Official Exchange website

Much thanks to those students and teachers who posted on this site. It was our first attempt at blog to be used and updated by all Appo participants.


For more and official information about the Exchange, including updates on when our german friends visit us in October, please click here.

Thank you to our OPS friends and families, we had a truly outstanding time!


We will be home soon...

My first blog post, but my last weekend in Germany

This whole experience in Germany has been one of the best of my life. I´ve gotten to go to the Mercedes Museum, Porsche, Tv Tower, the Stuttgart Zoo, Esslingen, Europa Park, and of course a German school. It´s all been fun and I am sad that it is over. Anyway, today was Sunday, so I was able to do something with only my host family, the Kaisers. We went to a gorge called Breitachklamm which was amazing and took us right to the border line of Austria and Germany. Then we went to the town of Oberstorf (I think thats how you spell it) and went up to the top of a 2224 meter mountain. We got there by way of cable car, which was pretty cool. It would have been cool to be able to see everything since I was so high up, but instead we were in the middle of a cloud. This was still cool because if you walked away from the building you could see sheer drops on either side of you and nothing else. It made me feel like I was the last person on Earth. I would have to say that it was a pretty good day. Tobi´s brother, Fabian, didn´t come however, like he had on the other trips. He would have fun but his absence gave me and Tobi room to actually be comfortable in that insanely small Audi of theirs. His father Stefan is so tall I don´t know why his car is so small! But it was a good day and I smell dinner so I will wrap this up.

Evan Kutcher

Rewind: Mainau Island

The beginning of our boat ride to Insel Mainau...

Rewind: Meersburg

A great view of Lake Constance from the Castle at Meersburg.

having a great time. i just figured out how to use the blog, tomorrow i am going to france, ill blog about it later. goodnight.



caroline

Friday,
Today we went to classes in the morning. Mr. Miller was nicer enough to let us visit his 1st period 5th grade English class. Which was very cool, to see how they learn English, it was also very funny because Mr. Miller made the class fun with jokes that fit with the lesson. Then we went to the Porsche Museum, I thought all the cars were very cool looking. Even if it wasn't as big as the Mercedes-Benz Museum. After the museum I went home, and then left about an hour later to go to the BBQ, at the park where we went after our pizza party. Which was a lot of fun, at the food was very good too!! Toby, Frieder. Sandra all had a Mulch fight..which was fun but very messy ..haha..well TTFN

-Sarah

Thursday,
Yes I know I'm behind on posting..haha. So today we went to the Stuttgart Zoo. Which was a lot of fun..I got to see so many different animals. Here are some pictures of a few of my favorite animals. The polar bear was so cute...but a total camera hog..haha..and the Zebra's were camera shy at first but then later warmed up and would go near the fence to get its picture taken...The monkey was so cool..I thought it was awesome that they could pick up as easily as we do!!...TTFN

--Sarah

Ms. Shubert's Blog

I wanted to post an easier link for students to access my daily travel blog.

http://abbyingermany.blogspot.com/

Picture count as of today: around 1,400.

Two of our students comment on our time at the new Porsche museum. Hopefully someone will post some photos!

Beim Konditorei

Before our trip to the Porsche museum we had some time for coffee and ice cream at one of the local cafes.

So today we went to the Porshe museum, want bad. Even though we got through it in about 20 minutes. The hilight of the day so far has been before the porsche museum. We went to Mr. Miller 5th grade english class, it was very funny. Then we got to walk around the market place for a while. I bought chocoalate for my family, they shold be happy. Finally to night were goin to the layground we went to after the bachhouse party (When we made pizza), it should be a lot of fun. And that was or day in Germany

Bryan

Mariah's parents took me on a bike ride tonight. We went to a few parks and past vineyards. Soooo pretty. We also stopped on a bridge across the Neckar to watch the lock move barges. (Think Panama Canal but smaller.) Really cool night. Those German-English dictionaries are really helpful!

