GAPP 2014

Welcome once again to the blog of the Kennedy Catholic GAPP Exchange trip! We will use this blog to share the adventures, pictures and stories of the seven Kennedy students who will be discovering Germany over the next few weeks.

Good evening from Markt Schwaben, Germany! The eight of us arose early Tuesday morning to begin our two and a half week exchange trip to Germany. We successfully made it through security and at 6:30 am, with Starbucks in hand (vente caramel frapp with whip please), we boarded our four hour flight to Houston, TX. Within minutes of takeoff we were above the Seattle clouds and in the sunshine. One of the highlights of the flight was the incredible view of Mount Rainier from the air. It seemed close enough to touch and the proximity allowed breathtaking glimpses of the blue glaciers of Rainier. We flew over the snow capped Rocky Mountains and descended into the perfected circles of the rich Texas farmland. We had an easy landing in Houston and the boarding gate for our next flight was easy to find so after setting up camp nearby, we took some time to stretch out and walk around the airport. The students were able to pass the layover time by riding on the magic carpets, viewing the Best Buy kiosk, discovering the most comfortable way to recline on airport benches and of course sampling the many different food choices. At 3:25 pm we boarded our international flight to Germany and after a short technical delay we were in the air once again. Most students tried to get as much sleep as possible, but the immense movie selection at our fingertips proved to be somewhat of a distraction. Movies ranged from The Little Mermaid to The Grand Budapest Hotel and if that wasn't enough, virtual Texas Hold 'Em was on the game list. Needless to say, many students will be feeling the jet lag in its full force. We all made it through the Passport Security check easily and found our luggage and our new German host families awaiting us. It was exciting to be reunited with the German Students who had visited Seattle and Kennedy Catholic a few months prior! Big thanks to Uli who was also there to greet us. I don't know how theis program would last without her!
The German school is still on holiday so students will not be in the school until Monday.  We will part ways for now as we adventure Germany with our families for the weekend. A few students will be journeying to Berlin while others experience the city of Munich and there are even rumors of a small Italian getaway!
Check back in soon to read student bios and to learn about our weekend excursions!

Reunion...

Stay tuned for our GAPP 2012 Reunion to occur sometime in September.  Enjoy the rest of your summer.  Know that you will be in our thoughts and prayers.  School starts up on Tuesday, September 4th!  Registration will take place on Thursday, August 30th!  See you soon! 

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