Keitlin

It feels like yesterday when it was 10th February and we all were exicted to go to Germany and be a guest to a nice family who would make you see Germany like you will ever see it again. It was my first time to be this far from home and I was very exicted to see and hear about new things and places.

In Germany we lived with our exchange student and her/his family for five days. My exchange student's name is Florentine and she and her family are the most happiest people I know, I mean there was never any sad moments and they always joke and make you smile.
Florentine has two yonger brothers Jonathan and Cornelius and little sister Leonore. I was surprised to hear Cornelius speak so good english of his age. Of course Florentine had parents who are Christian and Karin. I think they are very good and friendly parents. Christian and Karin can also speak very good english so it was easy for me.

When I arrived to Germany then Florentine and her father Christian came to pick me up and I got to my house nicely. Florentine showed me the house right when I got in, and somehow I felt like I was home. I also slept surprisingly very well in my room. Also that evening we had dinner and their main food is toast, wich was okay for me. Before the dinner they always pray because in my family all are Christians and they take it very seriously. I was happy to be in such a nice family.

The next day was exicting because I got to visit their school and take part of their lessons. To sum up this I think the lessons are pretty much the same but I really liked their PE, it was fun. After the 5th lesson us estonians went to the Böckstiegel museum witch was very inspiering and great. We also got to put our hands on and had to draw one of Peter August Böckstiegel's artwork. After the museum our exchange students came to pick us up. We ate after I arrived home and then it was time for some board games like BINGO witch I playied with Cornelius and Florentine.

On the third day estonians went to excursion in Bielefield. Our guide was nice and we got to know many interesting facts about Germany and Bielefield. After the excursion we got some shopping time and it was nice to buy some things. I also went to the Starbucks first time and it was really great.

Saturday the fourth day, also the day that everyone were exicted about beacuse we went to play football and badminton, it was great and I loved playing badminton. But before that Christian took me to the fire station where he works, he is firefighter and he does that job for free, and I find that very important and inspiering. I got to know so many new things what the firefighters actually do and what they have in station. I also got to try on those clothes and I actually got my own firefighter helmet with my name on it, it is so, so cool and I'm very thankful. On the afternoon after the badminton we went out with Florentine and also Laura and her exchange student Mira joined with us and we had lots of fun. Then on the evening we went to Jaan's host where we had a nice talk with other excahnge students and it was all very nice.

Me with Christian on the fire engine

Happy me with my helmet

Sunday was the last day with family and they showed me werther and I also got to see
Kaiser Wilhelm Monument wich is on the Wiehen Hills. After that I spent nice evening talking with them and then I had to pack my things and go to sleep because we had to leave very early next morning. 

Kaiser Wilhelm Denkmal

Angela

Another wonderful trip to Germany has passed by and we are back in Estonia. The exchange took place in 10-15 February. Driving to Riga by bus felt like being in sauna, because it was very hot there. Despite that, students were happy and excited about upcoming trip.  

Unlike the others, I stayed with my best friend Julian and his family. The city was already familiar for me and it was amazing to be back there.

When we arrived to Werther, Julian and his mother picked me up from the bus station and we went home. Barbara made delicious dinner. After that we spent some hours with my German friends.

Julian and me feeling happy

On the next day we went to school. I had an opportunity to choose, if I want to visit Julian’s lessons or stay with some other Estonian student. I decided to spend first 4 lessons with Mari-Liis and her host in German and Art lessons and the fifth with Julian. It is impressive, how students actually want to work in the lessons, they raise their hands and are almost always ready to answer. While these 4 lessons we didn’t see anybody using their phones during classes. In my opinion, this is something we really need in Estonian schools. The fifth lesson was free and I spent it in the resting room with Julian’s classmates. Some of them are already good friends for me, so it was really nice to see them again. after the lessons we visited one museum and in the evening we spent some more time with friends.

3 Estonians, 2 Germans

On Friday we went to Bielefeld. At first we had a city tour and after that we visited another museum. Before going back to Werther we had some free time. My squad decided to get something to eat. Mairo showed us one Turkish place he had visited last time. Waiters were helpful with making one big table for us (still 10 hungry Estonians) and showed their food to Tauno, so he translated all food opportunities to others. Our waiter called me “Princess” every time he talked to me and I was very flattered about it. In the evening we had party in my place, where attended most of the older Estonians with their hosts and other cool people from Germany. The evening was great. Germans and Estonians talked a lot with each other and main language was English.

Squad goals 

The weekend was quite calm and relaxing. On Saturday the weather was wonderful and I spent some hours outside. In the evening we had little barbecue with our German friends. On Sunday we were tired and lazy, so we cancelled our shopping plans. Instead of that, we just drove around, went to cafe with Julian, watched movies and went to Italian restaurant with his parents in the evening.

The coolest people from Kanepi Gymnasium 

I really enjoyed being back in Germany. My family and friends are amazing there and it is always nice to go back. This time I even practiced a bit German with saying some words and sentences we had learned in German lessons. It was interesting for me and for the Germans I talked to. 

Germany, can't wait to see you again! xoxo :) 

Veel üks saksa piirkonnaleht avaldas artikli meie külaskäigust

Kohalik piirkonnaleht Westfalen-Blatt avaldas samuti artikli meie külaskäigust Wertherisse.

