By Rachel Neglia
Guten Tag! Last week, Tempe Prep welcomed a dozen new faces to its campus. These students from Regensburg, Germany, showed an avid interest in embracing American culture by participating in the Tempe-Regensburg Sister Cities Program, which has gone on since 1976.This program offers unique opportunities to high school students who are seeking excitement and a moving experience.
While the exchange students are in Arizona, they definitely aren’t experiencing Langeweile, or boredom. Before they arrived, their TPA hosts planned a full itinerary of attractions for them to experience, most of which are unique to Arizona. “Our German guests will be taking part in a wide variety of activities, both fun and cultural, around the Valley,” says Herr Gray. “Nature hikes, a Diamondbacks game, museums, restaurants, and a look at student life at TPA are all part of the program.”
Although all of this was a blast, one still might wonder why the German students, from a society rich with culture (and many ornate castles that seem like they could have been transposed from fairy tales) would be interested in a place like Arizona. Even though Arizona might not have very many castles, it is still rich with history and interesting sights. One of the most captivating expeditions that the students went on was a trip to the Grand Canyon ─ an experience that is not very common for many of our friends across the Atlantic.
This summer, our TPA students will be making the journey to Regensburg, Germany, to stay for two weeks. In the past, students have gone to the town hall (part of which dates back to the 14th century), the magnificent gothic cathedral in the city, which was founded in 1275, and many local events that embrace the culture and history of the German region of Bavaria.
“The best part of [this] program, to me at least, is that students get to learn about and appreciate another culture in a much more direct way than would ever be possible through classroom instruction,” says Herr Gray. Indeed while culture is exchanged and understood in new ways that cannot be taught in class, the friendships that are created are much more memorable. Herr Gray goes on to explain that “Both student groups are friendly enough toward each other upon their first meeting, but actual friendships tend to form as they get to know each other. Some tears are even shed on both sides when they have to say goodbye.”
For the remainder of the German students’ stay here, and when our TPA students travel to Deutschland this summer, we can expect more of a trade of cultures and the culmination of an experience of a lifetime. Auf Wiedersehen!