Beside the many radio stations the region of lower Bavaria comprises some regional television stations which air local news, weather forecasts and even small productions about regional events.
One regional event definitely was the visit of our international exchange students at TV-A television station in Regensburg. At this place the students got to know about the creation of television news, about technical details and about the work of the TV-A team.
What they got to know? Just watch yourself as they interviewed one of the TV-A reporters and recorded everything with the original studio equipment.
We just reduced the quality of the video for you, as it will more convenient for you to watch it on the phone.
Media Rules! That is the name of this year’s topic and therefore our Indian guests explore not only the lovely forests of Lower Bavaria but also work hard on their project.
While they visited a local radio station in Straubing they interviewed many reporters but also got interviewed. With this media content the radio station Radio AWN created a small report about the exchange which was aired last Friday.
Even if you can’t understand the German language you will definitely recognise the voice of Megha Gupta. She tells the anchor about our exchange and the so far experiences during the exchange.
I, Rashika B., am enjoying to the fullest in Germany!
The heat produced by the stove melts down the coldness in humans. My hands working in the kitchen impressed my German family. Luisa’s sister, Teresa, and I made Spatzle. Spatzle is a Bavarian speciality.
Boiling, heating, cutting and mixing not only made us cook a finger licking dish but also enabled us to mix up with each other. While we talked, cooked and cracked jokes, the dish was ready. It was creamy and tasty. The delicious dish made a place for me in the family. Rashika B.
On the night the arrival, we had arrived late and I hadn’t expected to get anything to eat. But upon the arrival I found out that my partners parents had made a very lip smacking typical Bavarian food which had Leberkäse (literally translated to cheesy liver, in spite of not containing any of these ingredients), cheese and many other great food items.
The food was really tasty and had a completely different flavour as to what I have tasted in my home county. The food was a complex mixture of fun, adventure and excitement. It was really tasty!
I am Samanvi J. and am hosted by the Stoffels. I am currently in Straubing, Germany I never expected the German exchange to be such an amazing experience.
All over Europe, the beauty of the nature and the culture is maintained. Development goes hand in hand with the maintainance of culture and tradition. I was a little apprehensive about living with complete strangers for two whole weeks but to my surprise, the Stoffels were very kind and treated me as their own family member.
My partner’s parents treat me as their own daughter and give me love and take care of me . On the other hand, Johannes Turmair Gymnasium is fantastic. The school has a beautiful campus and provides students with knowledge and exposure. After tasting Bavarian food and witnessing their dance, language and many more things , I feel that the exquisite Bavarian culture has become part of me. Samanvi J.
In the evening we headed out of my partners home and went towards a pub. In there I saw a couple of old people talking loudly. But we headed downstairs towards a small but long room and there when we entered I saw 2-3 people shooting at a target paper.
At the shooting range
My partners dad carefuly handed me an air gun and thoroughly showed me how to fire it. He then gave me a sheet with a huge circle on it and told me to fire at it. Suprisingly, my first shot went right into the black area. Seeing this I got inspired and shot even more.
Not all of these attempts went good but I enjoyed the experience overall.
The first step towards every successful exchange is to have approximately the same number of participating students on both sides. And even if the numbers seem to fit, one has to consider the gender of the student as well. Often students have to share a room when they visit their partner and obviously that is only possible, if the children are not of the opposite sex.
After going back and forth, after some discussions and a little advertising we did it. We had 19 fitting German and Indian students, which were happily willing to host each other. Now it was time to introduce them to each other.
Therefore, everybody wrote a profile, a “short letter of introduction” to tell the new friend about one’s live, family, housing or diet needs. In fact, the students should put every single piece of information in that profile which makes it easier to get to know each other. One year ago we already wrote an article about that profiles, which is quite interesting to read.
Waiting for the partner
After sending all the profiles to the coordinating teachers it is their task to find the suitable partner. Who loves dogs? Who has serious allergies? Who is more an athlete or more a couch potato? The teachers really do their very best to find the best partner to make the whole exchange a success.
And that is exactly the situation we are in now: The matching has been done. And the teachers on both sides agreed on the list of partners. Now it’s on the students to get in touch with each other. The first WhatsApp, a phone call, an email? What to write, what to tell?
Our intercultural adventure has started! We are waiting for the first contact!
