Thursday, June 14, 2012
Germany
I just talked to Mr. Logan, the kids a great morning at the school teaching 5th and 6th graders about Virginia and the USA. They are presently at a church in Magdeberg about to perform two pieces. He said Haldensleben is a VERY nice, quaint village. Bags are confirmed to arrive today in Berlin and to be delivered to the school tomorrow at 1pm.
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Bon jour! Oh no… that was yesterday in Paris.
ReplyDeleteGuten Abend! Unser Besuch kultureller Austausch mit Studenten an der Schule Haldensleben hat offiziell begonnen! (Good evening! Our cultural exchange visit with students at the school Haldensleben has officially begun!)
We arrived last evening and the host families were waiting for us at the train station. After many hugs and salutations from their counterparts, the students were off to dinner and sleep at the homes of their hosts.
Today was our first full day in the town of Haldensleben. Our students were up bright and early arriving at school in time for a 7:30 breakfast meeting with the principal of the school. Following a very warm welcome and some genial time with the school administrator, the students headed off to classes to be introduced and spend time with middle school students (5th & 6th grade). After two 45 minute class periods, we had a rehearsal to prepare selections for our first performance of the tour. However, that rehearsal was briefly interrupted by a reporter from the local newspaper. A story about the exchange visit and our performances will be shared with the community here before our Sunday concert.
We took the train to Magdeburg and toured Dom zu Magdeburg (Magdeburg Cathedral)
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/germany/magdeburg-cathedral.htm
After a very nice and informative tour… sharing facts about the architectural structure of this edifice and the founder (Saxon King Otto I), we were privileged to perform three selections in this magnificent sanctuary space. We sang three a capella selections: Sing Dem Herrn, Siyahamba, and Little Innocent Lamb. Our students sang very well and drew an appreciative audience of tourists who were visiting the Cathedral.
From the church, we headed to dinner and shopping. On the way, we toured around Magdeburg Festung. The fortress of Magdeburg was the beginning of the 18th Century to 1912 to the strongest fortresses of Prussia. The first fortifications of Magdeburg can be traced to the 13th Century.
http://www.lothar-specht-parey.de/Diashows/Festung%20Magdeburg/slides/Magdeburg-Festung-Kavalier_Scharnhorst-2007-015.html
A few more sites: Zitadelle Magdeburg (Citadel Magdeburg)
http://www.google.de/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/Magdeburg_Hundertwasserhaus.jpg&imgrefurl=http://eo.wikipedia.or
After dinner, we took the train back to Haldensleben and students spent the remainder of the evening with host families. I know your children can’t wait to share the experiences of their first here… but, they are probably asleep by now. Another 7:30 start the school day tomorrow and everyone should be prepared to present a lesson about Virginia Beach, VA. I’m sure they can’t wait to tell you how that goes as well. Good night. (Guten nacht.)
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ReplyDeleteIt is now Day 4 of our itinerary in Germany! We have just returned from a guided tour (by Chartered Bus) of Berlin. Today, we were allowed to stay on the autobahn and drive straight through from the eastern to the western part of the state. In the not so distant past (20 -25 years ago), we would have been forced to take a different route. Today, we had uninhibited travel. More about today a little later… but now, let us catch up on days two and three before we leave Haldensleben on the day after tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteYou will hear all about the First Day of our travels from the students… each will most likely have a very different perspective of the trip.
An entry for the Second Day was posted earlier.
On the Third Day, the students again shared a 7:30 breakfast at school with their hosts and then, they were off to share experiences and observations with each other (high school students) in the classrooms of the Professor-Friedrich Foerster-Gymnasium Haldensleben. Gymnasium refers to the level of the school… in this case, High School. After two class periods, a few teachers allowed their entire class to return with our students to the aula. The aula could best be described as a multi-purpose room. An extremely functional space which is used for meals, examinations, rehearsals, and concerts! Nothing in the room is stationary… including the very large portable stage. A nice 9ft. grand piano (on wheels) rounded out the functionality of the room! Our rehearsals went extremely well. This would be the last opportunity for “practice” before it is actually SHOWTIME.
