Czech Students in Hermeskeil Tuesday 8/4/2008 – Sunday 13/4/ 2008

We were in Hermeskeil !!! After a few months´ work on an international project together with Erich Kästner Realschule and after February visit of the German students to Vysoké Mýto, on Tuesday 8 / 4 / 2008, a group of nine Czech students of the first grade of the grammar school set off to visit their German friends in Hermeskeil.

Wednesday 9 / 4 / 2008

Night Train to Türkismühle A few hours of a light sleep, three times changing trains (Prague, Fulda, Frankfurt) and finally on Wednesday 9 / 4 / 2008 at about 9:30 p.m. we got off the train in Türkismühle, where Mrs. Astrid Hofmann and some German parents were waiting for us ……

Erich Kästner Realschule … in order to drive us to school.

Welcome by the Headmaster We were welcome by H. J. Gärtner, the headmaster of the school, and after delicious refreshment …

Tour around the school … he showed us round all the school …

English and ICT … and then we attended a German English class and an ICT class together with our German friends.

Lunch and the afternoon The German students together with their teacher had prepared a tasty lunch for us and after that we talked about the programme for the next three days. In the late afternoon we took the school bus home and then spent the evening in our families.

Thursday 10 / 4 / 2008

Welcome at the Town Hall The first item on Thursday's programme was the visit to the Town Hall in Hermeskeil and the welcome by the Mayor, Mr. Michael Hülpes, who introduced the town and the region to us.

Domino about Trier Then we returned to school and playing domino, created by the German students, we learned about the sights of the city of Trier before going there on the next day.

Workshop CR – VM - GVM Then we changed roles because two workshops followed, during which the Czech students taught the German ones (who had not been to Vysoké Mýto in February) something about the Czech Republic, the town of Vysoké Mýto and the grammar school.

Lunch in the School Canteen The Mayor of Hermeskeil invited us for lunch in the school canteen of the neighbouring primary school. Many thanks!

Dance Classes Every Thursday afternoon the students of the tenth grade can attend the dance classes at school – we couldn't miss it of course !

Swimming pool We spent the rest of the afternoon in the swimming pool with a pleasant whirlpool of warm water and a gorgeous toboggan - it was free for us because it was a treat of the Mayor of Hermeskeil again.

Friday 11 / 4 / 2008

Trip to the City of Trier On Friday we went on the first trip – to the beautiful city of Trier that is on the list of UNESCO heritage cities.

Sights of Trier Accompanied by the German students (who had prepared short descriptions of the particular places) we saw the Old Roman Baths, the amazing Roman Basilica from the times of Emperor Konstantin, the impressive Trier Cathedral of St. Peter and the huge gate of Porta Nigra.

Town Centre The old town centre in Trier with the Market Cross in the middle is not as large as the square in Vysoké Mýto, but thanks to the beautiful ancient houses it is very picturesque.

Saturday 12 / 4 / 2008

Trip to Idar-Oberstein On Saturday four kind mothers drove us to the pretty town of Idar-Oberstein, the traditional centre of mining and processing of precious stones. First we visited an old mine for precious stones, then we paid a visit to the museum of jewels.

Sports centre In the afternoon we went to the sports centre, where we could play baseball, floor ball, squash, badminton, bowling, snooker,… or use the well- equipped fitness centre.

Sunday 13 / 4 / 2008 Summary

Though some of the students who were in Hermeskeil, learn German at school and they probably tried to speak German a bit in Hermeskeil too, the main communication language was English and all the Czech and German students had a lot of opportunities to practise English conversation. Our exchange trip to Germany was a real success – the Czech students liked Hermeskeil so much that they even didn't want to go home.

Thanks !!! We would like to thank a lot to Mrs. Astrid Hoffman, who arranged all the fantastic programme for us, to all the German students for the time, they spent with us, and also to all the parents for the hospitality, great atmosphere and for driving us to Idar-Oberstein and Türkismühle.