My Thoughts on the Experience of The German Exchange!
To be honest, it is an experience that very few people get to share. Also I am glad that we had the opportunity to take part.
Tiffany went to Germany last September for the first part of the exchange. She travelled around with her fellow students sightseeing and spending time with other German students. She stayed in Lisa’s home with her mother and brother, and travelled on the school bus with Lisa every day to school to meet her fellow students and then go off on the arranged trips. She enjoyed it very much, but found it difficult at times to understand much of what was said. On the other hand, the Germans had to try to understand our students in order to help them with their English. Our students did their best to speak German in order to help them with their German. The Germans returning here was the second part of the exchange.
To me I found it quite tiring at times, but always tried to make Lisa feel at home and relaxed. She tried many different foods to what she eats at home. She was a very nice girl and polite.
We tried to occupy our guests as much as we could, and got together with other parents to do activities so that they had some contact over the week with their fellow students outside of school, and arranged trips. Tiffany stayed with Lisa most of the time so that she never felt lonely. We chatted to her as much as possible in order to make her feel settled and to help her with her English. On a few occasions Tiffany had conversations with Lisa in German and her accent was very good. Lisa said her German was very good and she could understand what she was saying.
Tiffany said that she was glad she was able to take part and she will never forget it. She said it has helped her so much with her German. She also said it is one of the most memorable parts of her school life so far. She found it very tiring at times as there were quite a few late nights and early mornings. Tiffany still had to get her school work done in other subjects alongside going out on the arranged trips. She also said she feels that she has made a very good friend and wants to stay in touch with Lisa. She has already received and email from Lisa today saying how much she enjoyed her stay here. Also she wants to come back here over the summer to stay with us if possible.
I must admit that I was nervous about having another teenager in the house to care for, especially as she was a very long way from home. I agree that it went very well and was far better than my nerves allowed me to feel. It was an experience I will never forget. Even the language barrier never really seemed to be a problem. Both David and I studied German at school, so were able to understand some of what Lisa said.
I found the time went very quickly after the weekend, and all too soon it was time for them to return home. The departure was very emotional for me too. I never thought that I would become emotional, and it surprised me very much. I am glad that we were able to offer Lisa the chance to come and stay in our home and share in our family life. I do hope that both Tiffany and Lisa stay in touch in the future and remain good friends. I also hope that we will be able to take the opportunity to do another exchange as we still have James who is only in reception class.
James enjoyed having Lisa around, and even though she couldn’t understand half of what he said, he still chatted away to her, and it was amusing to watch. He became attached to her and has missed her since she went home.
I feel that the school offering the exchange is brilliant. It enables those studying the language to see and live how they live. It is also an opportunity for them to become close, not only to their German partners, but to their fellow colleagues taking part. To see them all together united as a group, looking after each other and becoming firm friends, whether it be boys or girls, is an experience I will always remember and look back on and feel proud.
If you ever get the chance to take part in a student exchange, you will understand how we felt. It does feel a bit strange to be back to normal now and back into our routine.
I do hope that I have given you an insght as to how it feels to take part in such a rewarding scheme. I also hope that you have enjoyed reading about our experience and what the exchange was all about. I feel that it was a very successful exchange and hope that all the other parents involved feel the same.