As we ended our rehearsal, the space that had once served as our "Cafe"..., as well as our "Rehearsal Hall", was promptly transformed into an "Examination Room" very similar to spaces designated for ACT or SAT exams. It was test time for the high school students, and we were scheduled for a short tour of the town, Haldensleben.
Prior to leaving for our walking tour of the city, the most ideal of scenarios occurred. We all know that “Exchange Students” exchange thoughts, ideas, customs, and maybe even a song or two. On this - day three, the great exchange had to have been the exchange of addresses from four little sixth grade students who (inspired by a classroom visit from the day before) came to find us, sing a very special song, and provide their contact information so that a "Pen Pal" relationship with our students at Cape Henry Collegiate School could be established. Stay tuned for pictures and a video.
ReplyDeleteThe first stop (all of which were within walking distance) was the Museum Haldensleben. The current exhibit is a tribute to the Brothers Grimm. Donated by a distant relative still living in the town, we were able to peruse original drafts/stories, sketches, and admire the craftsmanship of furnishings which belonged to the late 18th – mid 19th century scholars and authors.
http://www.museumhaldensleben.de/
http://www.notablebiographies.com/Gi-He/Grimm-Brothers.html#b
The Walking Tour took us through the town of Haldensleben… a stroll of several blocks guided by the students of PFFG and their wonderful teachers Kerstin Grabowski and Girsula Horn.
After the tour, seven of ten students were elated to hear that the rest of their luggage had arrived. The other three students, although disappointed, remained optimistic. Our hosts worked tirelessly to help us trace the whereabouts of the missing bags.
The remainder of the evening, the students were with their host families... immersed in the culture of this East German town and the surrounding villages.
Prior to leaving for our walking tour of the city, the most ideal of scenarios occurred. We all know that “Exchange Students” exchange thoughts, ideas, customs, and maybe even a song or two. On this - day three, the great exchange had to have been the exchange of addresses from four little sixth grade students who (inspired by a classroom visit from the day before) came to find us, sing a very special song, and provide their contact information so that a "Pen Pal" relationship with our students at Cape Henry Collegiate School could be established. Stay tuned for pictures and a video.
The first stop (all of which were within walking distance) was the Museum Haldensleben. The current exhibit is a tribute to the Brothers Grimm. Donated by a distant relative still living in the town, we were able to peruse original drafts/stories, sketches, and admire the craftsmanship of furnishings which belonged to the late 18th – mid 19th century scholars and authors.
http://www.museumhaldensleben.de/
http://www.notablebiographies.com/Gi-He/Grimm-Brothers.html#b
The Walking Tour took us through the town of Haldensleben… a stroll of several blocks guided by the students of PFFG and their wonderful teachers Kerstin Grabowski and Girsula Horn.
After the tour, seven of ten students were elated to hear that the rest of their luggage had arrived. The other three students, although disappointed, remained optimistic. Our hosts worked tirelessly to help us trace the whereabouts of the missing bags.
The remainder of the evening, the students were with their host families... immersed in the culture of this East German town and the surrounding villages.
Now, we can continue with the Chartered Bus Tour of Berlin.
ReplyDeleteThe Fourth Day began with exciting news… a large color photo of the Cape Henry Collegiate School Chorus “Dolphins” was on front page in the local section of Volksstimme, the area newspaper.
http://www.volksstimme.de/nachrichten/lokal/haldensleben/846634_Cape-Henry-Dolphins-in-Haldensleben-Amerikanische-Schueler-besuchen-Stadt.html
The “American choir” was becoming a buzz around town. We, however, were off to visit Berlin.
After a ninety minute trip, we were met by a tour guide who devoted the next ninety minutes to witty... yet, engaging banter. He shared information about each of the Berlins. He, a “Western Berliner” was quite knowledgeable of the history in both East and West Berlin. As the two Berlins form one of the largest cities in the world, there is probably much we didn’t see. On the other hand, I suspect that if you ask anyone on our tour about an aspect of the city, your responses will be prompt. Yes, we did see the Berlin Wall… from both the east and west sides. And yes, we drove through Checkpoint Charlie. We went to a Holocaust Memorial... and, yes we did go past the Capital Building. We saw magnificent churches (some of which are now Night Clubs), and we visited the Sony Center... a technological, architectural wonderland. We were shown quite a bit of history… stay tuned for pictures and video clips.
