The cultural exchange program that Burlington Central High School has participated in for the past two decades has allowed both American and German students the opportunity to practice their new language skills and experience life in another country.
A number of Central High students traveled to Germany this past summer. They were there from June 22 to July 13. They visited places like Berlin, Koblenz, Grossroehrsdorf and City Trier, the oldest German city that includes Roman ruins.
Students from Germany flew to Chicago on Friday, Sept. 25, and resided with Central High families. Their itinerary included Goebbert’s Pumpkin Patch in Hampshire, Lazer Maxx Family Fun Center in Elgin and Epic Air Trampoline Park in South Elgin.
The students also visited places in Chicago such as the Shedd Aquarium, Soldier Field, Michigan Avenue, Willis Tower and Millennium Park.
The students said that events like homecoming and prom are not held in Germany. They watched a homecoming football game and halftime show by the Central High marching band on Friday, Oct. 2.
The teachers who ran the cultural exchange program this year were Anette Bliss, Central High German teacher and foreign languages department chair, and German teachers Kerstin Schneider and Sylvia Richter.
“There is a lot of work and effort that goes into running this program,” said Richter. “It would not be possible without Anette Bliss. She has always been there for us. We are very thankful.”
Central High students who traveled to Germany this past summer included: Anthony Larson of Hampshire, Wes Metcalfe of St. Charles, and Elgin residents Lauren Parsons, Steve Tammes, Taylor Tavolaca, Holden Morris and Evan Johnson.
Students from Germany included: Felix Nagel, Tim Krechberger, Alex Gritzka, Axel Schulz, Charlotte Hohnel, Max Haufe and Ella Ufer.
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When asked about one of the hardest words to pronounce in either language, the German students said “squirrel.” American students said it was “eichhornchen,” the German name for the bushy-tailed rodent.
Johnson said that when he and his fellow students were in Germany, they watched “Jurassic World” in German with no subtitles.
Tammes, who wants to one day become a translator/interpreter, said he believes in the Czech proverb that states: “You live a new life for every new language you speak. If you know only one language, you live only once.”
While learning another language is often optional in the United States, learning English is required in Germany. Richter said German students learn English when they are at the third grade level. They have the option to learn French, Russian or Latin at age 12.
One student stated that in Germany, English is a part of their daily lives.
“International corporations expect you to know the English language. A lot of the music we listen to is in English. It is important to learn English if you plan to travel.”
The German students said that when they arrived in the Midwest, their first impression was that everything is bigger. They said the streets are wider and there are bigger buildings, bigger cars and bigger houses. They added that even the coffee mugs, pumpkins and cornfields seem larger than what they are accustomed to seeing in Germany.
While Germans typically eat three meals a day with fruit or bread in between meals, they noticed that Americans eat more often and their choices are usually sweet.
Schneider said a popular saying is: “Germans eat breakfast like an emperor, lunch like a king, and dinner like a beggar. The traditional lunch is meat or fish with rice or potatoes and noodles.”
While stores in America are generally open all year round, in Germany they are closed every Sunday and during the last three days of Christmas. Germans open presents and attend church services on Christmas Eve, enjoy a big meal on Christmas Day, and celebrate Boxing Day on Dec. 26.
While Americans are accustomed to drive-through service windows at just about every business, there are fewer drive-through windows in Germany. Richter said there are no drive-through windows on German banks.
In comparing transportation, students said you travel mostly by car in America, In Germany, people rely more on transportation provided by trains and buses.
American and German students admitted that the music they listen to is pretty much the same in both countries. Favorite German artists include the rock band Revolverheld, electronic DJ and producer Robin Schulz, Seeed, and Sido.
For their farewell party on Thursday, Oct. 8, the German students prepared their favorite dishes that included: potato soup, egg salad, potato salad, layered salad, meatballs, schnitzel, cake, stuffed peppers, apple sauce, German pancakes and Quarkkeulchen.
In addition to enjoying a meal, the students also carved pumpkins.
The German students left Chicago from Union Station on Saturday, Oct. 10. They traveled by train and spent some time in New York before flying home to Germany.
Denise Moran is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.