It’s over, isn`t it? After a fantastic year full of joy, excitement, anticipation and loads of planning the German students finished their trip to India last week and arrived safely in Straubing, Germany.
Since last November both teachers in charge of the Indo German exchange stayed in permanent contact and designed the exchange project “From Mittelstand to Global Players”. They organised parent-teacher meetings as well as they continuously gathered the participating students. And finally, after several months of training and preparation the Indian delegation arrived in Bavaria and stayed there for two wonderful and enjoyable weeks.
Unfortunately, in the first weeks of June the Indian group departed and it began a seemingly endless period of waiting. But at last, at October 26th ten students of Johannes-Turmair-Gymnasium boarded an airplane to New Delhi and were happily welcomed by their friends and host families. What followed were again two weeks of hard project work, joyful evenings with the families and the astonishing opportunity to be part of the Indian Diwali preparations.
During these two weeks the German children got the chance to get a glimpse of the Indian culture, to explore a foreign country and to be part of an Indian family. This experience was only possible due to the tremendous work and patience of the host parents and the Indian teacher in charge. Thank you, to all of you!
At the very moment the German students have left the warmth of India and are back in good cold Germany (Temperatures are below 0 °C now). The exchange is officially over, the students are back in their classes and only some articles in the newspapers or in the school yearbook will remind everyone of that great trip.
If I asked the students, they would immediately deny the end of the exchange. They would tell me, that this year was only the beginning. During this year they all started a perhaps livelong friendship with their partners, they fell in love with India and some are planning to visit Noida again and to see their friends at soon as possible.
That is the true reason why both schools carry out that Indo German exchange. Not only to fulfil international project work but to change people, to widen their horizon and to create friendship around the world.
So, be ensured: It is not over! That one year long lasting exchange project was just the kick-off event of a bigger adventure to follow.