Very similar to the major cities in America…and by the way, quite different from where we are staying in Haldensleben, Berlin is filled with the hustle and bustle of contemporary urban living. A major metropolitan area, we are told that what the city lacks is its own identity. Where conservation, recycling, and an overall commitment to preserving the ecology are the norms in Saxony, Berlin (primarily West Berlin) seems less interested in these things. Again, each student provides you with a different perspective… ask them for their impressions. Pictures coming soon… stay tuned!
After the bus tour, there was time for a walking tour. The students, along with their German hosts were allowed to do some sightseeing and window shopping(?)on their own. We were ALL back in Haldensleben by 6:30! We were greeted by a parent who had secured enough newspapers so that each student would have his/her own copy. We did have gracious hosts. And, two of the three missing bags had arrived while we were away. We are scheduled to leave day after tomorrow and this is undoubtedly a nightmare for the student who is still waiting for the last bag to arrive. Nevertheless, we must prepare for our first official concert. We will keep trying to get the bag. Stay tuned!
Guten Abend!
ReplyDeleteToday, the Fifth Day of touring, we performed our first formal concert. An outdoor event celebrating the 20 years of “twinning” between the city of Halbensleben, Germany and Ciechanow, Poland. Our ensemble… affectionately known by our hosts as the Cape Henry Collegiate Singing Dolphins (we represented our hosts PFFG at this affair), shared the stage with the Polish band "Why Ducky.” The nine musicians of “Why Ducky” are considered to be among the musical elite of Poland. Their program consisted of a wide variety of selections… ranging from blues, rock and soul to jazz and funk. The “Dolphins” opened the program with a combination of selections which are indigenous to our region… starting with the Cape Henry Collegiate School Alma Mater! From there, we performed choral selections which span the gamut of American genres. Our repertoire included everything from rock and pop to spirituals and gospel. We even managed to incorporate selections in German and Swahili. Our encore selection was Bohemian Rhapsody! You would have been proud of your Dolphins! Stay tuned for the pictures and video clips.
The performance was held in the Baroque garden at the Hundisburg Castle. Please follow the links for photos and history of the castle! However, we were given a very special tour by Emily Gillett. Emily happens to be an American Plaster Restoration Specialists who is helping reconstruct/restore the castle… one detail at a time. With this connection, we were able to find another phenomenal space to test out acoustics. The Grand Staircase of the Hundisburg Castle is a delightful space in which to sing.
http://www.schloss-hundisburg.de/index.php/en/castlegardenpark.html
http://www.schloss-hundisburg.de/index.php/en/history.html
After the tour, our students rejoined their host families to enjoy the remainder of the community picnic and return home with them. This would be our last full day in Haldensleben.
The Sixth Day was another travel day. For the last time on this tour, we gathered at Professor Friedrich Förster Gymnasium for our collective good-byes to our hosts, and to present a brief farewell concert for the student body. We were greeted at the door with the best news of the tour… the last piece of luggage had arrived!
ReplyDeleteAfter a short rehearsal, PFFG students assembled for the concert and we sang our good-byes. The students were engaged and participated enthusiastically throughout our 20 minute presentation. Afterwards we thanked them for their very warm hospitality, and Frauer Boller (the principal) had very kind remarks regarding the Student Exchange program. We exchanged gifts, held a final interview with the local newspaper, and headed for the train station!
We took a train to Magdeburg and transferred to a train headed for Dresden. After three and a half hours on trains (and a short transfer by bus), we are now in Dresden with no performances scheduled. Stay tuned.