Shannon

Wednesday,
Today the German and American Students both went to Lake Constance. I had alot of fun. First we stopped at a church which was very beautiful, with details in the walls and ceiling. While I was taking pictures, Frieder (tyler's partner) kept getting in the way... haha... but it was funny. After the trip the group took a boat to the island... it was about a 20 min ride... which was cold. I'm glad I remembered to bring a hoodie!!! When we finally got to the island, we spilt up into groups... I was with Sandra, Evan and Toby, Kathrin and Paige, Mari and Brian, Natalie and Mike who don't have partners but are coming to America in October. We walked around looking at all the different flowers which were really pretty. Then we stopped at a play ground... which was fun... we all played on the see-saw, some of the time we would try to see who was heavier... I was lighter than everyone I went against!!! After playing on the playground for about an hour or so... we went to the butterfly house. That was so cool. When we got there, we saw another group, so we made one big group and walked together. I could never get a butterfly to land on me, but Frieder had like three land on him... and Paige too. I thought it was so not fair... haha... but i still had fun... above are some picture of the butterflies... sorry I don't have more... my camera died... so that was my very exciting day at Lake Constance... well TTFN!!

--Sarah

Birnau 03

All exchange participants, both American and German, and even those German students yet without a partner went on this trip. Here is a group shot.

Birnau

Birnau uninterrupted

in what might be one of the more interesting moments in recent memory, I began to take video of our visit to Birnau Monastary near Meersburg at Lake Constance. As you will see my work was slightly interrupted by a very curious and, well, somewhat opinionated couple. I cut the video short, but he told me the rest of the joke.

C Jones

students experiences 01 06 24 2009

students experiences 06 24 2009

Today the American and German exchange students went to Lake Constance. The lake and island we went to were beautiful (much like Longwood Gardens), but that wasn't as important as friendships we are making here. Despite some language barriers, we are enjoying hanging out with the students. Shelby and I realized that in the last week we have been to three playgrounds, which is three more than the amount of playgrounds we have been to in the last three years. These guys really are just like us in most ways, so its really cool getting to know them.

Shannon

More Esslingen am Neckar

A region and great town with a deep and storied history- from the Celts to the Anglo-Saxons to the Romans and then Germanic tribes. Established in the 1300s. A few churches, a protective wall around the town, fountains, the first producer of Sekt (German champagne), the second oldest bridge in Germany, and beautiful examples of Fachwerk. A rainy day but a great tour guide! Thank you!

C. Jones

Student experiences 01

Check out the video clip to hear some of our experiences as we meet for homeroom every day. (Great idea Abby!)

Tuesday,

Today the group went to Esslingen. The town was very nice, and old; it was beautiful. We toured the different churches both the Catholic and Protestant, which were from the medieval times, which I thought was really cool. After our tour which lasted about an hour. We got to have some free time. First Evan, Brian, Sam, Mollie and I all got some ice cream, even if it was cold out, we were told that the ice cream was very very good at the tower so of course we had to try it. After having our ice cream we wandered around Esslingen shopping. Then Evan and I found a really cool medieval store, which had clothing, weaponry, and even jewelry (which I thought was really pretty). After that it was time to head back to the school (by train of course). So that was my ever so exciting day! TTFN!

--Sarah

Monday
Today I walked to school with just Mandy since Sandra didnt have to come to school until 8:40, which I think is pretty cool. We met up with our teachers, and then got our pictures taken for the local newspaper. Then since there wasn't a trip planned for today we had classes with our exchange partners. First was French...I got so confused...then after french there was a pause...1 2 3 next comes Math!!!...haha...after one last pause....came German...which was cool because they made a video for a class project and it was very interesting..even if I couldn't understand all of it...haha...but I did get the gist of it. And then finally Schools OUT scream and shout !!!..haha....TTFN

--Sarah

Lichtenstein and Solitude Castles

on Sunday...

