Day 11

In the morning we met at school a little earlier before school started to take a last foto of the group on front of the school building. The American partners then attended their classes and the German partners went to their “homeroom“. There travel preparations started as the online check in was possible which started some confusion because not all data needed for that was in students  hands. So we had some calls and mails with parents and in the end a few were checked in by their parents and the others would do that at the airport.
Half an hour ´s footwalk later we arrived at Old Orchard ´s, the shopping mall and had a relaxed time with shopping, lunch, and hang out time  until we walked back to school. With everyone back home, there were between one to two hours left before getting to the airport which all made in time.
Hugs and tears later we checked in - with real persons at the counter, no machines at all;) - and made it through security where some students  luggage was doublechecked because of dubious things (presents).
On the plane one last problem was solved by the crew so that the whole group could sit together and off we took.
At FMO airport the parents were already waiting for us to welcome all back home.
Thank you for the wonderful little items for the teacher chaperones.
B. Rolf

 

 

Day 10

... was the last full day at school with the partners. After the long evening game at the Cubs many students looked a little tired when we  met for homeroom during the first period. The American students then picked up their German partners for the rest of the schoolday.
At 5:30 pm all met at Gillson Beach for the farewell party with pizza, salads, fruit and lots of sweet treats. With all students hanging out at or near the beach, and the parents and teachers getting to know each other better, the evening ended at 8:00 pm.
Not to forget warm words and little presents for all the helping hands, and especially great thanks to Frau Kaminsky as head of the exchange.
The beach was still crowded with senior students, celebrating their end of the school term when we left. 
Tomorrow we will meet for travel preparations at school and last shopping options at Old Orchard Shopping Mall  before we will be taken to the Airport.
B. Rolf

 

Day 9

This Monday was a school day until only 1pm because of the trip to Wrigley Field and the Cubs game.
The students all attended Frau Kaminsky's German classes. We divided into 3 groups that alternately went to class, learned about baseball rules and worked on their travel journals.
The host families then picked up everyone to get to the tour of Wrigley Field, one of the oldest ballparks in the US, also with its unique ivory walls. 
We, in total 120 persons, had a smart tour guide who told us about the history of baseball and the ballpark.
After the tour we had time for shopping souvenirs and lunch in smaller groups. 
The game vs. the Milwaukee Brewers started at 6:40 with a 'walk' by the Cubs, but then the Brewers got control of the game and had 8 runs before the Cubs got back but still lost 3:9 after 9 innings. 
Late at almost 11 pm all were back home and will probably have a tired start into the schoolday tomorrow on Tuesday. 
B. Rolf

 

 Day 7 and 8

Family time on these days. Reported is that a larger group went to Six Flags amusement park on Sunday and enjoyed all the rides. Others went downtown for more sights and probably also shopping or the zip line at Navy Pier.
On Saturday the weather invited to be on the beach, ebentually even for swimming in 15°C warm/cold Lake Michigan.
Downtown Wilmette was also crowded that evening with many families enjoying dinner outside.
Compared to that Sunday was warm, cloudy and windy leaving many options open.
The highlight tomorrow after joining Frau Kaminsky's German classes is the tour of Wrigley Field and the game of the Cubs.
B. Rolf

 

 

Day 6

This Friday we had a tour of New Trier Highschool. The German teacher, Frau Stabinsky and 9 of her senior students had organised to take us around the campus.
That is a really amazing place with so many options for students and of course sports facilities.
We even got on the stage of the theater and inside the gym that can take about 2000 visitors and the indoor track and field stadium. 
After that we biked to a little shopping plaza to grab some food and drinks.
We then headed to Nortwestern University on the Lake. That was even more impressive with its huge new and also older buildings.
The tour there took us into the giant indoor football field and all the services around it. We could also get on the outdoor terrace of the office building with a breathtaking view of the lake and the Skyline of Chicago. 
The schoolday then ended at WJHS where the partners picked up our students for individual plans like for example a visit at the bowling alley at the Country Club in the evening. 
The weekend provides plans like going downtown Chicago and many families also plan to go to Six Flags amusement park on Sunday.

B. Rolf 

 

 

 

@ Wilmette Day 5

Thursday was a schoolday again. After the Downtown excitement yesterday, today´s plan was quite simple: just follow your partner during the day. So after our German homeroom the Telgte students were picked up by their partners and went to their classes in 2nd period.

