Visit to Ostfildern - October 2004

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Visit to Ostfildern - December 2002

Visit to Ostfildern - June 2003

Visit to Ostfildern - March 2004

Visit to Ostfildern - October 2004

Visit to Ostfildern - October 2004
Finns, Scots and Germans together at Lichstenstein Castle

The first visit of Year 3 of the Comenius Project was to the Otto Hahn Gymnasium in Ostfildern Germany. The Scottish group comprised 4 teachers and 4 students and the Finnish group 3 teachers and 5 students.

On the first evening the students went with their hosts to settle in with their host families. The teachers assembled at the home of the OHG Comenius Co-ordinator, Ingrid Stritzelberger, where they were treated to a fine meal of local delicacies and wines. Ingrid was ably assisted by her husband, Gerhard, otherwise known as "James the butler"!

On Thursday morning, the visiting teachers and students were warmly welcomed by the OHG headteacher, Herr Bleicher before taking part in a treasure hunt designed to take the visitors around the school. The treasure hunt was in the form of a competition between teachers and students. As is usual in these events, the students won.

The remainder of the day on Thursday was spent in school - classes for some teachers and students, visiting a local hi-tec engineering company, a history lesson on Stuttgart during World War II, sampling lunch in the OHG school canteen, headteachers' and Comenius Co-ordinators' meeting. In the afternoon, as a follow-up to Ingrid's history lesson (and as preparation for a forthcoming project), we visited a "rubble mountain". This was made from the war-damaged buildings after Stuttgart was heavily bombed by allied aircraft during WWII. The large cross on top of the mountain was a stark reminder of the horrors of war and had a marked effect on the visitors. The group also visited a new museum in Stuttgart where they looked at exhibits relating to forthcoming projects.

Later the teachers were given an insight into German culture when they visited a Beer Festival. After an entertaining evening, they had a trip on a very large ferris wheel which provided a great view of the fun-fair below.

Friday began with some time spent in school and later in the morning we set off by bus to the Swabian Alps where we visited the magical Lichstenstein Castle and limestone caves (see pictures below).

On Saturday and Sunday the students remained with their hosts and had a varied programme of visits. The visiting teachers were taken to a very impressive "hunting lodge" (Schloss Solitude) near Stuttgart and later visited Stuttgart. After a meal together in a restaurant, some visitors went shopping whilst other visited Stuttgart Art Gallery and enjoyed the biggest collection of well-known artists they had seen - Picasso, Mondrian, Matisse to name but a few. As you will see below, the Scots visitors added their own version of "The Three Graces"!

Saturday evening was spent at the OHG's school show of Oklahoma. This was very professionally presented by the OHG students under the direction of Edda Hoffer, the music teacher. A great show!

On Sunday morning the group had a guided tour of the town of Esslingen with Theo Griesshammer providing an informative and entertaining insight to its history. After a splendid lunch together, it was time to depart for the airport where hosts were thanked for their generous hospitality and sometimes tearful "au revoirs" exchanged.

Our thanks are due to all the hosts, of both teachers and students. A special mention must go to Ingrid Stritzelberger who organised yet another successful visit. The visitors look forward to returning the hospitality given to them when the PHG students and staff visit Finland in January and Scotland in April.