Saturday in Strasbourg

Spent a beautiful day in Strasbourg in the Alsace region of France. Because the region changed hands between the two countries before World War II, both languages are still spoken there today. With its picture perfect sights and a river running through it, it is a romantic place with a long history (its cathedral is one of the oldest catholic churchs in this entire region) and great places to shop and eat (try the crepes!). Ended the day with Flammkuchen in a great little restaurant with wood-fired ovens before heading back over the Rhine river to Benningen.
c. Jones

Sunday

Today we did A LOT of different things. First we went up in the mountains and took a tour of this cave about 100 feet below the ground. Then we went on these toboggans, where a ski lift would pull you to the top of a mountain and let you fall and you had to steer yourself, that was so much fun (: After that we had a picnic right beneath Hohenzollern Castle, then we went on a guided tour inside it. We must have walked like 2 miles just to get up and down that hill. Then, after the castle we went to Tübingen and rode in gandalas like they have in Venice, ending the day with dinner in this really cool german restaurant. This was probably the most entertaining and busy weekend I've had in a long time.

-Sam Erb

Sunday,
We relaxed at home. We all played some uno which was alot of fun. Then I took a shower and got dressed. Later at 6, Mandy came by so we could go to Sandra's cousin's band concert. The concert was really cool, Sandra's cousin plays the keyboard in the band. They sang in english and german...which I think is toll!!!! TTFN

--Sarah

Saturday,

Today I got to have brötchen for breakfast, it was really really good!! After breakfast I played some playstation 2 with Sanni, we played singstar. It was fun, it didnt sing any songs in german but maybe the next time we play I can try...but I might not do that well...haha. After that Sandra and I met up with Mandy and Ms. Reiger drove us to Heilbronn where we went shopping. We had alot of fun shopping, when we got to one store we were testing different perfume (some smelled really bad)...at the store it had little slips of paper which you would spray the perfume on if you wanted to, and I was trying to spray some perfume on one of the slips and I missed and sprayed the perfume into the air instead by accident and we all started laughing and couldn't stop. Then we stopped in Stuttgart for some Chinease food, we had actually German Chinease food...haha...Now I'm relaxing at home. TTFN (ta ta for now)!!

--Sarah

Picking up little bits and pieces of German = )
Its cool listening to people and starting to be able to pick up things. People behind us in line at the amusement park today were speaking in French, so it was fun to understand them too.
Shannon

Today some of us went to an amusement park about 20 minutes away. It was similar to Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster. The rides were similar, but they all had the common theme of German history. It was on a hill that has a vineyard on it...very pretty view.

Side note: the TV tower we saw the other day is visible for miles around, so we see it in the distance when we go places and it gives us a sense of orientation. Pretty cool.

Enjoying Germany!

Shannon

A little bit of Ludwigsburg

Sorry to backtrack a bit, but there are too many good photos to post! Here are a few more from our tour of the castle, including one with our guide, Laura, who did an excellent job. in that particular photo she is teaching us how to bow to the queen before we pass by her portrait.

Last night (June 18, 2009) we went to a special dinner organized by a few of our host families (besonderes Bedanken möchte ich mich bei Frau Podiebrad). Each family brought homemade pizzas, calzones, and other wonderful meals to be baked in the community Backhaus (a small building with two fire ovens), which was built in 1838 and is used often today.

It was a great ending (we all left around 9:30-when it finally became dark) to a beautiful day. Great food and conversation.

Thank you to all of our host families!

C. Jones

Friday,

Today the group went to the Mercedes-Benzs museum, and the Television Tower (the symbol of Stuttgart). The museum was so cool! There were so many different cars from buses, cars and even trucks and race cars. The view from the TV tower was beautiful even if it was a cloudy day. After we looked at the view some of us decided to go to the café and get something to eat... its snack time...haha...so Mollie, Tyler, Evan and I all decided to share a table. We all got some hot chocolate to dirnk since we were a bit cold. Evan was nice enough to order for us and he spoke it all in german, and he had no trouble with ordering (though we helped him with some of what to say before the waiter came..haha). Thanks! Frau Dallas for teaching us how to order food, it helped alot!! :D. We even asked for the check correctly...Rechnung Bitte..haha..so that was fun...We also quickly visited the Fan Center for the Stuttgart soccer team, for some shopping. The store had alot of awesome merchandise. Ta Ta for now!

--Sarah

What a great day to take a tour of the Ludwigsburg Castle and the surrounding marketplace and shops. The weather was sunny and in the mid-eighties. Hopefully this video of us in the marketplace at the end of our day there will work. Check it out!

