ON EXCHANGE IN GERMANY

My most memorable experience from my Round Square exchange here in Germany so far has been a canoe trip that we went on. One afternoon after school, all the international students came together for a fun canoeing trip along the river that runs through Roßleben. I shared a boat with my exchange partner and a friend from Switzerland, and together with the others we travelled along the river for around two hours. This experience was definitely a highlight for me as I just had a blast becoming friends with students from different countries and learning about their lives and cultures.

The most confronting experience for me by far has been the language barrier. It has taken some time to adjust to the language and being surrounded by conversations that I often cannot understand. However, I am so incredibly grateful to Imogen, my exchange partner, who has helped me adjust to this change, as well as everyone around me who makes the effort to speak to me in English, even when it’s not their first language. Their support has made settling in much easier and has helped me feel more comfortable in this new environment.

One thing I would like to bring back to Scotch Oakburn is the positive and welcoming attitude that I have gained from my experience here in Germany. Both the students and teachers have been very supportive and have made a real effort to include me despite the language barrier. I want to bring back that same sense of inclusion to Scotch Oakburn, so every student feels at home and can learn with others altogether.

A noticeable difference here compared to back home, is the location of the school itself. Here at Klosterschule Roßleben, they are located in a small town, where nature completely surrounds everything. They have access to large outdoor nature spaces, which stretch out into forest areas. They even have an outdoor “green” classroom, where classes have the opportunity to take their work outside and spend whole lessons in the nature, no matter the subject.

Isabelle Kriz
Year 10