Photo courtesy of Tamara Cecrle
This past week, students from Hastings High School embarked on an adventure around different parts of Europe, depending on what language they speak. 11 students who have taken at least three years of French spent the week exploring France and its unique culture and cuisine, while 18 German students traversed and toured throughout Austria and Germany.
There were many educational additions to the foreign language trips; in particular, many historical lessons were taught.
“We visited the Austrian Military History Museum and saw the car that Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in to start World War I,” German teacher Eric Garchow said.
Not only did the German students visit many monumental locations, but the French students did as well.
“We visited the Sacré Coeur, Notre Dame, the Sainte Chapelle, the Opéra, the Musée D’Orsay, the Louvre, the Invalides, Versailles, took a boat cruise down the Seine river and went up the Eiffel Tower,” French teacher Tamara Cecrle said.
The United States is considered a fairly new country, while most of Europe is very old and historically-packed.
“It’s amazing that most of the buildings in Germany that we visited were closer to being built when Jesus was alive rather than me being alive,” junior Hailey Haase said.
The student tourists were able to observe and participate in a typical German school day. When compared with an American school day, there are some notable differences.
“The school day is shorter, class is canceled if a teacher can’t make it, and students tend to stay in the same room throughout the day while teachers move classrooms,” Garchow said.
Although German schools are clearly drastically different than American schools, some might say that French schools are even more unique.
“The schools in France go from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. This may seem like a long time, but their passing periods are around 15 minutes long, which gives them plenty of time to see their friends either indoors or outdoors. They also could have up to two hours of lunch. When a teacher couldn’t come to class for a day, they would not have a substitute, they would just have a study hall during that period,” senior Angela Vu said.
Aside from schooling, France, in general, is much different from the typical American household.
“To me, life in France is a little bit slower. Maybe it’s because I’m away from my normal routine but I feel like French people take more time to enjoy their meals and spend time with their family. Families sit down together to eat their dinner. Their food consists of more fresh ingredients- less processed food. Families spend time together doing things on the weekends,” Cecrle said.
The Hastings High school students who went on these trips were not regular tourists; they had the ability to learn even more about the varying cultures by staying with a French family.
“The most interesting thing I did during the French trip was staying with complete strangers that spoke a language I have only been learning for three and a half years. I was able to learn about what their lives were like, and even though I have only known them for only five days, I became really attached to them and cried when I had to leave them,” Vu said.
It is clear that journeying across the world would be a very unique and valuable experience. Garchow believes that the most valuable part of it all is “meeting and interacting with people of a different culture.”
The trips that are offered at our school are designed to be both educational and unforgettable.
“You get the opportunity to be submerged in another culture. It’s more than just a vacation. It’s a valuable learning experience that is honestly a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Haase said.
International trips can teach many lessons and make you more worldly.
“For kids at a High School in the middle of the United States, we frequently forget that there are other cultures and countries out there besides ours. It is eye-opening and valuable to experience a different way of life… I think that I will appreciate our fortune more here in the US, especially water. It is so much cheaper and accessible here and I am very thankful for that.” senior Amelia Stoner said.
There were many different reasons that sparked interest in the international trips. For some, it was ancestry that led them on the trip.
“I have always loved German class and I have always wanted to learn more about the culture. The majority of my family traces back to Germany, so it was interesting to see where I ‘came from’,” Haase said.
Being completely submerged into a culture by staying with a host family, requires one to use the language skills they have learned through school and may even increase their skills.
“Any of the language trips help take kids out of their everyday life and show them how people react and live in a completely different area of the world. They are also extremely helpful if a student truly wants to learn their language and someday move where that language is spoken. Within my 5 days with my family, my comprehension of what people were saying improved by a ton. Throwing yourself into the language and culture is the best and most efficient way to learn it,” senior Alyvia Krueger said.
Although their unforgettable trip may be over, the memories, friendships, and experiences they made will stay with them forever.
“I never expected to become so attached to everything I was experiencing. I assumed after a few days I would want to come right home and never see those people again. Instead, I continue to text and call most of them daily! I will never forget the friendships this trip lead me to create,” Haase said.
Trips like these are available to any juniors or seniors who have taken at least three years of any foreign language offered at Hastings High. Although the trip is offered to everyone, it is important to start saving money now.
