By Jenna Lee
Staff Writer
This summer, seventeen WA German students spent six weeks in Europe. They visited countries such as Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic.
While touring Europe, the students met students from German schools and quickly became friends after sharing everyday culture and language. They also befriended their German families during the forty-two days of the trip.
Westford Academy’s German teacher Herr Mike Joyce founded the German Exchange Program thirty years ago and has been continuously organizing the trip for his German students every year. He believes the program changes their lives and improves their German language.
“They found they can take care of themselves and operate in any foreign environment; basically any country in the world. Not to mention their confidence skyrockets!” said Joyce.
For the exchange program of 2010, Herr Joyce said, “This was one of the greatest groups ever. Not only did we meet the chancellor of Germany, but Principal Antonelli came with us this summer.”
When asked about the highlight of the whole trip, Eric Zhang, a senior, said, “The best part of the trip was solidifying lifetime friendships. It’s nuts to think about, but the truth is that I was closer to my friends and my family in Germany than I was with a lot of peers at home. After just a few short weeks! Yet now I know that it’s possible.”
In the south (Untergriesbach), the students went to Munich and had a sober visit to the concentration camp in Dachau. They toured the Bavarian National Forest and saw many indigenous species of animals in the region. They also visited the charming city of Passau on the Danube as well as the university city of Regensburg.
In the north (Northeim), the students went to Berlin and saw many historic attractions such as the Reichstag and the Brandenburg Gate. They were fortunate to catch a glimpse of Germany’s Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel.
They toured other major places such as Bremen, Bremerhaven, and Hamburg.
Finally, the Austria tour included traveling to the capital Vienna: many highlights of Vienna include Schoenbrunn Palace, Prater Amusement Park, and the Hundertwasser house.
Outside of Vienna, the students visited Hallstatt, a gorgeous town nestled in the Dachstein Alps, and Salzburg, the famous city where the Sound of Music starring Julie Andrews was filmed.
Stephanie Gagnon, a junior, comments on the trip: “I learned that sometimes, in the thick of things, we need to take a step back and enjoy the life that’s rushing by us. And that we can’t take ourselves too seriously- there’s time to be mature and old when we’re older, but right now it’s time to be the kids we are. And I learned that we can never take things for granted – they might be taken from us without warning. But I mostly learned how to live life to the fullest, and enjoy every second of it because the little things are what matter the most”.
Between the tours, the students enjoyed many planned activities such as parties, swimming and rock-climbing, restaurants, cinemas, and museum visits.
Laurianne Posch, a junior, valued the lesson of friendship from the program. “Not only did the German exchange program allow me to meet tons of people in other countries; I also made friends from Westford Academy who I never thought I would be friends with. Now, we’re a really close group, almost a family. It’s really amazing how close you can get to people after spending six weeks with them.”
Zhang exclaims he is “homesick” for Germany. In response to whether he recommends this trip to students taking German, he says, “Don’t think twice about it, you WON’T get a chance like this again in your LIFE! By far the single greatest experience you will ever have at WA and it will exceed your expectations in every way possible.”