Being a German native myself, I wanted my students to see just how vibrant, colourful, exciting and beautiful Berlin is. Whilst we still eat lots of yummy curried sausage, and perhaps we do steal the occasional sun bed at the pool side, I wanted the pupils to see what Berlin is really like,
and I hope that they can tell you how great the Exchange Trip was.
The journey from Scarborough to Berlin passed by quickly enough and we soon found we were touching down at Schönefeld Airport. A quick trip to the school and we were warmly greeted by Mrs Pieper and the respective Exchange partners and their families. Gifts were given by ‘our lot’ and the kids were whisked off to their week-long homes.
The trip included lots of sight seeing, family time, school time and relaxation with our hosts.
On one of our trips we went to virtually the top of the TV Tower which dominates the city skyline. To get to the top you take a lift – it zooooooms upwards at some fifteen feet per second. From a viewing platform we could see the entire city in its glory stretched out before us. What a sight! We could see the Reichstag Parliament Building, Checkpoint Charlie, KaDeWe shopping mall, and in the distance the beautiful Museum Island, home to the National Gallery and the Pergammon Museum (check them out online – and go!!).
We went to the DDR Museum. This was fascinating. Germany and Berlin has an incredible history, and not just the usual clichéd stuff we take for granted. The city was split into four zones, each occupied by various factions after World War Two. The DDR Museum celebrates and remembers the history of Berlin and Germany under the occupation of Russian forces.
We also went to see the Brandenburg Gate, a true symbol of Germany’s past. What an incredibly impressive monument this is – spectacular, almost-classical, and inspirational. The pupils had the chance to walk around it, and time was given to discuss what the monument meant to Germans both then and now. With all that in our minds, we went to the Holocaust Memorial. Whilst I don’t want to dwell on the past, such issues are always important to remember and never forget. It was a deeply sobering experience, and one that I hope everyone remembers
This is only a tiny snap shot of our hectic trip but to read more, look out for the full story in the next Horizons Newsletter!
Finally, grateful and eternal thanks go to Mrs Pieper for her incredible help in getting this trip organised. Thanks must also go to the wonderful German students and their families – thank you! Both Mr Robinson and I wish to thank the students of the College who took part and for their
impeccable behaviour throughout, and a big thank you to all the College staff who helped making it happen.
