LHS Cultural Exchange Gives Students Taste Of Germany

The author Lindy Warren (left) and fellow LHS student Clara Florian in Germany.

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From June 8th to June 23rd, I took a trip to Germany along with Mr. Sent, the German teacher at Lakewood High School, Mr. Ahearn, the principal of LHS, and 23 of my peers. Our exchange program actually began back in April when many LHS families welcomed students from Germany into their homes for two weeks. This month, it was our turn to fly overseas to visit our German brothers and sisters.

We landed in Luxembourg and explored the city on our first day, then took a train to Braunschweig where our families were waiting. I was elated to see my “sister” Anna and meet her family. They were incredibly hospitable, kind and did their best to help me with my German. I learned a great deal from them.

For the next week, we attended school with our partners and followed them to classes just as they had in April at LHS. When there were free periods, we were allowed to walk into the city to get food, or go to the mall, or just sit in the courtyard outside. And the teachers changed classrooms along with the students, unlike Lakewood High where most teachers have a designated classroom. The grades at the school ranged from 5th to 12th.

During the school week, we took a train to Hamburg with the Lakewood group. There we explored the rustic as well as modern parts of the city and took a boat ride on a lake.

On the weekend, we said “aufwiedersehen” to our host families and traveled to Berlin where we stayed in a youth hostel. In Berlin, we did a LOT of walking and saw many sites including the city hall (Rathaus), the Berlin Cathedral, the University, the Fernsehturm (like the Space Needle in Seattle), the Tiergarten (palace gardens), Checkpoint Charlie, and the Berlin Wall. Especially meaningful and awe-inspiring was the Brandenburg Gate, an amazingly historic place which at night was lit up with the Pride flag to acknowledge the shootings in Orlando.

On Sunday, we returned to Braunschweig one last time to stay with our host families. We went to school again on Monday and dreaded the next day when we had to say goodbye to our German friends, but this time knowing we were heading home to Lakewood.

We took a train to Cologne on Tuesday where we toured a beautifully haunting cathedral that towered over the city and is the only building which survived the bombings of World War II. Boarding the Euro train one final time we headed to Luxembourg where they were celebrating a special holiday. We were able to witness changing of the guards, musicians of all genres, concessions and ended the night with fireworks.

I am so grateful for the opportunity given to me by Mr. Sent, Mr. Ahearn, my family and my German family. This was an experience I will never forget.