Year 8 German Adventure: From Paris to Karlsruhe with Penpals, Culture and Fun!
On July 3rd, twenty-two eager Year 8 German students gathered at St Pancras station, ready to embark on an adventure that would take them by train from London to Karlsruhe via Paris. The journey, filled with excitement and anticipation, included a brief changeover in sunny Paris. By mid-afternoon, the group had arrived in Karlsruhe, energised, and prepared to explore the youth hostel and surroundings.
The next morning, the students were thrilled to finally meet their German pen pals from the Helmholtz Gymnasium. The pen pals, with whom they had been exchanging letters since autumn 2023, warmly welcomed them at the youth hostel. Together, they headed to a nearby park to play games and get to know each other better in person.
The NHEHS students joined their new friends in attending classes and experiencing lessons in Maths and German. Following on from the classroom activities sampling German food from the school’s on-site kiosk was clearly a must as the culinary experience was held in very high regard across the whole school community. In the afternoon, the group enjoyed a guided tour of Karlsruhe, marvelling at the impressive castle and its gardens. The sunny afternoon was spent picnicking and engaging in lively games of volleyball and football. Everyone was in high spirits, especially when one of the German students managed to fall into the water fountain while retrieving the ball.
A highlight of the trip was the evening bowling session, where students mingled and bonded over friendly competition in mixed groups.
On the final full day, the students returned to school for a French lesson before heading to the theatre to watch a play performed by the school’s theatre club. The afternoon was spent shopping, and the day concluded with watching the Germany vs. Spain match on TV alongside their pen pals.
As the trip ended, heartfelt goodbyes were exchanged. The journey back to London included another brief stay in Paris before we boarded the Eurostar, reflecting on a memorable and enriching experience.
Vielen Dank to Frau Adam, Frau Schindler and Frau Massis for organising such a fun and informative trip!
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