Thirteen Kenmore East and Kenmore West students, along with German instructors Matt Gabel and Lisa Palaian, recently spent 13 days traveling through Germany as part of the district's foreign exchange partnership with the Franken Gymnasium in Zulpich. This year's trip was unique as students who did not take German were also allowed to come on the trip if they hosted German students in the fall.

The trip, which began on April 4th, started in Zulpich where students shadowed their German friends at school. They were able to attend classes, meet administrators and teachers, experience the school's "Spirit Week", and watch kids prepare for their graduation exams, called the "Abitur".

Outside of school, students took a city tour of Cologne, a trip to Bonn, a trip to the Roman Bath Museum in Zulpich, and a trip to Maastricht in the Netherlands.

After spending time in Zulpich, students then traveled to Berlin where they visited historic sites such as The Gendarmenmarkt, The Bebelplatz (site of the Nazi Book Burnings), Humboldt University, the Memorial to Victims of War and Tyranny, The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the Fuhrer Bunker, the former Luftwaffe Headquarters, the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, The Brandenburg Gate, and The Reichstag building.

"Each of the tours and sites provided a great cultural opportunity and traditional German food," Kenmore West student Dom Digiulio said. "All of us had a great time on the exchange, and we are looking forward to seeing students from the Franken Gymnasium again when a new group comes to stay visit us in the fall!"