One week ago today, we left the gate at Norfolk International Airport and boarded a plane headed to Newark, New Jersey for a connecting flight to Berlin, Germany. Two hours later, we returned to that same gate not knowing whether or not we would be able to leave for our trip that evening. There was the possibility that we would wait another day for departure. The problem was a delay in Newark which had us held up on the tarmac awaiting clearance for departure… providing updates in 30 minute intervals. Needless to say, the trip started with some anxious moments. The ensuing odyssey included two alternate flights, another missed connection and all the subsequent scheduling calamities (not the least of which were misplaced luggage bags). Nevertheless, since that time… we have: flown to Paris, France; toured Berlin, performed and shared a cultural exchange in Haldensleben, recovered everyone’s luggage, and presented the first of two performances in the Dresden area. The consensus is that it has all been worth the initial angst.
ReplyDeleteToday, the Seventh Day, we gathered for breakfast provided by the hotel. We proceeded on a “Walking Tour” of Dresden. The pictures of the city will astound you! Our first performance was held at the Frauenkirche, Dresden. According to literature at the church… “The name ‘Frauenkirche’ (Church of Our Lady) comes from the church that previously stood on this site and was consecrated to Mary, Our Blessed Lady.” The Frauenkirches’s unusual dome, the famous ‘bell of stone’, is an architectural masterpiece: weighing no less than 12,000 t and yet seemingly weightless, it is the crowning glory of this house of God and is often compared to other world-famous domes like those of Florence Cathedral or St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. www.frauenkirche-dresden.de.
Visitors to the church came in and sat quietly in the pews… just admiring the artistry of the eight painted panels on the inner dome. Once a large audience was gathered, we received the “go ahead” to offer our presentation. From the start of the performance to the last note, the audience was very attentive… and perhaps just a little surprised. We had been seated among them with no indication, except our touring Red Jackets, we would perform. The presentation was very well received and provided a life-long memory for the students. Again, that photos and videos yield far more information than I could manage to put into words. Stay tuned! We have another concert this evening.
At 5:45 today… still the Seventh Day, we met Mrs. Heidi Paizs. Mrs. Paizs would be the person to accompany us to the next performance… serving as our Translator and our Announcer. At 6:00 we were transported about 15 miles outside of Dresden to Klinik Bavaria Kreischa. This engagement was at a facility for residents who had some mental and/or physical disabilities. Again, the German audience was extremely warm and appreciative. At this venue, we were able to present the entire concert we have planned for Prague. The show went very well… and we were able to identify areas to tighten before the big performance with the Czech Boys Choir. After a Fifty-five minute performance… including encore, we headed back to Dresden for dinner at La Osteria, a very authentic Italian restaurant.
We will leave Dresden very early tomorrow morning. The schedule calls for a 7:45 transfer to the Train Station… then, a two and a half hour train ride to Prague. Guten Nacht!
The Eighth Day was a travel day. We departed Dresden by train and arrived into Prague two and a half hours later. The trip yielded a breathtaking view of the East European countryside. Our transfer driver met us at the platform and escorted us to the bus. By 12:30pm we were at our hotel... check-in was two hours later. The students ceased this opportunity to visit the shops and restaurants which immediately surrounded the hotel. The historic Prague Tram goes right by the front entrance of our Hotel Caesar Prague. Public transit is abundant here... and apparently quite efficient. From rickshaws to taxis to trams...we had lots of options to get around! Nevertheless, after everyone was checked in and rested for an hour or so, we decided to walk to the various sites. Susana, a friend of Ashley, met up with us to become our official guide as we walked through the city.
ReplyDeleteOur time allowed us to visit:
Charlies Bridge- http://www.myczechrepublic.com/prague/sightseeing/charles_bridge.html
Old Time Square- http://www.pragueexperience.com/places.asp?PlaceID=594
Astronomical Clock- https://www.google.cz/search?q=astronomical+clock+prague&hl=cs&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=v7PiT7HhIdHGtAabsNjABg&ved=0CHgQsAQ&biw=1014&bih=428
After plenty of sightseeing and some souvenir shopping... we headed back for dinner and rehearsal.
We held a "fine tuning rehearsal" from about 8:30 to 10:00... then lights out. We really do have pictures... stay tuned!