Here every schoolday covers the same subjects - so no day is `better or worse´ than the other.

During the day the host parents launched an appointment for the late afternoon with dinner and `putt check´ which is supposed to be some kind of (indoor?)golf. We´ll learn more about that tomorrow.

Besides that it was a beautiful sunny day today and it will even be warmer tomorrow when we bike to New Trier Highschool (for grades 10-12) and to Northwestern University Campus. 

Looks like the day tomorrow will be very `educational´ - however, the Lake is never far away;)

B. Rolf

 

Day 4

from Wilmette Metra Station we took the train to OTC (Ogilvie Transportation Center). In less than 30 min we were downtown Chicago. Willis Tower was only a short walk and we could directly take the superfast elevators to the skydeck at level 103. Although a little cloudy, we had a perfect view and great fun with the ledges (glass-cabins installed outside). There must be tons of photos from the kids.

After lunchbreak we took the must-have fotos at Cloud Gate aka The Bean. 

A walk along Michigan avenue brought us to the Chicago River where we booked the architecture tour. While waiting for boarding, some explored the Tribune Tower with its stone artefacts from all over the world, whereas others fed the pigeons and their smartphones.

Onboard the boat we had an entertaining 75min tour on the Chicago River and its two branches. It offered fantastic views of the skyscrapers with information about style, materials and construction.

After the tour we had a beautiful walk back to OTC along the new Chicago River walk with all its bars and options to stay there - which unfortunately we couldn´t as we had to get the train back to Wilmette on time.

The evening provided a reunion meeting for the teachers meeting the chaperones that had been to Telgte over the years.

Tomorrow the partners will be in school shadowing their hosts.

B.Rolf

 

Day 3

After meeting at school and a short briefing for the day. We got on the bikes to meet village president Mrs Plunkett at the village hall. She welcomed us in German, then told us a lot about how Wilmette is and run especially abut plans to keep the city and make the city more sustainable. She was very interested in what we Germans do for sustainability. Interesting to hear was that she and her trustees do not belong to any party which allows them to focus on relevant issues for the city without any concern for party political interests.

The next stop today was at the fire department. The firefighters showed us how they live during their shift, how to use their equipment and what it means to be a firefighter with all risks and benefits.

After a short lunchbreak in downtown Wilmette we biked through the east of Wilmette to the Bahaj Temple at the shores of Lake Michigan. With a film the Bahaj people introduced their religion and the impressive building, one of eight in the world.

The last stop today was the Wilmette History Museum in an old building that used to be the village hall of Gross Point, the German part of today's Wilmette that dates back to the 1830s, when settlers from Trier made their residents there.

With rain coming in we returned to school to meet the partners for the way back home to the host families. 

Word goes that some ended the day at Homer´s, the world´s best ice cream shop...

B. Rolf

 

Day 2

The day started with a welcome breakfast organized by the host families and with warm welcoming words by Mrs Kaminsky and the principal - she received a Telgte coffee mug and a bike bell both with the Telgte oak on it as a little gift from the town of Telgte.

After that the Telgte students had some time to organise themselves and talk about all the Sunday activities.

They then joined their partners for the rest of the school day. Let´s see what they like more at the end of the exchange. It definitely is very different.

School here regularly starts at 8:20 if you are not into an extra program like Orchestra or Advanced Science for example. It ends at 3:15pm. So there was enough time to share in the afternoon with new and old friends with the weather being so beautiful today - clear sky, sunny but windy.

Tomorrow will be our first field day with visits at the village president and the fire station. Hopefully the day will stay dry until we´re back at school.

B. Rolf

 

Day 1
Today students hopefully woke up fairly early after having slept a decent number of hours. At least the host families were informed, not to let our students go to bed too early. 
The photos of the day, sent by the host families, showed very active Telgte kids with their American partners all round Wilmette and Chicago during a sunny day.
A few examples, not to meantion all:
Nortwestern University Campus, Chicago Botanic Garden, Millennium Park with fountain and the Bean, Chicago River Walk, Magnificent Mile (=Michigan Avenue), Navy Pier, Chinatown, Gillson Beach, Chicago Zoo, Museum of Illusions, Campfire with s‘mores, …
Details of the day‘s activities were hopefully sent back home by the kids.
Tomorrow the welcome breakfast starts a school day at WJHS.
B. Rolf