The 18 German-American Partnership Program students and their 17 partner students had an incredible time during the 17-day exchange in the Boothbay Harbor region.

German students were paired with American students at Boothbay Region High School currently taking German as a foreign language. The American families provided care, food and housing for the German students during their stay.

Many of the families reported that they were sad to see their “German” leave to head off to New York City for the final four days of the journey before all Germans returned to the BRHS partner school, Schule an der Deilich, in Bad Harzburg.

The exchange group traveled to many places during the two weeks. Trips to Battleship Cove, Salem, North Conway, the Fryeburg Fair, and Galactic Bowling were some of the many activities the American GAPP group was able to offer thanks to strong fundraising efforts last school year.

In German class at BRHS, German students were lucky to have instruction from three guest teachers, Katrin Klaus, Tanja Heldt and Sebastian Klaus. German students completed video projects, presentations, skits, and interviews as part of the experience.

The Schule an der Deilich students also visited classes at the elementary school and met with excited students there. At the final evening potluck dinner, the BRHS students and parents were able to enjoy presentations by the German students and even dance with some of the energetic German students.

GAPP would like to thank Balmy Days Cruises for the beautiful ocean tour and the House of Pizza’s Konstantina Rigas for organizing generous pizza party and cooking lots of really great food. GAPP would like to thank both the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce which provided wonderful gifts for each of the German students as well as the Boothbay Region YMCA for providing all German students the opportunity to participate in healthy after school activities with a two-week membership.

GAPP is also grateful to: Tom Dewey of Radio Shack, for donating his time, electronic expertise, and efforts to chronicle the GAPP adventures on the web; Boothbay Region Greenhouses for the beautiful flowers which were used to greet our guest at Boston Logan Airport; Mike and Heidi Leighton for organizing a wonderful trip to the Fryeburg Fair; and to Ragni Baade and Sherman’s Books and Stationery for organizing the gift bags.

It should also not go without mentioning the many hours our bus drivers, teachers and administrators spent helping the program to become as successful as it was. A special thanks to those in our school and greater community who helped make the exchange a total success.