Our time here in Europe is drawing to a close! On this, the Ninth Day of our concert tour, we were able to enjoy a more leisurely start. After breakfast at the hotel, we met with two representatives from the Český chlapecký sbor (the Czech Boys Choir) of Hradec Králové in the Czech Republic. Martin Sedláček, the choir’s business manager was accompanied by Radek Hantsch (a 14 year member of the choir). Radek would be chaperone and translator for the duration of our day.
ReplyDeleteAfter Martin shared last minute details of our itinerary… including a sightseeing tour of the Sedlec Ossuary, and the Walking Tour of Hradec Králové (the home town of the Czech Boys Choir), we boarded a bus and left for this area of the Czech Republic which is approximately 2 and ½ hours east of Prague – the site for our featured concert on this tour.
Our first stop was at the Sedlec Ossuary. http://www.sedlecossuary.com/
I am quite sure that this exhibit - although one of the largest tourist attractions in the Czech Republic (over 200,000 visitors per year) - was a source of great discomfort for some students. While it was certainly fascinating, some students were uncomfortable with the insensitivity of the display. Others were uncomfortable with the fact that this was just simply cold, morbid and “creepy!”
We left Ossuary and headed toward Hradec Králové. In route, we stopped for lunch at Mc Donald’s in Pardubice (a town about 20 minutes from our next destination). This Mc Donald’s Restaurant was plush… obviously one of the more contemporary designs… which included a very nice Mc Cafe (coffee and dessert bar). It was actually a bit refreshing to eat there… just one meal! We finished lunch and traveled on into Hradec Králové to start our Walking Tour.
The White Tower – the renaissance bell tower, completed in 1589, used to serve as the city’s fire tower and watchtower. It’s name is related to the material used in construction – white stone. The Augustin bell in the tower is the second biggest bell in Bohemia only after the Zikmund bell in Prague. It was cast already in 1509 by Ondřej Žáček, a bell founder from Hradec Králové and before it was installed in the bell tower, it had been hanged on a wooden stand at St. Kliment’s Church near the foundations of the tower. It weighs ten tonnes and has more than two meters in diameter. On special occasions and fairs, more than eight men had to ring the bell.
After a very long climb up several flights of stairs, we reached the top of the tower where the view was absolutely astounding. It was a clear day… and; the town of Hradec Králové could be seen for miles around. We seized the opportunity of this perfect day with the perfect view and took plenty of amazing pictures of the town. Our time was getting short so we had to hustle into our rehearsals for the performance. We didn’t need to go far; the tower was adjacent to the chapel where the concert would take place.
After rehearsal, we changed into our concert attire and went to a (nearby?)theater to listen to a presentation by the Czech Boys Training Choir. These young men would aspire to join the international performing ensemble (some of them were already performing with the ensemble while still in training). We left their concert and headed for our performance. Our program opened with a presentation by the Czech Boys Choir. The Cape Henry Women’s Ensemble performed next… followed by the Mixed Ensemble. The entire concert, completed in less than an hour, concluded with a finale selection performed by all the ensembles. Together, the Cape Henry Choral Ensembles and the Czech Boys Choir presented a selection by Keith Hampton – Praise His Holy Name. It was an awesome experience… apparently very much enjoyed and appreciated by an enthusiastic audience! You can see the videos!
After the concert, we were treated to a traditional Czech Dinner by the Boys Choir. We said our goodbyes and traveled back to Prague… where we would pack and prepare for transport back to the train station. Waking up to the Tenth Day, we took the train from Prague to Berlin. After a 4 and ½ hour train trip to Berlin, we spent the remainder of the day in Berlin buying souvenirs and making last minute preparation for our flight back to the States!
ReplyDeleteThat evening, Germany was playing Portugal in a quarter final round of the European Cup Soccer Tournament. The town was literally “ELECTRIC!” There was a television on at every turn…in all establishments, hotel rooms, homes, etc.; all were tuned to the soccer game. Berlin (apparently the entire city) erupted with enthusiastic jubilation after every goal scored by the German team. During the game, there would be four eruptions… after the game; car horns seem to sound for the remainder of the evening!
At 6:00am we would need to be on a bus headed to the airport. We were!