Boardman, Fitch students visit Germany

The end of the school year usually means saying goodbye to school friends, teachers, and the usual school routine. But this year for two students from Boardman High School and three students from Austintown Fitch, there was something to look forward — a trip to Germany.

This summer, Boardman and Fitch students Katie Durner, Kristen Kriss, Tim Nadrich, Mackenzie Kriss and Ali Tolich accompanied by Sieglinde Warren, visited Hennef, Germany, and stayed in the homes of students they hosted this past fall.

Hennef is located on the Rhine River in west central Germany near Cologne.

The travelers left from the Cleveland airport, flew to Philadelphia and then took an overseas flight to Cologne, where they were picked up by their hosts.

Their German hosts planned many activities for their American guests. Among these activities were visiting the Mayor of Hennef, Mr. Piepke; an all-day trip on the Rhine which included visiting the Seven Hills of the Rhineland with a major trek up to the Drachenfels and a trip to the capital, Berlin, as well as to the former German capital, Bonn.

In Bonn, the visitors shopped at the Haribo Outlet store of Gummi Bears fame. In Cologne, they watched the screening of the World Cup Soccer Championship with more than 40,000 fans.

In addition, the students had the opportunity to visit their hosts’ German high school as the school year in Europe extends well into June.

This is the fifth year the exchange with the Gesamtschule in Hennef has taken place. A sixth exchange is planned with the same school in November with 12 German students and two teachers arriving for the Thanksgiving holiday.

The goal of the exchange is to provide an opportunity for the German and Boardman students to experience each other’s culture in their home and school.

Boardman or Fitch students who host German guests this November will travel to Germany next June.

Anyone interested in being part of the November exchange, can contact Sieglinde Warren at suwarren19@zoominternet.net for information.