After lots of preparations and hectic weeks of hard work, last Sunday 14 April, a group of 6 students and 2 teachers flew to Dortmund, heading for Bochum. There was lots of excitement at Miguel Hernández Airport meeting point. Besides, our students couldn’t hide their mixed feelings since they had been looking forward to going to this trip for several months, but it was their first time flying on their own.
Once we went through all the security controls, we waited impatiently for the departure of our flight. There was a delay, so we had some time to chat quietly while waiting for our boarding gate number. At about an hour and a half later thanexpected, we were welcomed by the German families and the Spanish teacher, Frau Mägli at Dortmund Airport. Then, a transfer took us to our accommodation in Hattingen.
MONDAY, 15 APRIL by Elena Carballo Mora (3ºESO C)
We got ready to be at school at 8.00, but surprisingly we weren’t allowed to get in since it was the last day at school forAbitur students. We were explained that the tradition says that the eldest students, the ones who are about to start university, as a way of farewell, are allowed to do whatever they want for a couple of hours. This was a funny way to start our week at Neues Gymnasium Bochum. Finally, we managed to get into school after doing some activities organised by the senior students. Then, we went to our German student’s class to see how their lessons were. At the break time we were taken to the special teacher’s room where other younger students asked us some questions to practise their Spanish. After some language practice, the school welcomed us with some traditional German products.
Next, we were shown the school facilities. It was really entertaining to see NGB with so much life: music and a wide range of funny activities with both students and teachers.
When we finished the school tour, we went back to the teacher’s room and we were explained the next challenging activitythat we were going to do that day, a gymkhana to do some sightseeing while learning and having fun. This activity gave us the chance to see the Town Hall, the Wisdom House and several parks on the way. This was the end of our first day atschool. Then, we went back home with our German families.
TUESDAY, 16 APRIL by Ricardo Martínez Obiler (3ºESO D)
We started our lessons at 8.15 and we remained at school up to the first break. As usual, we went to the school meeting point. As it was a rainy day, we had to use our umbrellas on the way to the GERMAN MINING MUSEUM, the mostimportant museum of mining technology in the world and one of the most important cultural destinations in the country.
There, we explored a tunnel system of 2,5 kilometres and we had the feeling of going 1200 metres down with a simulated elevator. The guide explained us the mining research carried out by the museum and the key role and impact it has in thearea. He did such a great job since we had lots of fun and we learnt a lot, even a few words in German (GLÜCK AUF).
After this entertaining visit, we tried a traditional German lunch, sausages with fries (“Wurst mit Pommes frites”). Later, we returned to school to go back to our German home.
WEDNESDAY, 17 APRIL by Biel Pampliega Ochando (3ºESO E)
We met at 8.30 because we were heading for Hattingen to see HENRICHSHÜTTE, the famous industry museum. Before reaching the museum, we saw a large fence where you could see all the pictures from people who had been working there during the World War II.
We arrived at the museum half an hour earlier and we waited for the tour guide in a comfortable room. Before showing us the facilities, he explained us the outfit that workers used to wear, the importance of coal in the area and relevant information about the factory.
While doing the tour, he showed us some minerals and I was impressed by a meteorite on the wall similar to the size of a head. During the walk, he told us interesting information about the use of the factory during the World War I and II. He also showed us shelters where people were protected during the explosions.
When we finished the guided tour, we enjoyed a different concept of an art exhibition. One of the rooms of this museum was used to develop creativity through lights, the exhibition called LIGHTPAINTING. At the beginning we were a bit shy, butlittle by little we did our best. We could completely develop our creativity at the rhythm of music. It was great fun! We wereamazed by the explosion of light and colour. We did love it.
Once we finished our tour, we did some sightseeing in Hattingen, a lovely medieval town. The Spanish teacher became the guide then. She showed us iconic places from this cute town.
THURSDAY, 18 APRIL by Sofía Barroso Cabrero (3ºESO E)
On our fourth day in Germany we went to a town called OBERHAUSEN, very famous for its gasometer. We departed fromschool at about 8.30 and we took several means of transport to reach our destination. It took us around an hour and a half toget there. As soon as we got off at the train station, we walked to the gasometer. It was a nice walk because the sun was shining, but it was chilly.
The gasometer was a large and tall building that was built from 1927 to 1929. Once we purchased the tickets, there was a tour guide who was waiting for us at the hall. He explained everything carefully in English. He showed us a recent exhibitioncalled PLANET OCEAN which let us see the fascinating beauty of the world’s oceans and their diverse life forms. This innovative show took us to the unknown depths of this complex ecosystem. The last part of the tour allowed us to experience what you feel when you are in the depth of the ocean. You could delight your senses by lying on the floor oncomfortable cushions. Nobody wanted to leave this area as it was really soothing.
Last but not least, we reached the top of the building where the views were breathtaking. When finishing the tour, we went to a close shopping centre to have fun. We had such a great time in Oberhausen.
FRIDAY, 19 APRIL by Rocío Quiles Vozmediano (3ºESO B)
As the previous days that week, we reached NGB before 8. Then, we excitedly hurried to the meeting point to chat with my Spanish friends. German students couldn’t join our activities from the very beginning that day because they had to take several end-of-year exams.
While they were doing their best academically, we were paying attention to a German professor from Bochum University.As it was raining cats and dogs, we had to put off the visit to the University gardens. The professor gave us a very completegeology lesson at the teacher’s room. He explained us everything in depth (how minerals were obtained, the way theyanalised them, the wildlife and plants we could find in those gardens). After a long way walking under the heavy rain, wewent back to school. There we met the German students who had just finished their exams and could join our activities.
At about 12.30 Herr Bauer, the headmaster of NGB, came to the teacher’s room to say goodbye and grant a participation certificate. There, we showed our gratitude to this special German school and we gave Frau Mägli and Herr Bauer some presents from our school.
After the official part, the school organised a farewell lunch. Later that morning we joined the lessons of our Germanstudents and at about 3, we went back home. We were sad to think about the end of this wonderful trip. However, we all met in the evening to do some activities together and we had a great time.
Then, in the twinkling of an eye, we were saying goodbye to our German families at Neues Gymnasium. As it is commonly known, when time flies it means that you are having such a great time. We are all so thankful for having taken part in this wonderful experience. We would definitely love to do it again!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!
Written by the mentioned students & one of the accompanying teachers,
Gracia A. Martín Moreno.
