The German Study Tour was an amazing experience that we undertook in November and December of 2017. Our trip started on the 27th November at Melbourne airport, waiting to land in Germany, 22 hours in the air away.
Berlin: Once there, we experienced all greatest parts of Berlin that we had been learning about for years of German classes. The Reichstag, the Berlin Wall remains, the Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie gave us a true insight into the places we had only ever seen in photos. Berlin was cold and we almost lost a couple of us who couldn’t get off the trains in time, but
The German Study Tour was an amazing experience that we undertook in November and December of 2017. Our trip started on the 27th November at Melbourne airport, waiting to land in Germany, 22 hours in the air away.
Berlin: Once there, we experienced all greatest parts of Berlin that we had been learning about for years of German classes. The Reichstag, the Berlin Wall remains, the Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie gave us a true insight into the places we had only ever seen in photos. Berlin was cold and we almost lost a couple of us who couldn’t get off the trains in time, but
the many photoshoot opportunities and our first Christmas market experience is something indescribable.
Lüneburg: This small medieval town in Germany that we were lucky enough to get to visit is where Frau Mitchell is from. This gorgeous and relaxing (but very cold) destination was by far the most festive and Christmassy that we would go to and probably will ever go to. It was also the first time on the trip that we had seen snow, which resulted in an hour-long snowball fight after breakfast one day. Lüneburg was honestly one of the most picturesque places I’ll ever go to in my life and I am so glad that it was part of the trip. In Berlin, we had been almost strangers, but this snowball fight really brought us close together.
Heidelberg: Here, we saw the first of many famous fortresses and went on an amazing race challenge around the Old Town looking at all of the amazing sites. We walked through Heidelberg’s beautiful university and each night, after our events we all spent great times together eating dinner and playing card games. We also saw even more Christmas markets.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen: This was an absolutely gorgeous snowy little town where we got to visit the Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany. We had an amazing and authentic Bavarian meal at a local restaurant and it really confirmed our shared love for Germany and its culture.
Salzburg: This lovely Austrian city is a place I will remember for all of the snowflakes. It did not matter that we were cold, the magic of the bells ringing every hour made it so special. Salzburg was so beautiful. The cobblestone streets were exactly what we pictured when we thought of Europe. The Sound of Music tour was obviously a highlight. Visiting parts of the story with a local tour guide is something you can’t imagine until you experience it. So far, our group was feeling less like a group of strangers and more like friends who had so much in common.
Laufen: After Salzburg, we returned to Germany, but only just, as our next place was only a few minutes from the border. Here was the place where we would get to meet our host families who we had been eagerly emailing and talking to on social media for a long time. We would be spending the next few days living in an actual German household, attending an actual German school. On the train to meet them, we were all a little nervous, but as soon as our families gave us a hug, we knew we were in for a great time. This week was a blur, becoming part of a family we had only just met. Before we knew it, we were putting on a performance for the families on our last day. Being part of a German student’s life was an interesting experience. I cannot be more grateful to the school and our host families over there who made us feel right at home. This week in Laufen was one of the best weeks of my life. I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to experience this.
München: This was unfortunately our last stop. What set it apart was the architecture of the buildings and the streets. To say that we did some shopping in Munich was absolutely an understatement. A long and wonderful street had many stores and we spent what little money we had left, making use of our last Christmas market and the shopping street that went on for many kilometres. The snow on that last night, set against the backdrop of the Christmas stalls, was something I know our group will never forget.
Before we knew it, it was time to head to the airport and to come back to our homes in Australia. We formed such a tight group and I know we won’t soon forget all the friendships made in the three weeks. It all ran so smoothly thanks to the help of our teachers. We fit so much into the three weeks we spent away and I cannot be more grateful for the experience.
If you get the opportunity, I cannot recommend it enough, to go on the German Study Tour in 2019.
Isabelle Orosz (10G)
Enjoy the picture video of our Tour.
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