Trier Exchange 2009

In December Marianne, Emese and Eleanor accompanied the year tens on the German exchange trip to Trier, staying with the same families they stayed with two years ago; however, whilst the year tens were busy visiting museums and mustard factories, they were to be doing work experience. Marianne worked at a law firm, Emese was in a primary school, and Eleanor spent her week at a local radio station – RPR1 – in the news department.

Eleanor: The whole week was rather surreal, in a word. I shadowed the various journalists or editors, attending press conferences or prowling the streets with a microphone and intercepting strangers to interview them.  Sometimes I was able to watch a sound edit as they put together their stories, which was quite a valuable experience. Possibly the most surreal moment of the week was when the circus brought its elephants into the Christmas market.  While the journalists interviewed the trainers and tried to get trumpeting noises on their microphones, I was stroking the elephants’ trunks and feeding them Brötchen (bread rolls).

Probably the best thing, however, was visiting my German exchange partner again. The difference in my German from two years ago was dramatic, making conversation much easier. The family were lovely and welcoming as ever and went out of their way to make me feel comfortable. By the end I felt like one of the family – staying up to paint Christmas decorations, watching German soaps and going with them to church.

Marianne: My work experience in Germany was at a law firm that deals mostly with insurance, insolvency and tax law.   Unfortunately being a student meant that during my four days of work at the firm, I did not see many legal processes.  I did, however, on my first day watch the last part of a road traffic case being decided and therefore saw inside a German law court.

For the next three days, I helped with administration work such as organising files, and talked with the other employees. So, despite the lack of work, my German speaking improved greatly and I enjoyed the opportunity to experience “working life” in another country.

Emese: I hugely enjoyed working with the children and getting to know the German way of schooling, and also comparing it to my schooling and that which I have observed when doing work experience in English schools.  As the week drew to a close, the children were very sad to see me leave which was heart-warming.   As we said our goodbyes, they produced a number of gifts and cards they had made for me and told me not to forget them, which of course I shall not!   The whole week in Trier was a really good experience and I look forward to a possible visit in the future, independently of school.

Eleanor , Marianne and Emese, Year 12