In September, a group of fourteen Year 9, 10 and 11 students excitedly headed to Germany as part of the German Study Tour for the first time since 2019. This month-long trip was filled with unforgettable moments, from visiting historical landmarks and attending school to creating new friendships and immersing ourselves in a different lifestyle. This journey gave everyone a sense of independence and a better understanding of not only the German language but also the culture, food and everyday life.
After a long day of travel, we landed in Munich and got lunch, giving us the chance to practise German for the first time with locals. From there, we explored the city’s famous sites, such as the Glockenspiel and its re-enactment of Munich’s history, or the English Gardens, where we saw wave surfers.
Following two exciting days of visiting incredible places like the Marienplatz and Schloss Neuschwanstein, we headed to Darmstadt, where our sister school “Justus-Liebig-Schule” is and where we each stayed with a host family. Arriving at the train station where all the families were waiting for us felt both nerve-racking and thrilling because none of us knew exactly what the next few weeks would bring. Our host families were great; they supported us and helped us improve our German. The day after we arrived in Darmstadt, we had our first of many days at the German School.
During our stay in Darmstadt, we visited many nearby cities like Heidelberg, Mainz and Rhein as well as going on trips with just our host family. One of our major highlights was our four-day trip to the capital city, Berlin, where we explored the famous landmarks along with doing activities like watching a light show by the river.
Whether it be dancing at night in Berlin or going on the boat tour in Rhein and seeing numerous castles, every moment of this trip became a memory we’ll carry for the rest of our lives. Despite all the challenges we faced, we were able to get through them and continue the journey. This trip was way more than a learning experience; it was an opportunity to grow not only as students but as individuals.
Ms Mary-Jane Boughen and Ms Jo Rogers