Schüleraustausch Schweiz

From May 17th to May 22nd 2009 a group of fifteen 9th graders of different nationalities (Swiss, German, British, Swedish, French, Italian, Spanish, Mexican) from Haut-Lac International School in St.Légier/Switzerland visited us and stayed with their host families in Marktoberdorf. Our guests all learn German and they were accompanied by their two German teachers, Mrs Vanessa Lewis and Mrs Kattrin Merkel, and one of their English teachers, Mr Gregory Wilson. We either communicated in English, which they all speak very well, or they tried out what they had learned in their German lessons. Some of us also spoke French with them.

This is what we did during their stay:

On Monday the pupils from Switzerland were welcomed by our school principal, Mr Mooser, and then learned what a regular school day in Marktoberdorf is like: They were taught six lessons in different subjects, e.g. History and Art, by teachers from our school - in German, of course. After lunch at the dining hall in our boarding house we all spent some time at the street market in Marktoberdorf and then we met our teachers and went for a walk in and around town before we finally had a look at St. Martin’s Church and enjoyed the wonderful view from up there.

On Tuesday we went to Munich by train and visited the “German Museum”, the largest technology museum in the world. Fortunately, we were also given some free time in the city centre and had a chance to chat, to get into closer contact and to go shopping.

Luckily, on Wednesday the sun was also shining brightly and we could hike to Neuschwanstein Castle through the Pöllat gorge. We had booked a tour of the castle and the English-speaking guide there told us the interesting story of King Ludwig II and his castle. Afterwards we had a picnic on the banks of Alpsee before our coach took us to an impressive waterfall, Lechfall. From there we walked to St Mang’s Abbey and strolled through Füssen’s old town.

Thursday was our family day. Each pupil from Switzerland spent the day with their host family. Some of us went to Skyline Park or to Kempten, others went swimming in a nearby lake, Elbsee, or went for a ride on the Alpine Coaster in Austria.
In the evening we had our farewell party at school. We had invited a group of dancers in their traditional regional costumes and a school band was playing good music. In my opinion it was a special and exciting day and we could all get to know each other much better.

Unfortunately our guests had to leave on Friday already.
I think the exchange was really exciting and interesting and we all had a good time with our partners. Mr Hölzler, the teacher in charge of this exchange programme, Mrs Schwietz and all the students are really looking forward to seeing them in Switzerland in July.

Pauline Samuel, Klasse 9c