BBA German Exchange 2023

 6.28.23 On the 28th of June, we went with our group to a bakery, where we were taught by the owner of the bakery how to make pretzels. He taught us what the 5 ingredients (flour, butter, salt, water, and yeast) are that you have to use and also how to know when the dough has been mixed enough (the first sign is if the bowl is clean, the second sign is of the dough is smooth or soft, and if you can stretch the dough and make it translucent it is ready). After preparing the dough we rolled it out and then folded them into the shapes of pretzels. The shape may seem simple enough but it was a little confusing to replicate. The example that the baker gave us was so quick and practiced we all were stunned at how fast he made it. After we had made the shapes of all the pretzels it was time to glaze them in the next ingredient called Lie which is what hardens and turns the outside crust brown. Then we sprinkled salt and cut a little line on the bottom of the pretzel and threw them in the ...

 6.27.23 Once again, our day began with classes. But, instead of homeroom, we were immediately off to the pig museum in Stuttgart. As we walked down the street, the looming figure of a pig train signaled to us that we were in the right place. Inside the building were two floors filled with various pig-related exhibits. It was...definitely an experience, to say the least. After that harrowing experience, we traveled to Killesberg where we walked the local park until we reached the Killesbergturm (Killesberg Tower). Five floors were held up by the tension of cables which balanced on a ball at the center. This explains all the shaking that those who made it to the top of the tower felt while looking out at the beautiful view of Killesburg. We then explored the park where the tower resided and saw various animals, climbed various trees, and even took a group train ride around the park.  As our day came to an end, we returned to our host families for another night in Germany. ...

 6.26.23 On Monday morning we stuck with our partners for Wiggy’s “Sporttag” which was a sports day for kids up to the 9th grade. This was due to the school being used up for the senior’s Abiturs (oral exams). Some of us went to the track to help with the middle school sprints while others lined up on the road to cheer for the swim and run event. In the afternoon we all met up together for the first time since Friday and made our way to the Fernsehturm (TV tower). The Fernsehturm was the first of its kind in Europe. It was built in 1954 so that the people of Stuttgart could receive better signals to watch important events such as Queen Elizabeth’s speeches and soccer games. The tower is about 217 meters tall and has a restaurant built into the top. We were all able to ride up an elevator to the top and get a captivating view of Stuttgart.  When we made our way back down, we stopped at the gift store and had a little fun on the playground. We stopped at Pinguineisdiele on the w...

 6.24 & 6.25 Though the week had come to an end, most of our days continued to be filled with various activities with family and friends.  On Saturday, many of us were at school around noon being taught how to make Spätzle (a type of potato-egg noodle) with our partners. Others traveled to churches and even all the way to France. Some stayed home or locally to spend time with their host partners, watching TV or rock climbing for example. On Sunday, many families embarked on a group trip to Switzerland and Lake Constance and its local town. The drive took a little over two hours for most of us, and the weather was perfect for a day out on boats, having picnics, and dinner at a Biergarten. Some of those who didn’t go on the trip took trips elsewhere to museums and famous stadiums. Others had a day to relax before another week full of activities began. Danke und bis zum nächsten Mal!