Been There Did That

Our first day venturing to Werne, Germany, was quite the journey. Starting in Tennessee, we hopped on flights to Washington DC, then Frankfurt, and finally Munster, a whopping twelve  hours in the air left us quite exhausted. Upon landing, we met our host family, which was a relief after such a long trip. However, we soon discovered our bags were lost, prompting us to report the issue to the airline. With all our necessities missing, a shopping trip was in order. Not only did I find all the essentials, but I also stumbled upon a gorgeous traditional German dress—a special find! We capped off our shopping spree with a delightful visit to the local ice cream shop. When i got home I shared my gifts with my host family, and below is Laura making american Kooliad. 

On Tuesday, the teaching experience in the classroom was nothing short of amazing. Initially, I felt a bit nervous, wondering if the new face at the front would hinder the students' willingness to participate. However, my concerns quickly vanished as the students showed an incredible eagerness to ask questions about America. They were giveb 15 minutes of class time providing them a chance to connect with us and practice their English. After the school day ended, I joined my host family for a trip to ALDI to stock up on groceries for the week.

Today was the first day I was able to take the bus to school. There is a big difference between transportation between American schools, and German schools. In Werne, Germany students take the "city bus" to school, and in America, we have school buses to take. This shows how safe Germany is because parents can trust their children to be on a bus with grown-ups. After school, we took a trip to Scholossfuhrugen, which is a castle. This castle was closed due to construction, but we were able to walk around the castle and go into the church. This church is very important to my host family because Helen's parents were married in the church and she and her husband were married in the tower of the castle. 

After school, we went to town to be able to exchange money for the Berlin trip. On the way to town, we stopped at an ice cream parlor and got a scoop of ice cream and a glass of wine. We then met Burgette at her house and drove to Lunen for a line dance class. There we learned four line dances that I had never heard of. We stumbled into a room where there was airsoft shooting and after explaining that we were from America we were given a free 30-minute pass to shoot. We ended our night trying out German McDonald's. 

On Friday, we gathered at school, playfully opting to "skip" the day, and embarked on a drive to the train station. The journey to Berlin unfolded over three hours by train, with four station changes that brought us closer to our destination. Once there, we immediately set out to explore, our first encounter with history being the remnants of a train station destroyed during the war. The Berlin Wall, a site I've yearned to see since fifth grade, was our next stop. Standing before it, absorbing the history, I felt a deep sense of gratitude for my life. Our emotional visit was followed by a trip to the  Memorial of Jews which was truly moving, then the bustling Brandenburg Gate, where, amidst a sea of people, we managed to capture a memorable photo. The day's exploration was complemented by a taste of the local cuisine, as we savored the delightful potato knödle, a fitting end to an extraordinary day.

This morning's adventure began with a leisurely stroll to the mall, where we indulged in two delightful hours of shopping. The highlight was undoubtedly Primark, a store I've seen raved about on TikTok. It truly lived up to its reputation with its expansive layout and a vast array of affordable fashion finds. As we ventured on, we passed the imposing TV Tower, its stature far exceeding my expectations. Our journey continued to the Berliner Dom, a sight of such exquisite beauty that it moved me to tears. The day was punctuated with moments of relaxation, playing card games, and exploring the local beer culture – a novel experience for me here in Germany. Of all the new tastes, the rye beer stood out as my favored discovery.

On the stormy evening of Tuesday, April 16th, I found comfort and joy indoors with my host family. When the weather cleared up a bit we took a trip to Vischering Castle which was a 45-minute drive away. There was a lot 

of rich history from when the castle was built, to the funds that took place, to the castle being taken by another family, and a king having to wear an iron kneck brace, so he would give his honor to up the castle. It was the most interactive castle I have ever been to.  

After school, my host family, Madison, and I embarked on a forty-five-minute drive to Hamm, a city notable for all of its car lots. Our destination was the Tierpark Hamm, where we encountered a diverse array of animals. The zoo offered a unique and interactive experience quite different from those in America. I even had the chance to touch and feed a zebra! As we neared the end of our visit, with just two exhibits left, a sudden hailstorm hastened our departure. The timing worked out perfectly, allowing us to prepare for an elegant dinner. I joined Helen, my host mom, as well as Madison and Lily with their host mom, to dine with Heike Armburst, Mrs. Birgit, and the principal's wife."

On Friday, I took a trip to Müster with my host mother Helen. It was so neat to go and experience a different city. Helen studied in Müster, so she was the perfect tour guide for this trip. We visited a museum that she used to work at, drove past her old dorm, and was able to eat at a cafe that she went to during college. 

Madison and I went to go visit her family in Belillifield. In Beilifield we went to walk around the city,  Lefu to try a tarte flambeé and an escape room. We finished the escape room with fifteen more minutes left it was amazing. 

We rode our bikes 1.8 miles to a horse jumping competition. Over 40 horses were competing and we were able to watch all of the competitions and stay for the finals. If none of the horses received a deduction from hitting the bars then they were able to compete in the finals. There were 5 horses in the finals, and the one who won was a first-time jumper which was so cool!! 

This week we are going to take a mini tour of different schools in Werne. We are going to be at Grundschule which is an Elementary School that my host sister goes to. One of my favorite lessons I have seen in Germany was taught today it was so interactive for the kids. The lesson consisted of vocabulary where the teacher puts down 20 words outside the classroom. The students were then asked to go around and choose one word and go back to the classroom to write it down. This activity required students to remember the word, and how to spell it while allowing them to get their wiggles out. The students can only do one word at a time until they reach the full 20 words. 

This was the second day at the elementary school, we were able to teach a first-grade class and two fourth-grade classes about shopping in America, so they could practice their English. 

We were able to go to a Monesterie and see books that were made before Christ was born. I have never been able to be so up close to books like that. It was an incredible experience learning more about Werne's history. 

Friday, April 26th 

We got to discover a new high school with my host mom. My host mom is an English teacher, so we visited her school in Dortmound called Heisenburg-Gymnasium.