HAMBURG February 2007
This year, 31 boys from Upper 4 accompanied by Will Croston, Gavin Sumner, Fabien Hanique and Wolfram Karg flew to Hamburg for a three day taste of Germany. Unfortunately one of the original party of 32 boys dropped out because he was unable to get his non-EU passports in order in good time. The trip was a great success and this was due to all the hard work that Claudia Weiler and Will Croston had put in to organise the programme.
This year, we were not staying in a Youth Hostel but rather the deutsches Seemannsheim which was located in the city centre. Having only learnt German for a term, the boys gained positive firsthand experience of Germany and were given many opportunities to try out their language skills including in the now traditional postcard to the Head Master. The boys coped well with buying food, souvenirs, stamps and gifts, as well as being willing to try a variety of new foods. The Hamburg stall-holders were, as usual, very patient as they dealt with 31 individual orders and they remarked on the good behaviour and interest of our boys.
The journey was short and smooth, with an easy transfer into the city centre. Accommodation at the Seemannsheim hostel was an excellent with double and triple rooms and good food especially the copious German breakfast. We also took our evening meal at the hostel where the boys had all the pasta they could eat ! For our lunch we visited sausage and bakery stalls with Currywurst proving very popular. We also enjoyed a Schnitzel lunch on board the Rickmer Rickmers ship.
We had almost three full days in the city and were able to include all the major sights, thanks to cheap group tickets for the very efficient public transport system, which meant that we could cover a fair distance quickly. The traffic-free city centre provided a safe area to let small groups go shopping for short periods and the boys coped well with this, finding some good bargains notably from the Carnival department in Karstadt. A further highlight of the trip included the open-air, floodlit ice-rink, where many tried out skating for the first time. We climbed aboard the Rickmer Rickmers sailing ship; we climbed 500 steps to the top of the Michaeliskirche tower for a magnificent view of the port; we descended deep under river Elbe to see the 19th century tunnel with lifts for horse and carriage, still operating today taking two cars at a time and we also explored the historic Hamburg City Hall. Everyone also enjoyed an evening at the swimming stadium with its large waterside and floodlit outdoor pool. It goes without saying that the boys (and Fabien) are unlikely to forget the trip into the Sewer system soon. As well as an amusing insight into what has found its way accidentally into the sewers we were left with a lasting impression of the need both to conserve pure water and to take much greater care of what we flush away. After that we needed some fresh air and so toured the port in a small boat for a closer look at the dry docks, container terminals and loading bays. There were ships from all over the world in for a repair or busy loading and unloading. Our skipper gave an excellent commentary as well as manoeuvring right under the bows of the larger vessels. For the first time this year, we went to the Hamburger Kunsthalle where we spent a couple of hours discussing and comparing paintings by Caspar David Friedrich, Ferdinand Hodler and Edvard Munch. Therefore not only did the trip allow the boys to practice their German, but it also offered cross-curricular opportunities in Geography, Biology and Art.
We all felt that this was a delightful group to take away, enthusiastic, polite and well-behaved. Many members of the travelling public commented positively on their behaviour. This was in distinct contrast with the confrontational rudeness of a few people at Stansted Airport who thought they could shove in front of the second group of our boys in order to get through security a few minutes quicker. The boys were very open to new experiences and took a keen interest in their surroundings. Their positive behaviour was praised by the staff at the hostel, the sewage museum, the Art Gallery and in the Rathaus. The trip to Hamburg is an intensive initiation into the German way of life and offers a great deal of fun as well as a valuable educational experience. I hope that the parents feel that this trip represents good value for money.
I must thank Claudia again for all her work booking the flights, insurance and accommodation as well as Gavin, Fabien and Wolfram for their good humour, care and attention throughout. Without their hard work and enthusiasm such visits would not be possible. It is to be hoped that this trip can continue for a thirteenth year in 2008 as it certainly gives all those who participate a positive impression of Germany and the Germans and encourages them to develop their language skills further as well as complementing their studies in other subjects with some German examples.
Will Croston 14 February 2007
Hamburg Ade ! - or how the local German press marked the final sailing
Schiff - Ade auch aber hoffentlich nur bis bald !