German American Partnership Program 2022
Belleville East High School– Otto-Schott Gymnasium
What is it? What? A. In the spring of 2022 a German student in the 10th or 11th grade lives in your home, attends classes at Belleville East High School, and gets to know Americans, how we live and gets to see some of the surroundings of Belleville and St. Louis.
B. In the summer of 2022 you return the visit to the student, who stays with your family, attend classes at a Gymnasium in Mainz, get to know Germans and how they live, and get to see some of the surroundings of Mainz. During our stay in Mainz, there will be a 4-day field trip to Munich, hiking in the Alps, and Salzburg, Austria.
Who? Students should be at least 16 years of age by the time we depart for Germany. Students must be willing to have a student stay in their house while the Germans are in Belleville, if they want to return the visit to Mainz.
When? The Germans visit us during the three weeks prior to Easter 2022. They will stay with us for 3 weeks. We return the visit to Germany during our summer holiday while the Germans in Mainz are still in school.
How much? The cost of hosting a German is relatively small: food, a little extra laundry, time and gasoline costs for short trips. The cost of your visit to Germany for 21 days, give or take a day, including round-trip flight from St. Louis to Germany, a German rail pass, and a 4-day field trip to Munich and southern Germany including hotel stay and food. Costs should be around $2,200, but could be slightly higher. Each student participating must pay for their own passport and bring their own pocket money! To give you an idea, in 2019 the cost was $2,168.
Information for 2022: These are estimates based upon current exchange rates and recent price quotes. Depending on exchange rate and cost of fuel prices and airline fees, the costs listed could change.
Further financial information:
The price of the trip would include (all estimates):
Airfare-$1755
4 day stay in hotel in Munich (includes breakfast and possibly dinner…depending on which youth hostel is available)- $134
DB “Twin Pass” (3-day unlimited distance train pass)- $174
Public Transportation (from Airport and within Munich)- $10
Entrance to sightseeing places, museums, castles, etc. - $50
Insurance costs- $7
Sponsor expenses $236 per participant
Total Estimated Cost: $2366
Not covered:
Passport fees
Passport photos
Pocket money ($200-$400) depending on…
Costs for items of personal nature
Gift(s) for partner/partner’s family
-The trip will be a “go” if 10 individuals commit.
-The commitment is affirmative as soon as a down payment of $500.00 is made in November.
-2nd payment will be due at the end of February – cost to cover remaining portion of plane tickets.
-3rd (final) payment will be in April/May
Start planning now!
Photos from the 2017 GAPP Exchange
Important Disclaimer
Belleville Township High School 201 does not sponsor or approve travel outside the United States. Community groups (such as Belleville Sister Cities) or teachers who work for District 201 who recruit students for foreign travel do so independently, and District 201 is in no way responsible or liable for students who choose to participate in these programs.