Tears and auf wiedersehen

The German students, from Hermann-Josef-College Steinfeld, a Christian school in the Eifel district of Germany, were accompanied by deputy head master Heinz Latz, and teacher Britta Greven. Greven toured the area last year.

Latz had high praise for the organizers of the 12-day visit.

“This couldn’t have been accomplished if it wasn’t for the support from this school. It was grand,” he said.

The visitors and their BMHS counterparts visited Peggy’s Cove, the Halifax Shopping Centre, took in a Moosehead game, had a lobster boil on Stoney Island beach, went skating, watched a student hockey game, had a pizza party, went whale watching off Brier Island, and went on a tour of the local area including stops at the Dennis Point Wharf to haul up a lobster trap and view the windmills.

Latz says what his students enjoyed the most was getting in touch with the Canadian families and their life and culture. He added that many strong friendships were formed.

“To borrow a phrase from principal Dave Buckland, the important thing is - we came as visitors, we left as friends,” said Heinz Latz.

Seventy-two students applied for the exchange. The 23 participants were drawn out of a hat.

“They were really keen to come over. A lot of their parents came up to me beforehand and said that they wouldn’t go on their summer holidays to enable their kids to come over and experience Nova Scotia,” said Lantz.

“The nicest experience for me was that a few German students came up to me and said that they want to come back here and stay for here for half a year or a year if they can manage.”

“It’s been an absolutely fantastic experience. It couldn’t have been better,” said Lantz.

The 23 BMHS students who hosted the visitors will be traveling to their school during March break 2009.