Over the course of their high school career, the German 4 class have been preparing to be able to use the German language in a real world scenario. They finally had their chance to demonstrate their knowledge when they went to Germany and the surrounding countries from March 22 to April 2.
The countries that they visited, whether it was just a layover or if they stayed there, consist of the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, and Luxembourg.
Falcon News went out to interview the students that traveled and get their thoughts about the trip.
Question: What was the language barrier/ your ability to communicate with people like?
Jake King: “When I went to a school in Germany I was able to communicate with everyone most of the time.”
Kelly Torres: “While I was in Germany, the language barrier was not that difficult considering we understood most of the language and we were able to communicate to most of the locals. Meanwhile, being in the other countries where they spoke other languages besides German was a bit more difficult considering we didn’t speak their language.”
Piper Wolgamott: “It was pretty decent. They spoke really fast but most of the time I could understand what they were saying.”
Q: What surprised you the most?
Jake: “How nice the public bathrooms were and the sizes of the churches.”
Kelly: “I was surprised by the personality and demeanor of the French locals towards other people.”
Piper: “How big the buildings and churches were.”
Q: What was the biggest difference in how people live there compared to here?
Jake: “You can literally walk anywhere you want. It’s more walk-able.”
Kelly: “The biggest difference in our social lives, was the amount of safety and freedom people had of all ages.”
Piper: “The majority of the people there walked instead of driving.”
Q: Describe the feelings you had while inside the concentration camp.
Jake: “Honestly it was a very life changing experience. It felt very solemn in there and it was extremely interesting.”
Kelly: “While walking through the concentration camp, I felt devastation towards all the deceased and disappointment towards the country of Europe that let it happen in front of them.”
Piper: “I was nervous to go inside but once I got through the gate, I was really interested in the information that they showed in the museum and the structure of everything there. “
Q: Would you go back? If so, what would you want to do next time you visit Germany?
Jake: “Yes, I would like to study abroad.”
Kelly: “I personally would like to visit Germany and Switzerland again. I would like to personally experience the true European culture and life while studying for my future career.”
Piper: “I would definitely go back to visit Berlin or Frankfurt.”
Q: What was the most enjoyable part of your trip?
Jake: “The food, the sights, and speaking the language.”
Kelly: “The most enjoyable part of the trip was speaking the language and being able to see different cultures and aspects of the locals.”
Piper: “The most enjoyable part of the trip would be going to Aachen. I loved the free time that we had there and I got to see two huge churches.”
Q: How different was driving in Germany? Was Mr. Wagner a good driver?
Jake: “Driving in Germany was similar to driving in California, but people in Germany were not as rude. And yes, he is a good driver .”
Kelly: “Driving in Germany is crazy and Wagner was not a great driver. We almost took a pedestrian and a tree with us as souvenirs. The car definitely didn’t have any dents when we returned it.”
Piper: “There were lots of alleyways and small roads. Lots of traffic. Wagner was a very slow driver and he almost ran over an old lady. The majority of Germans cussed him out.”
Q: What advice would you give someone going to Germany for the first time?
Jake: “Try as much food as you can.”
Kelly: “Some advice that I would give someone going to Germany for the first time would be to enjoy and try to fit into their norms and experience life as they would. And step out of your comfort zone while you experience things that many individuals would be able to in their lifetime.
Piper: “Don’t pack a lot of clothes because you will have no room to go back home if you buy gifts.”
