Thursday Already????

Wow, what a whirlwind of a week. As I sit down to read this, I am so surprised that is was Monday when I last posted an update.

Well, how has the week been...

Tuesday - Tuesday was the first day that reflected how an exchange is supposed to be. We all fell into an easy rhythm, with the feeling of good connections with or families and routines well established. Students arrived at school in the morning, went to class with their partners, we went swimming at the Friebat (the wonderful outdoor pool discussed last week), and then went home with their partners when they finished class at 12:30.

Wednesday was the big event day. After meeting at the train station at 5:40 AM (yes parents, your kids will get up that early when a day full of amusement park is the reward), we boarded the train for three hour ride to Europa Park. We traveled with our IKG partners. A great time was had by all, eve with a little rain - ok, it was a big rain for about an hour. Both Ms. Dupuis and I learned, though, that our students are now becoming seasoned travelers as they had all brought extra clothes with them in preparation for any weather.

Europa Park featured a number of European countries as the themes for rides, displays and food. The place was not too busy, keeping the line-ups for rides reasonable. This lack of a huge crowd related to the timing in the school year. Students here are still in school for another 2 weeks. Even Hagen and I ventured onto one of the rides. Sorry, we didn't buy the photo reflecting the terror in our faces.

Today (Thursday) saw the kids in school again for a couple of presentations. Then, a brief Tuttlingen debrief and then either to class or downtown for some last minute gift shopping. Thursday afternoon and evening had all of us attending a BBQ at the Richtler's farm (Kyren's partner). After a brief tour of the dairy cattle ("very cool!"), we enjoyed a pot-luck featuring meats brought by each family.

So, here we are, late Thursday evening. Souvenirs are purchased and crammed into overflowing bags. Canada is about to experience one big gummy bear invasion. Students are resting in anticipation of another train ride, this time wiht full bags, and I am off to my last (sadly) sleep in Tuttlingen.

Not sure if I will be able to get one more post in before getting home, but will do my best on Friday.

Internet for me has been intermittent, so photos will be added later.

RP