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Die Welt zu Gast in Furth

MGF-Schülerin Daniela (links) mit ihrer Austauschpartnerin Alexandra (rechts) aus Neuseeland.
MGF-Schülerin Daniela (links) mit ihrer Austauschpartnerin Alexandra (rechts) aus Neuseeland.

Das MGF begrüßt wieder Austauschschülerinnen und -schüler aus Neuseeland und Australien 

Seit ein paar Wochen hat das Maristen-Gymnasium wieder zwei Schülerinnen und einen Schüler aus Neuseeland bzw. Australien zu Gast. Die Aufenthalte wurden vom Bayerischen Jugendring bzw. privat organisiert. Für das Maristen-Gymnasium sind unsere Gäste eine große Bereicherung, können sie doch aus erster Hand von ihren Heimatländern erzählen und unseren Schülerinnen und Schülern Lust darauf machen, auch an einem derartigen Programm teilzunehmen. Aber lassen wir unsere Gäste doch selbst von ihren Eindrücken in Bayern erzählen: 

Alexandra Maria Johnson aus Neuseeland, Austauschpartnerin von Daniela Tran, 10a

As an exchange student from New Zealand, my experiences in Germany have been out of this world so far. The timing of the exchange couldn’t have been better, as Bavaria is known worldwide for its almost fairytale Christmas markets, and the snow on the ground made Germany feel so much more magical. 

My stay in Bavaria has been great so far. I’ve eaten quite possibly the best food I’ve had in my life, and jumped straight into the opportunities I’ve been given. As well as simply enjoying and embracing German culture, I’ve also used it as a huge learning experience for both my language skills and my understanding of Germany’s history. 

The first thing we did was visit the Landshut Christkindl-Markt, where I had a halbmeter Bratwurst and Kinderpunsch (which I take it to be a more child-friendly version of the adults’ mulled wine). Both were delicious, but I had yet to try even more traditional Bavarian food at the next visit. On the 23rd, we went again, and I tried Baumstriezel. It was delicious, and we have a similar thing in New Zealand, but I’d never tried it before. The lights that ran over stalls and down signs gave the Christmas markets a whole new magical feel to them, and coupled with the handmade ornaments to buy at stalls, it made for one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve had. 

The next thing we did was a visit to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial site. I know it’s an odd thing to want to visit as a tourist wanting to get in touch with German Culture, but I’d only ever learned about the second world war from Britain’s perspective, and I was curious as to see the German perspective and the effect of it on Germany. I definitely learned a lot from the whole experience, but it was devastating to see the camp in person and realize what happened there nearly a century ago. 

Christmas with my host family was warm and happy and full of even more delicious food. We played monopoly and filled ourselves up with Christmas cookies, then opened gifts exchanged hugs. I missed my family a lot but Dani and her family did a wonderful job in welcoming me into their Christmas with open arms, and I couldn’t be happier. 

My favourite activity so far has been out visit to Schloss Neuschwanstein. The castle was extremely pretty, but what I found most interesting was the history behind it. Ludwig II was a very interesting figure - after effectively devoting his life to living as if it were the Baroque age of Absolutism or the Medieval ages, having a castle built with paintings as reminders of his favourite theatre piece, then being declared insane and dying without ever seeing his castle without scaffolding. The castle was so big and beautiful, especially with the mountains behind it with the winter snow. 

School in Germany is pretty interesting and rather reminiscent of primary school in New Zealand, where you stay mostly in one classroom. You have to move classrooms for every subject in New Zealand high schools, so I found it relaxing to not have to walk everywhere all the time. Each subject also progresses in difficulty differently than to New Zealand, so while I study science and maths in the equivalent of 11th grade at home, 10th grade students study the same things I did. Classes are also a lot smaller and seem to be a collective friend group, whereas at home there are smaller groups of friends amongst a much bigger class. 

Germany has been an amazing experience so far for me, and I can’t wait to learn even more about German culture, language, and history. 

 

Charlotte Kutey aus Australien, Austauschpartnerin von Karina Scheubeck, Q11

I’ve been in Germany for four weeks now, and have found that my experiences here in Bavaria are very different to what I’m used to at home. Firstly I love the old buildings and the scenery of the countryside where my host family lives. My home in Melbourne is very urban, about 30 minutes from the city centre, so in comparison it’s very quiet and peaceful where I’m living in Germany.  

School here is very different to my own. I go to a private all girls school in Melbourne, so of course things are very different with strict rules, uniforms, and only girls. I find that while the schooling here is more advanced, there are definitely less rules and a lot more freedom than at my school. School here also finishes a lot earlier, whereas my school goes from 8:25am to 3:30pm, and some days starts even earlier or finish even later.  

I’ve been fortunate enough to have had many great experiences here in Germany. One of my favourites was seeing FC Bayern play at the Allianz Arena. Another favourite was the Therme Erding, which was a very fun and relaxing day. I have also thoroughly enjoyed exploring the different cities and towns such as Regensburg, Landshut, and Munich.   

Christmas here was in some ways quite different to Christmas at home. Of course the weather is the biggest difference, as I’m used to celebrating Christmas in 30-40° heat. The food was one of the best things, and very different to Christmas food in Australia which is mostly cold cuts of meat and salad. I really enjoyed seeing all the Christmas decorations and lights in every town and in all the streets, which is not as common in Australia. And of course the Christmas markets, my favourite thing about Christmas here, sadly don’t exist in Australia. However the most important part of Christmas, getting together with family to celebrate, is just the same here as at home.  

Although I do miss the warm weather in Melbourne, I really love winter here. I went to Tegernsee with my host family for a day, and the scenery and the snow there was amazing. We also went on a trip to Mittenwald, and skied in Tirol, and I know I will miss the snow a lot when I get back to Melbourne. I will also really miss the food in Germany. Brezen, Knödel, Kaiserschmarrn, and Käsespatzle are some of the best foods that I won’t be able to find in Australia.   

Of course, I will most of all miss all the people here who have made me feel so welcome and ensured that I really enjoyed my time here.  

 

Oscar Hocking aus Australien, Austauschpartner von Leon Goldhofer, Q11

When I first arrived here in Germany I was wearing shorts because when I left Australia it was around 40 degrees Celsius, as I already knew, it was winter in Germany so it was way too cold for shorts and I soon  changed into something much warmer.  

Something thing that was quite different for me was school, as I come from a country school which has around 250 students from Prep to year 12 and my school seems to be quite a lot older. I found it interesting that school finishes at different times each day and that it starts at 8:00 instead of 9:00 which meant that I had to get up much earlier to catch the bus, I also think school is a lot harder here as they have way more classes compared to in Australia.  

I think Bavaria is really interesting to live in as there is many places to go and things to see. There is also much more history compared to Australia as it is a younger country, which means there is not anything truly historic compared to here in Bavaria.  

One of my favourite things I have done so far would have to be skiing, we still have mountains in Australia but the closest place to go skiing for me is about 4 hours away and I had only been once prior to coming here, I also think the view is amazing in the mountains here as it is unlike anything I have ever seen and the snow is much nicer to touch and to ski on.  

Another thing I really enjoyed was visiting the Neuschwanstein Castle because of the fact that there are not proper castles in Australia and it was so interesting to look at and observe its historic value.  

I am really enjoying my time here and would definitely recommend more people to participate in exchange programs like the one I have done. 

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