What are we all doing this weekend?

Today we asked the group to share what they are all planning for the weekend.  The answers were as varied as the families who host.

Matt is off to Spain to welcome his mom at the end of her epic journey walking through Spain--500 miles!  She will come back to Frankfurt to visit for a bit and stay with Wagoner and Zinni, in their weird little flat.

Josh plans to go to an indoor waterpark and a punk concert with his German father.

Galen will celebrate his birthday with a family party and as a new Harry Potter fan, watch more of the movies.

Zach plans to go shopping, to the waterpark and the zoo.

Rachel is going to a Colorfest (think color powder explosion) and to an amusement park.

Abbee will get to ride Icelandic ponies in Bavaria, riding the traditional English style.

Bailey, Mia, Aurora and Reilly are unsure of their plans, but willing to do 'whatever'.

Noah is going to his host father's house in Daamstradt with Jill, just south of Frankfurt.

Antonio is going to Munich and Bavaria in general to visit German grandparents.

Dane and Sierra is staying in town and visiting the Blind museum and the Rhine tour (a riverboat stopping at multiple castles.

Ben, Kelsey and Ashley is hanging out in Frankfurt.

Ace is going to an older part of Frankfurt for some historical site visits and will also be going to visit the town/city of Rech, in northwestern Germany,honoring his last name and heritage.

Ivy gets to go to Paris for shopping and EuroDisney.

Ranen is going to the Colorfest and possibly to Munich.

Cayden is doing the Colorfest, and riding his bicycle up Taunus mountain.

Madison is doing a festival thing (Renaissance?).

Georgia is going to a castle, but couldn't tell us which one.

Fabulous photos to follow, once they weekend is over and students get their photos to follow.

Noah's Pics

Noah, like all our travelers,  is doing well.  He is a great match with Jill, his German host, and is letting himself saturate in all that is different.  He rocked a fauxhawk today, and is thinking of a new haircut and he has taken a liking to the scarf look.

Noah at one of the tallest buildings in Frankfurt.

A glass hole in the middle of a mall downtown.

Map of ERSII, our school here.

The view from Noah's window at his German house.

Northpoint circles-up everywhere we go!

Just a few shots of our circle up today...look at all these students working on the journal prompt, which was:  How can you contribute to your household?  We are here too long to simply be guests.

Every student had ideas of how to be a productive member of the household, like cleaning, cooking, speaking German, babysitting and dogwalking.

Its So Green Here!!!!

Hallo!

Here is the first video of our German Travelers speaking about their first impressions of Germany!

*Note there are two videos because one student didn't know how to push record.


Here is the link to Vimeo:

First Impressions of Frankfurt

and bonus video of Sierra:

This is the group that finished the blue hat course and went to the next level, the yellow hat.  Brave adventurers they are!

a little throwback to Sunday at the climbing garden

If you want to see a group of good listeners, tell them they will get 15 minutes of training to fly through the trees, with their safety in their own hands...

First impressions video is still coming.  The initial try was too big and Zinni will post it after he gets back from seeing the new Avengers movie.  That's right it is released here tonight, before the US release...lucky traveler-fans!

So this one goes out to all the Mammas and Papas:

I hear that your kiddos may not be communicating as often or as much as you'd like.  Trust me, this is a good sign.  I meet with the kids every day and they are happy, healthy and safe.  Sometimes, they don't want to ask too much of their hosts, and sometimes, they go so hard during the day that they crash hard at night, but mostly they just don't know how hard it is to be 'left behind.'

In the next blog post, you will see their bright and shiny faces talking about their first impressions.

I have had many teachers at their German school tell me that this group is the most alert, awake and aware participators that we have ever brought to their school.  This makes me swell with pride, but the credit really goes to you all, for raising such amazing humans.  Thank you!

Northpoint Teachers Alone in Frankfurt!

Guten Abend!!!!

Have you ever wondered what your fabulous teachers do during the exchange!?  Tonight, Mr. Zinni cooked Mrs. Wagoner some homemade Schnitzel, potatoes with the famous Frankfurt Green Sauce!  Mrs. Wagoner provided some amazing Caprese.  Mr. Zinni has been blaring some traditional German Folk/Yodeling music throughout the house as Mrs. Wagoner madly grades final papers.  We are enjoying our time at our Flat in Rodelheim. So far Nicht Problem!  Some students and Mr. Zinni will be going to see Avengers 2 tomorrow.  Thats right tomorrow!!! Spoiler alters to follow.

Viel Lieben,
Frau Wagoner und Herr Zinni

PS. Eat your Heart Out Mr. Klimt!!!!!

Kletterwald Offenbach: The climbing course we wish we had in the States

Today, the whole group met at the Fun Forest in Offenbach (a suburb of Frankfurt) for a day of climbing and fun.  Everyone enjoyed the challenge by choice and some really challenged themselves. Special props to Aurora, who started on a level that was just too much, but instead of quitting, she climbed down and restarted, not only breaking through her her fear, but also truly enjoying herself.

Megan's sickness, Abbee's allergies, assorted homesickness (mild)...nothing is keeping these kids from trying!