C. Jones

I'm not sure if pictures can be put onto the blog, but I will look into that and see if it is possible

--Sarah

So today I woke up, took a shower and had breakfast. This is the blackest coffee I've ever had! Mariah and I walked to school with her friend. The "Amerikana" students met with our teachers and then left for Ludwigsburg via the S-Bahn. We had a tour of the schloss (castle) there. It was built in the 18th century, so it was similar in style to castles like Versailles. 372 rooms! We were in one room with paintings of German kings and one of them had 300 sons and 300 daughters (or it might have been 300 all together but that was how the guide put it.) None of them were legitimate but she said people still see his descendants today, with reddish hair and pale skin (like me...i was her example.)

After the tour we broke off into groups to shop. My group had Shelby, Caroline, Molly, Sam, and Bryan. We stopped by the pay phones. We were excited to call home! After that, we walked around to different stores in the town and went to the mall. Germany has euro stores, like our dollar stores! = ) We went back to Freiburg at 3:15, or 15:15. Mariah's mom picked me up from the train station and I got to meet Mariah's brother Ralph.
Tonight Mariah and I are going to a party. Should be fun!

-Shannon

Thursday,
Today I went to school with Sanni as normal. Then I met up with Mr. Jones, after the group talked we left to go to the train station, since we were going to the Ludwigsburg Castle. When we arrived in Ludwigsburg, we headed towards the castle for our tour. The castle is huge it has 470 rooms and each one that we visited was beautiful, don't worry I took plenty of pictures, at least one of every room if not more. Then after the tour we were allowed to wander around Ludwigsburg to shop as long as we stayed in groups of 3 or more. So Evan, Tyler and I all wandered around looking for souvenirs for our family. We ate lunch in a park that Sandra, Toby (Evans partner), and Kathrin (Paige's partner) showed us earlier in the week. I had a nutella sandwhich, with an apple and crackers for lunch, and water to drink. Evan had Mcdonalds so he was nice enough to share some fries with Tyler and I. Around 3 we all went back to the plaza where we had planed to meet. The group relaxed for a little bit there and then we walked to the train station to go back to Freiburg. Now I'm back at Sandra's house relaxing. I'll write more tomorrow.

--Sarah

Wednesday,
My second day in Germany. To start our day off, Sandra and I walked to school. We also met up with her friend Mandy (she will be coming to the USA in October). When we got to school the students from the US went to one class room where we'll be meeting everyday, there we met the school principal, who welcomed us to the school. After that we received our schedule for the week, and were given brief information about Baden Württenburg, so we would know a little bit more about where we were staying. Then afterthat, we met the mayor who was very nice, he also welcomed us. Then we went to classes with our partners. Sanni had physics and then biology, then it was time for us to go home. When we got home we had lunch, we had potato pancakes, im not sure exactly (i'll find out) with some vegetables, which was really good. After we ate, Sanni and I went to her garden which has a pool. Her grandmother was nice enough to drive us instead of us walking there, Kathrin and Paige also went with us. When we went swimming the water was very very cold, so we didnt stay in for very long, but it was fun!...for dinner im not sure what we are going to have. but im sure it will be yummi...

--Sarah

Tuesday,
We have arrived in Germany, safe and sound. Even if we are very tired. The connecting flight ran late, and it did not take off until about an hour after it was due to take off. My first day here was a lot of fun, we traveled by the S-bahn, and we got ice cream... I had vanilla with nütella. I thought that the frozen nütella bits were just plain chocolate, it turns out I was wrong... haha... Well that is all for now, talk to you again soon.

--Sarah

Tomorrow. Is Monday which means Germany here I come. I hope everyone in the group is as excited as me to go to Germany! I'll keep updating the blog almost every day, if I can, that is... haha I might be having too much fun!

-Sarah

Introduction - Germany Trip June 2009

June 2009
Appoquinimink School District

Blog Introduction and Purpose:
This blog is for the students from Middletown High School and Appoquinimink High School to record their experiences while travelling to Germany June 15th - 30th, 2009.

All students will be able to post their adventures, experiences, and thoughts during the trip. We hope you enjoy checking this blog regularly to learn about our trip.

Thanks!
-- Sarah