The Weekend Review

Welcome back! This past weekend was filled with fun events and a lot of fun with the Germans. It all started on Friday September 23, 2011, when the Germans students and instructors were invited to a “Meet and Greet” at Moraine Park Technical College with Dr. Sheila Ruhland. They enjoyed food made by students from the Culinary Arts program. Afterwards students went shopping to catch some deals on the latest fashions. That night a group of us drove down to Milwaukee for a Day/Glow concert. As we entered the city area the German students were in awe of the scenery. This concert included all types of techno/ electronic music which included paint. People were able to toss around paint and dance to the music playing on stage. We were there for about four hours, although it felt we were there all night, but it was a lot of fun so it was worth it! Our clothes looked like tie dyes from all the paint colors. The German students enjoyed themselves; they said this was their first time going to an event like this.

Saturday September 24, was another day of shopping. Some people headed down to sweet home Chicago; while others headed up north to Appleton to some of the stores they hadn’t seen yet. After I was done with work I took my guest Philip, and some other friends, to my job at Qdoba to have supper. They enjoyed the fresh Mexican cuisines that were offered; it was so good, they couldn’t stop eating their meal. After being full we went to Wal-Mart to walk off our meal, and to do some grocery shopping. We compared and contrasted what foods were offered in America and Germany. There were some things that they never heard or tried before, so I decided to buy them so they can try them.

Sunday September 25, was a big day for me because the Bears and Packers game was on. Me, being a huge Bears fan, and not liking the Packers as known as “cheese heads,” I was excited to show the Germans students a traditional American football rivalry game. I hosted a Bears/Packers game at my house. All of us chipped in on food such as chips, candy, fried chicken, and other side dishes for the typical tailgate food in America. The football game was a good intense game, although it almost looked like my Bears could’ve made a comeback to beat the Packers, but they fell short. Of course, all the cheese heads made fun of me and were cheering about their victory, but it was all fun and games.

The weekend concluded as we watched a little more football and started to get organized for the week ahead. This week school started for the German student so they can learn about different subjects in America compared to German culture. The German students must do a presentation about a particular subject title they were assigned to. These titles range from German sports to German foods and these presentations are held from September 28 to September 30.

Until next time, hasta luego!

Lee IV

The Germans Are Here!

After waiting three months for the Germans to come to America, the day finally came! On Thursday September 22, 2011, students from Germany landed in Madison, Wisconsin. I couldn’t wait much longer to see them because I made some good friends when I went to Germany in May 2011. Five carloads drove down to Madison to pick up the Germans at Dane County Regional Airport. As we got there the anticipation of seeing them was filled with joy. Once we entered the airport we all hugged one another, took pictures, and laughed about the good times in Germany.  After we left the airport we decided to get some grub at East Town Mall food court in Madison. Some of the Germans were tired, hungry and overwhelmed, but they were in good spirits to be in America.

Once we finished eating at various restaurants located in the food court, we walked the mall to check out some of the stores. It was a little funny to see some of their faces because some of the stores we have here they don’t have in Germany. They were oh my goodness ya have stores like Abercrombie & Fitch, Victoria Secret and so on here. I guess at times I take for granted of the stores we have here since I see them all the time, so to me it’s normal. Seeing their faces was priceless.  Shortly after, we talked about some of our plans for the week and departed home.

Our journey back to Fond du Lac was a smooth ride. As I took a look back in the van I saw majority of the Germans already sleeping; some of them had already been awake for a day so they were ready for bed. Once we reached home I introduced my hosts to my housemates and took a tour around to the house. I basically told them to make themselves at home because they are more than guests, and I wanted them to feel like this was their home away from home.  After unpacking, my hosts were off to bed waiting for the exciting days ahead.

Here goes Day 1 stay tuned for more to come!

Cheers,

Lee IV

Our German Friends Arrive

Well it looks like everyone is here. We welcomed our guests at the Dane County Regional Airport yesterday and it was a mix of reunions and new meetings. Some of our student hosts have not yet travelled to Germany while others greeted their former hosts from May 2011.

Tom Endejan (MPTC Culinary Arts Baking Instructor) and I have been planning for our guests' arrival for quite some time now. We have a number of activities planned including a cave crawl, a yacht excursion and an afternoon tea, as well as a number of other doings.

Today, the culinary students welcomed some of  their German friends to visit their classes. Bagels and Lavosh were prepared in Mr. Endejan's class as were a number of sauces in Mr. Libby's class. Let's be frank; no one went home hungry.

I will keep everyone updated as the visit progresses...

James

Follow our German Exchange at Moraine Park Technical College

Welcome back to the International Education blog!  Follow our blog to "travel with German students and instructors via the web" while they are at Moraine Park Technical College.

Since May 2006, Moraine Park Technical College has been hosting a 14-day exchange with students and faculty of Darmstadt, Germany.

Each year, our students and faculty in the Culinary Arts program travel to Darmstadt, Germany, in late May and early June. In return, our culinary instructors, James Simmers and Tom Endejan, host a group of nearly 20 German students with two German instructors in late September or early October each year. We welcomed Mr. Armin Meng and Ms. Daniela Butennandt and their students to Moraine Park today, September 23.



Left to right: James Simmers, Culinary Arts Instructor; Caron Daugherty, Dean of General Education and International Education; Christian Schmidt, German student; Dr. Sheila Ruhland, Moraine Park President and Armin Meng, German Instructor



The exchange has included Moraine Park Technical College students traveling in the spring and staying with German families in Darmstadt for one week and in Berlin for a second week. While in Berlin, students visit the German Parliament, take an architectural tour and visit areas of both East and West Berlin, ranging from concentration camp sites to art museums. The trip wraps up in Amsterdam.

In the fall, while the German guests visit Wisconsin, Moraine Park faculty, staff and students serve as host families to their German counterparts. In addition to attending classes at Moraine Park and interacting with students, the guests have participated in the Green Lake Harvest Days Festival, a Mecan River canoe trip, an overnight stay at Blue Harbor Water Resort, tours through Mercury Marine, visits to Fox Lake Correctional Facility, trips to Michels Corporation, and stays at the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. The German guests then venture to New York City before returning to Germany.  This year the German guests will tour Fox Lake Correctional Facility, Ledgeview Nature Center Caves and Green Lake via the Heidel House Escapade, just to name a few. 

Moraine Park’s International Education program welcomes the German students to our college and the region as they continue a long-standing exchange. We hope this opportunity allows them to develop new friendships while building on existing ones. We look forward to seeing you in Germany in May 2012!

Guten Tag,

Caron Daugherty, Dean of General Education and International Education