Clark Kaminsky Germany

Arrival

As the MBA group arrived from the long flight into Frankfurt, each tired person was welcomed by their host families. My host siblings, the twins Moritz and Gioia, and their father walked me from the baggage claim back to the parking garage, displaying just how big the Frankfurt Flughafen was. We got to know each other a bit more by chit-chatting on the walk over, and then met my host mother on the phone in the car. After the 35 minute drive home, she gave me a more proper introduction as she gave me a tour of the house, showing me where I could find everything I would need and leading me to my third floor room. But, before I could catch up on sleep as I was still jet-lagged, the host family brought me to a soccer game between the older legends of Germany against those of Turkey.

The old boys of Germany take on Turkey

Introduction to the city of Wiesbaden

The next day, I was driven to school, the Humbolt Schule, with Moritz and Gioia, and I spent the first half of the school day working with Moritz on his technical club, in which he and his friends set up the electrical workings of school plays and other events. Afterwards, the MBA and Harpeth Hall group were taken on a tour of Wiesbaden. We saw all of the antique buildings intermixed with modern construction, unlike anything one would find anywhere across America.

The church in the center of Wiesbaden called the Marktkirche

The ornate train station entrance

Mainz Day Trip

After two days of class, all of the Nashville students were brought by bus to Mainz, where we were guided on a tour by Frau Lotz, a teacher of the Humbolt Schule. As we stepped off the bus, we immediately saw the wide, amazing Rhine River, and turning the other direction, we could see the the ancient buildings in the skyline in front of 21st century architecture. After a short walk around the city, we went into the Gutenberg Museum, where we saw many original, hundreds of years old prints.

Mainz Cathedral in background

Original print in the Gutenberg Museum

The Weekend

After a few more days of regular school, the weekend was upon us. The semi-annual street fest was open this weekend, which all of the students were excited for. It closes down the largest street in Wiesbaden to fill with food stands and interesting activities, in addition to filling the adjacent park with carnival rides. Moritz and I went both Friday and Saturday and met up with many of his friends from school. On Sunday, while Moritz was at his rowing training, his father took me to a nearby town called Rudesheim, where his family's wine company was founded.

Wilhelmstrassefest carnival ride

Street performers

Day trips 

The next weeks, between full days of school, we were taken on three more day trips, to Rudesheim, Heidelberg, and Frankfurt respectively. We took a ferry across the Rhine River to get to Rudesheim, and then, after walking through the city, we took a lift up to a monument overlooking the city. In the next day, we went to Heidelberg, where we walked through a huge, dilapidated castle. Afterwards, we visited Heidelberg University, which was founded in 1386. In Frankfurt, we entered a governmental building filled with regional flags, and climbed up a church overlooking the entire city.

Camden and I in Rudesheim

Heidelberg Castle

The city of Frankfurt from atop the Frankfurt Cathedral

The next week

The next week, I went with my host family to their friends' house, which was in the beautiful countryside. Also, I went with my German class to a local winery, where we saw every step of the production. Finally, the group of MBA boys was reunited with Herr Dougherty, following a melancholy goodbye shared with host families.

Inside the winery in Wiesbaden

Munich

For the first three days with Herr Dougherty, we explored the city of Munich. While we were there, we used the amazing church at the Marienplatz as a meeting place. We ate Haxenfleisch, a very German meat, the first night at a busy, touristy restaurant. In the following days, we watched the World Cup game of Germany against Sweden, in which the locals were greatly invested, and saw BMW world, the Bayern-Munich soccer stadium, and the Olympiapark, where many extreme sports were going on.

The Marienplatz Church

Bayern-Munich soccer stadium

Vienna

After our three days in Munich, we took a three hour train through the Alps to Vienna, Austria. When we got there, after climbing up the top of a huge church with a view over the city, we ate at a famous schnitzel restaurant, where their delicious schnitzels were so large that they went over the edge of the plate. The next day, we went to the Schonbrunn Palace, from which many generations of Austro-Hungarian emperors ruled. Afterwards, we explored the streets of the different regions of Vienna, such as the Karlsplatz and the Stephansplatz. After we watched Germany get unfortunately knocked out of the World Cup, the weather became rainy to match how we felt. But, we still visited Belvedere castle, which was remade as an art museum, filled with works by Klimt, Monet, and more famous artists. The last day, we walked to the Hundertwasser village, a city block created strangely by an artist. To celebrate our stay, we later went to an amusement park, where a huge Ferris wheel took us above the city.

Schonbrunn Palace

Belvedere Castle

Hundertwasser Village

Danke

I appreciate the opportunity which the Wilson family has given to us, allowing me to not only better my German speaking ability, but also furthering my cultural awareness. I am thankful for having been able to have the trip of a lifetime, exploring such a different landscape filled with a new people and culture.