Bon Voyage Young Travelers
Taken at Lise-Meitner-Gymnasium by Melody Golubski, Riley HS Librarian and Media Specialist
Have you ever wondered what it is like in other countries? What life is like in Spain or Germany? Have you ever wondered about the foreign exchange experience? There are obviously many differences between the United States and other countries and what you may find out could be eye-opening.
There are different opportunities—even at Riley High School—to visit another country, one way is through the German American Partnership Program (GAPP). Riley HS Librarian Melody Golubski has been the coordinator for GAPP for 15 years. GAPP gives students the opportunity to stay in Germany and have new experiences, like attending one of their schools. Riley High School is the only South Bend school involved in such a program, so if you’re a freshman, sophomore, or junior, you should take the chance while you can.
Eiscafe San Marco in Krefeld, Germany. Picture by Melody Golubski.
Golubski says that there are some benefits to going to a new location that people often don’t think of. She states, “Students get to spend time learning another culture and actually live that culture for three weeks.”
You would get to try new foods, see what schools or colleges you might attend, experience the life of a teenage German or Spanish student. Who wouldn’t want to do that?
However, some people don’t go out of the country because of the potential cost and safety issues. Despite this, a lot of students raise money by selling things, fundraising, or just saving up money from their jobs. You could also ask family and friends if they could contribute to your endeavors. Additionally, if you’re concerned about safety, you could ask a close friend or family member to join you on the excursion. Alternatively, bringing an object from home that has some sort of sentimental value or that brings comfort could also help.
Germany, along with Spain, has plenty of unique delights like their different cuisines. Döner, a shredded meat mixture with sauce, veggies, and wrapped in pita, is one of Germany’s multicultural foods that are easily accessible.
Senior Leonie Mueller from Northrine Westfalia, Germany explained, “People can eat ‘currywurst mit pommes mayo’ or döner, those are easy to get.”
“Gazpacho is a food that plenty of people love. To make it, you put in the blender tomatoes, bread, olive oil, garlic, and water, when you blend it all together it is so good,” Lucia Grenado, a senior here at Riley who came from Seville, Spain, shared.
Castle Satzwey and Aachen in Germany. Picture by Melody Golubski.
Want to know of a couple of interesting places you can visit if you decide to go? One place in Spain is the El Rio Guadalquivir. “El Rio Guadalquivir is the river that passes across my city. I really recommend that you ride a boat through the river so that you can see all the city,” claims Grenado.
“We have a street in my city with about 50 stores just outside, that’s always fun,” suggested Mueller. To me, that sounds almost like an outlet mall, which would be a nice way to get souvenirs!
Overall, traveling to other countries with things like the GAPP program allows you to understand the differences between the US and other countries abroad, such as the different cuisine and tourist attractions.
However, many Americans underestimate the importance of small things we do in our country that other countries do not partake in. Usually, when a student plays a sport in middle or high school it’s important to them and the school; being able to play a sport in school is a privilege that not all people have. Lucia Grenado states, “Sports in my school from Spain aren’t that important as in Riley and I love that [we have this new opportunity] because they are a lot of fun.”
El Rio Guadalquivir. From Google.
Another difference is the driving age. The minimum driving age in the United States is 16 with a driving permit—15 if you are in driver’s education. Spain's minimum age is 18-years-old.
“It is cool here. There are a lot of different things, for example, for me it is so weird when I see teenagers driving here because in Spain we can’t drive until we are 18,” claimed Grenado.
Overall, going to another country sounds like a great idea. Gaining new experiences, learning new things, and making new friends are all exciting possibilities that come with traveling abroad and not simply staying in the United States forever.
Librarian Melody Golubski expresses, “I have had the pleasure to get to know and work with teachers from Germany. It is so rewarding to see how much our Riley students gain from making new friends and having this wonderful experience.”
I hope you choose to go on such an adventure! There will be plenty of stories to tell about your trip and the things you have learned. If you would like to learn more about GAPP, contact Golubski at mgolubski@sb.school.