Written by Jaan

On 10-15 February we had an exchange student program with Werther's school in Germany. 20 students from our school went there. Each to a different family. The exchange lasted for 6 days.

For those days i stayed with a great family. All the family members were really nice and friendly. They had a really big house with a lot of rooms. They even had a party room and a room with a trampoline. We shared the same room with  Kolja the student who was my exchange student.

We arrived at Werther when it was already dark outside. The families were waiting for us at the bus stop. They took me to their home and after that we went to a concert at the school. Koljas sister also performed there. It was a nice evening and i enjoyed the concert.

On Thursday we had lessons. It was really different from our school. After school we went and visited the local museum of Peter August Böckstiegel. the museum house was his home where he lived. 

On Friday we visited Bielefeld, a town with a lot to offer. We saw many old buildings and learned some things about this town. Also in Bielefeld we visited and old museum. It had alot of different 19th century machines in it. We also saw some of them in action.

On Saturday we played football and badminton. After that i went to Silas home and went shopping with his mother and Carlos.

On Sunday the exchange families of Carlos, me and Kristen went to a computer museum. It had very much to offer, but most of it was in german so we couldn't read the texts.

On Monday we came back home. We started really early in the morning and arrived in Kanepi when it was already quite late.

The exchange program was a good experience for all of us. 

Mairo

The week is over and our really great trip to Germany is also over. From 10-15 February visited small group of people from our school our friend school in Germany. Our Trip started on Monday morning. Everybody was so excited and waited the journey. Our plan foresaw that we drive by bust to Riga, then fly to Bremen and then take two hour bus drive again to our destination. Some our friend had never fly and they were quite nervous. Everything went very well and we reached our destination safely. Now came new problem, when we reach our final destination to Werther and how to meet our hosts. Everybody was really exited including me. For me it was second exchange. After bus ride from Bremen to Werther came highlight of the day. Meeting our new friends and hosts. Everything went well and soon everybody drive home to meet the families. This time hosted me family Grunewald and exchange student is Lennart. At home I meet my family. First Lennart showed me their huge house and also my room where I lived this short week. After a quick tour at house it was time to eat dinner and start talking about Estonia and my home. Dinner was really good after a long trip. In the evening we started to watch football game and talked a lot. Next day we had a school day so we went to bed early. 

My family

Other days you can read form other posts but I would like to talk about snowy Sunday. My family talked that near the Werther is other small city called Melle, and there is a car museum. Because I am a car guy and I like all kind of cars. And because Sunday was free we decided to visit the museum. Mark Paul and Tauno joined also with me and together we analysed every kind of cars. In the museum was very old cars and some really rear cars. Especially I remember original Audi Quattro the Legend of rally. There was very rare small cars what was used after Second World War like BMW isetta 250. Small car that nobody today cannot imagine how to drive it. There huge model planes collection and all James Bond cars. Unfortunately Bonds cars were only a models. I also saw first Audis. Back at the day they were called NSU. There was very interesting engine models, you can see how engine works. The museum was really interesting and I recommend it all the people who plans to visit Germany. 

Students' exchange, Merit

Hello, it's me.
On 10 - 15 February we had students' exchange with  Werther Evangelisches Gymnasium. We were hosted in very kind and funny families. I lived in Borgholzhausen and I was hosted by little, sweet family. Mother, father and 14 years old daughter Johanna.

The trip started on Wednesday, at 8.30 AM. We went to Riga by bus and then we had good flight to Bremen. To families we arrived at 7 PM. I met with family and then I went to sleep, because the travelling was tiring.

On the second day we had lessions at local school - Biology, Chemistry, PE. It was very interesting to see a bit different studing method.

PE

After some lessions we visited Peter August Böckstiegel museum.

 Peter August Böckstiegel museum

After museum we went to May's place (her student was Merike). We watched pictures, played UNO and made cake. It was dilicious.

On the third day we went to Bielefeld with Estonians and one German teacher. In Bielefeld was little tour in town and then we had time for shoping.

Bielefeld

When we arrived to Werther Johanna, my host, came and then we went home, had some dinner. Johanna's father Thomas led us to Nane's and we had little girlsnight. We laughed a lot, took pictures, made some wraps, watched pictures, sang etc...

And now is time for weekend, :)
On Saturday some students visited sport centre and played football and badminton. After we visited Bielefield again. In the evening I went to Jaan's host where were some students with their hosts too. There we played games, talk each other and watched fireworks. 

Saturday - last day with family... In the morning we had a walk near our home. Johanna showed me church and talked to me about her neighbours. In the afternoon we went ice skating, it was my first time, but I loved it. We also had dinner, where were almost all students.

Me and Johanna

At home I had to pack my things and my hosting family gave me a present to thank me.

On Monday I had to say goodbye to my family and friends I got from Germany. It was hard... My exchange mother Doris and father Thomas wrote me a letter in ESTONIAN - it was so lovey and it made me cry more...

In my opinion it was the best trip I have had and I miss every person from Germany. 

Artikkel kohalikus lehes Kreisblatt Halle 17.02.2016