I distinctly recall the moment that I met Linus.
It was four years ago and I had just dragged myself through my front door, red and sweaty from Cross Country practice, only to be introduced for the very first time to my brother’s new German exchange student. Rather than feel embarrassed, I headed to the kitchen and made a plate of microwave nachos consisting of only chips and cheese.
I was hot and exhausted and it was no time for social protocol.
Now, I myself have entered my third year of German at the Newburyport High School and anticipate the exciting arrival of my own exchange student in October.
This time however, I’ll be sure not to run a race right before our introduction.
At the time when I first meet Linus, the only German I knew was ‘Butter Bitter’ or ‘Butter please’. Now, three years later after entering high school and studying German my skills have improved. I was fortunate to visit Germany for the first time with my family a few years ago. As a person who loves to travel I found it exhilarating to visit our extended family so far away.
By the end of three weeks away from home though, I was so happy to be back in Newburyport and to spend the rest of the summer with friends and in my own house. I am once again though, looking forward to traveling next summer to Germany.
Every other year Newburyport’s German-Language students look forward to the arrival of twenty students from Waldkirch, a city just outside of Freiburg in the Black Forest region.
This year in particular there was such a high demand to go on the trip that a lottery had to take place and I am incredibly lucky that I am one of the people getting to go on the trip.
As a Newburyport German Honors Society student, I am really looking forward to having the chance to improve my language skills through immersion. In Germany we will spend time in the local schools, tour the area, and even give presentations to the classes about our hometown, entirely in German.
Although our language skills are still a work in progress, they have greatly improved over the last few years thanks to our amazing and dedicated language teachers. German class has easily become one of my favorite courses. I know that with the help of our teachers and my fellow students, I will be get by wonderfully while overseas.
In addition, I’m incredibly excited to have some downtime during my trip. I’ll get the chance to do some of the things I love like take pictures, draw, go on bike rides, and live life like a resident, which is not something tourists often get to do! Germany has so many lovely old buildings that will be beautiful to draw and hopefully I’ll return home with a book full of sketches to share with all my friends at the Artists Playground.
I also plan to bring my ukulele with me on my trip, which I have been learning to play for the last two years.
I know my exchange student also loves music and it will be fun to share with him the music at the Grog, Newburyport’s wonderful street performers or go into Boston for a concert. Even just listening to jazz when visiting the Tannery is an experience of its own that is very special for our little Port city.
Meanwhile, the students from Waldkirch will be making their own trip here just in time for all our New England Fall customs such as apple-picking, pumpkin carving, and trick-or-treating.
In Germany, Halloween isn’t widely celebrated like in America. All of us at Newburyport High School are very excited about showing them all about ghosts and ghouls in this autumn season. I especially can’t wait to dress up and see all of Newburyport’s amazingly decorated houses and adorably costumed kids!
Our visitors will be going to our local Cider Hill Farms to pick apples, buy and carve their own pumpkins, and visit Salem, MA, to see all the fascinating history associated with our area. Although they (disappointingly) will just miss seeing the notorious Maudslay is Haunted on October 18th and 19th, we will be sure to take them to all the other seasonal attractions like corn mazes and haunted houses.
So, if on Halloween night you hear a strange accent, and one of the German students knocks on your door, be sure to give them a warm hello and some extra candy!
I can’t wait to bring my student to the Bartlett Mall, Parker River Refuge and throughout downtown, decorated with pumpkins this time of year and share with them the gem that is our city!
We all really look forward to sharing our wonderful culture and our beautiful city with our new visitors. Travel and foreign exchange teaches so much more than a classroom can every really hold.
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