Year 8 German Exchange to Lübeck
The week before last, a group of Year 8 students travelled to the beautiful Hanseatic city of Lübeck, near Hamburg and Germany's Baltic coast, as part of Hockerill's annual German Exchange.
Arriving on a Friday meant students were immersed in German culture from the very beginning, spending the weekend with their host families. Many enjoyed the vibrant HanseKulturFestival, a lively biennial celebration held throughout Lübeck's historic centre, while others visited the nearby beaches or explored the local area with their exchange partners.
On Monday, students attended lessons with their German partners before visiting the European Hansemuseum, where they enjoyed a guided tour exploring the history of the Hanseatic League, of which Lübeck was the leading city during the Middle Ages. Tuesday brought a walking tour of Lübeck's picturesque city centre. Although the weather was less than ideal, the rain did little to dampen spirits, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the city's rich history. Special thanks go to Herr Paustian for his excellent tour guiding.
The remainder of the week offered even more opportunities to experience German life, culture and education.
Student Reflections
Barbara Guizzo
"After the rainy Tuesday, the rest of the week was mostly sunny, which made the experience even more enjoyable. On Wednesday, we travelled to Hamburg by train and visited the impressive Elbphilharmonie, whose striking architecture was incredible to see. Throughout the day we had time to explore the city, enjoy lunch and experience its atmosphere.
One of the highlights was our visit to Miniatur Wunderland. It was amazing to see the incredibly detailed miniature worlds, all carefully handmade and hand-painted. We explored in small groups and could easily have spent even longer there.
The following day, we spent the entire day in school with our exchange partners, attending lessons in German and doing our best to follow what was being taught. After school, many of us went to the beach. Although the sea was freezing, it was a lovely way to spend the afternoon together.
On our final day, we said goodbye to our exchange partners, promising to keep in touch before heading to the airport for our journey home."
Eloïse Fitzgerald
"I think we all had a wonderful time in Germany. One of my favourite experiences was visiting the HanseKulturFestival with my exchange partner on the Saturday. I loved the live music and exploring all the market stalls.
On Sunday, many of us visited Hansa-Park theme park, where the rollercoasters were amazing! Everyone at the school made us feel incredibly welcome, and it was a fantastic experience to spend time in Germany. I really hope future Year 8 students have the opportunity to take part in the exchange."
The German Exchange continues to be a wonderful opportunity for students to develop their language skills, experience everyday life in another country and build lasting international friendships.
A huge thank you to all the students who represented Hockerill so brilliantly throughout the visit. Their exemplary behaviour, enthusiasm and willingness to speak as much German as possible made them outstanding ambassadors for the school.
Miss Abigail Brown
Trip Leader