delicious chocolate croissant and then we went to the mall in Riem with Hanna and Eleana. We met with a few German friends we knew and went to a huge festival in Munich with about 12,000 people! There was a famous German rapper there along with many other interesting bands. We left early because it started raining and it was really cold. On Sunday, Daniela and I went rollerblading to get ice cream which was a lot of fun considering I haven’t been rollerblading in years! Later that day, we went to Volksfest again along with many other Germans that went to Franz Marc and some Americans. It was a lot of fun. –Jena

This weekend after we came home from the trip to Chimsee, my host and I were very tired. We went to her house, had dinner with her family, and then went to bed early. We both needed the sleep and I was happy to have the opportunity to relax. The next day my host and I went to the mall with Jena and Daniela, and met some of their German friends. We went with them to a huge festival in Munich with thousands and thousands of people. Everyone was there because a very famous German rapper was going to perform later that night. After we left the festival we went back to the mall to get some food, and then took the train back to Markt Schwaben. The next day I cooked Dutch baby pancakes for my host family; they loved them and were very happy that I shared a little piece of American culture with them. We then drove to the Alps, and took a train that went straight up a very tall mountain. We walked all the way up the mountain to a viewpoint at the top, which was very beautiful. We then drove home, had dinner with the family, and both showered. Last night we went to a festival in Poing, where we listened to German music, saw traditional Bavarian dancing, and hung out with some German friends from the school. It was a very enjoyable weekend! –Eleana Stevens

After the trip to Chimsee Lisa and I just came home and went to sleep. Lisa was tired from the long week and I was very tired as well. Then I woke up Saturday, late, and for the majority of the morning/early afternoon I just hung around at home trying to entertain myself. Lisa came back from her work and two hours later we got ready to go to Munich for the music festival. Nadine drove us to the festival, after we picked up one of Lisa’s friends (whose name I did not get). We were dropped off at the festival where we looked around for some of Lisa’s friends (whom we did not find) so we left. The music was bad and the atmosphere was not inviting. We were there for a duration of 10-20 minutes. We started walking to the nearby mall, but Nadine intervened and drove us to the Poing Folk Festival. There we met up with some friends and I also met up with Renee and Katie. For a couple of hours we all hung out, listened to music, and danced. It was crazy, but a lot of fun. At 11 Lisa and I went back home and I stayed up until 12 talking to my sister and uncle and aunt. At 12 they wished me a happy birthday! It was my sixteenth birthday! Then I went to sleep and in the morning I woke up and did my morning routine. Usually the birthday girl gets a great morning breakfast, but this time I made breakfast for my host family to thank them for taking me in. I sliced onions, various peppers, grated cheese and potatoes to make omelets and hash browns for them. They said it was absolutely delicious! Also they had decorated the living room, the dining table, and had my present on my seat! They got me chocolate face masks, a flower pouch, and 2 Linkin Park albums! I was so happy and so grateful. Then breakfast was over and we chilled out until around 4 when everyone started to arrive for my birthday party. They are Lisa’s friends (whom I have met before) and we had a blast! We went to the park, barbecued chicken, ate cake, and watched a movie. Also Lisa’s grandparents and uncle and aunt wished me a great birthday and also gave me a bracelet. Everyone was so nice and the day unraveled to be a great day. It was a great sweet sixteenth!
-Karanjot Gill

My host and I woke up at around 11:00 on Saturday. We made pretzels and had sausages for breakfast. After that, we played video games until about 10:00 at night, which is when I went to bed. We woke up a little before noon again on Sunday, had breakfast, and played video games until around 2:50. My host family and I then went over to my host aunt and uncle’s house. We had tea and cake in a very classy fashion for about an hour as we made small talk. Then we played poker for a few hours. After that, we prepared for a barbecue dinner. Dinner lasted another hour and half. After that we played a long card game that lasted until 11:00. Then we went home and I went to bed.
 –Connor Wise

My weekend in a nutshell was pretty much amazing! Friday started with me missing my bus back home from the S-bahn station since the train got to Markt Schwaben later than we expected. Therefore Mr. Oelerer gave me a ride to my village. I finally made it home no thanks to my vague directions. Since we had toured Chiemsee that day I was pretty tired but the weekend had just begun.  The next day we had planned to go into Munich for some shopping but since Carina and I overslept that did not happen. Instead we had a lazy day just relaxing at home until that evening when we went to the Volkfest in Poing. At Volksfest many girls wear dirndls and the boys lederhosen. Lucky for me Carina had three dirndls so I was able to pick one to wear for the night. At Volksfest we met with Lisa, Karanjot, and Katie.
At Volksfest there was a lot of live music and to my surprise dancing on the tables and benches! I was astonished to see so many people jumping and singing along to the songs being played while standing on benches that looked as if they could snap any minute! The next day I woke up very early, 10 in the morning! Carina on the other hand slept till noon. So I enjoyed a slow morning starting with some German cartoons with my adorable host sister Antonia. - Renee Stadtmueller