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Lancaster Girls' Grammar School
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School News
German Exchange 2010
LGGS visits the Dietrich-Bonhoeffer Gymnasium
On Sunday 31st January a group of 20 girls from Years 10 and 12 assembled in Lindow Square, ready to set off for Germany. Fortunately we had been warned that there was very cold weather and heavy snow, so it we were well prepared. That evening we were welcomed at Cologne airport by our partners and families and then were off into the deep, fresh snow.
It was still snowing on Monday morning when we struggled to school and set off for Aachen with our partners. We visited the cathedral treasury briefly, then made for cafés for something hot to eat and drink (that was to be a pattern throughout the trip) before re-assembling in front of Aachen’s ancient cathedral. There were separate guided tours in German and English. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and gave us a fascinating insight into the history and architecture of the building. He also ensured that we all understood just how important Charlemagne was. Through driving snow we marched to the retail outlet at the chocolate factory where we were overwhelmed with choice. The girls could not resist buying chocolate santas at knock-down prices and eating some of them, immediately. Our rather late return to school was to set a pattern for the week.
Tuesday was our first experience of lessons. The LGGS group discovered that pupils didn’t pay attention in lessons: they talked, texted, ate and drank and occasionally did some work. The LGGS staff made guest appearances in a few English lessons, talking about the school and life in the UK. Best of all, school finished at 1:10pm and the afternoon was spent with partners – shopping, tobogganing and chatting.
On Wednesday the Year 10 girls met in school for an outing to Schloss Brühl. This begins with a small museum about falconry and a visit to the hunting lodge of the main castle. As well as admiring the beautiful rooms and exquisite blue and white tiles made just for that castle in Rotterdam, we were very taken with the giant over-slippers which we wore. Then we walked through the parkland to the main castle. On the way we posed for photos around the gardens as all the statues had been wrapped for the winter. The main castle is quite remarkable as it was decorated to impress visitors to the Bishop Elector of Cologne, Clemens August. Our guide was impressed by the group’s interest and concentration during the tour. We had just enough time for a brief excursion into town (more hot food and drinks) before returning to the coach. However, the coach wouldn’t start an hour’s delay – and then we got caught in traffic and so returned late once more.
On Thursday we met at school and took off to Cologne, this time using public transport. Bergisch- Gladbach has fantastic connections and so the school bus took us to the station and then we hopped on the S-Bahn. In just over 40 minutes we were gathered outside Cologne cathedral. Before our guided tour we had time once more for hot drinks and snacks. Our guide explained five of the art treasures housed in the cathedral in detail. It was colder inside the cathedral than outside. All over the city we could see the preparations for Karneval and we saw several groups in costume. Almost all of the group climbed to the top of the tower – no minor feat and then in groups completed a treasure hunt cum quiz around the cathedral area. Cologne turned out to be a fantastic shopping area and we re-grouped outside the cathedral laden with bags. However, there was a strike on the railway and our return journey took a little over 2 ½ hours! It involved two trains, long waits on two different platforms and frantic calls from partners asking when we would arrive.
Friday we were back in school and time in the afternoon with partners before we met for a farewell buffet in the school canteen. The food was fabulous- provided by the host families. Then girls went away with the partners for the rest of the weekend.
On Sunday morning we re-grouped at Cologne airport. After weighing all the suitcases we re-packed a few before check-in and then had to say thank you and goodbye to our partners and host families. A few tears were shed; promises of meeting again in March and then we were on our way back home. After an easy journey we returned to Lindow Square by 5:30pm where families were waiting to meet us. We look forward to welcoming the group from our partner school on Sunday 14th March.