Day 7 - Home Stay Germany

This morning our group got to spend a typical Saturday at a German swimming pool. There were so many people there! It was fun and I can see how someone could make an entire day out of it. There was a HUGE lawn area to put out towels and belongings before going into the pool. The pool had a kiddie pool and a regular one. Each had their own water slides attached. Some students took advantage while others just enjoyed the sun and time to relax!

After pool time, students were given 6 euros and broken up into small groups in order to find lunch. They enjoyed the time to explore.

Next we did a city quest. Students were given questions whose answers were hidden on signs and monuments and such around the city. They enjoyed this as well. It encouraged them to connect with the locals.

One of the best parts of the program is the chance for students to participate in a home stay. This is where local families take in our students for a couple of days to immerse them in the German culture. For this home stay, our students are staying with a student (approximately their age) from a local school. All the students were placed by themselves, so they were quite nervous (understandably). Our students will get the chance to go to school with their German brother/sister on Monday. I've been told the school will make a big production out of the whole thing. I'm sure our kids will have a fabulous time!

We leaders are given home stays as well, when possible. We stay with teachers from the same school. I'm guessing not many teachers want to participate, because only one of us got a home stay this year. It wasn't me. Instead, me and a 2nd leader have been put up in a hotel in the same town as half of our group, while the other 2 leaders with no home stay are in a different town with the remainder of our students. We need to be close in case they have any type of emergency or need us in any way.

So, Don (the 2nd leader in my hotel) and I got to explore a little of Mannheim Germany on our own this evening. We walked down to the main gathering place and ordered authentic German food and enjoyed the light breeze while sitting outside. It was quite entertaining. The Germans had just won their round against Argentina in the World Cup. There were cars driving around the square honking, people haning out screaming and blowing horns while waving German flags. I don't think we get quite that excited about soccer in America. I can only compare it to our Super Bowl. But now having ever lived in a town with a winning Super Bowl team, that's only an assuption on my part.

Anyhow, the kids will enjoy their first evening in their German homes I'm sure. I have a feeling they'll get to see quite a bit of soccer while here as well.

Don't worry parents, we are close by if needed. But, since this blog is mainily about what our GROUP is doing, I will not update it until Tuesday, when we all get back together as a delegation. Farewell till then, or as they say in Germany, Auf Wiedersehen!