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London Calling – Year Eleven Students Spent Some Days Abroad

After the first challenging weeks as upper level students, we were keen on seeing and experiencing something new. At 6 p.m. on the 2nd of October, we left Sankt Peter-Ording in high spirits. Excited first and tired later, we travelled overnight by coach just to catch the ferry from Dunkerque (France) to Dover early next morning (which was the national holiday in Germany).

Seeing the white cliffs of Dover was only the first impression of so many that were to follow. Off the ferry, Gisbert (our driver from Tütjer-Reisen) took us to Canterbury which was about thirty miles west. There, we could spend some time on our own: walking the cobblestoned streets, eating yummy English sandwiches, buying the first postcards and souvenirs, visiting the Cathedral, etc.

The next stop was Greenwich (pronounce it correctly or else Mr. Vietz might get mean in no time – grenIt∫ ). Of course, we had the obligatory shower of rain there so that we hurried downhill to visit the National Maritime Museum with its engrossing exhibition on slavery and the East India Company, the Cutty Sark (at least from the outside) and the tunnel under the Thames. Some of us even made it to the Docklands on the other side of the river.

Later, we went to Morden, South London, where we were picked up by our host families. We got to know families from many different cultures, different origins and different places of the world. And yes, quite a few of us found out that their English wasn't half as bad. Anyway, staying with the families proved to be a first-hand account that London is a world city.

The next day, Friday, the 4th of October, was jam-packed with sightseeing. After we had inspected the neat restrooms of Tate Britain and found them recommendable, we hopped back on the bus and were welcomed by our tour guide, an expatriate from Germany who has been living in London for 16 years. We passed by the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, London Eye, Tower Bridge, St. Paul's Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park, Royal Albert Hall - you name it, we saw it!

In the afternoon, we left London in the direction of Windsor Castle. But before we stormed the castle gates, we had to grab a bite because we were terribly hungry. ( Well, some of us went to the big yellow M in order to get a burger - but they only came back with small yellow faces.) Windsor Castle proper was quite interesting. There was so much to see: St. George's Chapel, for example, was fascinating because of its unique Gothic style which is called Perpendicular Gothic. The rest of the castle was interesting as well, we simply did not have enough time to see it all. And, dear reader, please be advised: if you want to know more about the Knights of the Garter (Hosenbandorden), this is the place to go. Coats of arms galore - you will undoubtedly adore it!

Alas, we did not see William and Kate with little George in the pram. (No royal burp this time and no St. Peter school choir singing a lullaby to console the boy from breaking winds.) Without further ado, we returned to London where we had dinner with our host families … the second and last evening of socialising and having nice conversations. Most of us began to realize that this trip was simply too short.

On Saturday morning, we loaded our suitcases and backpacks into the luggage compartment of our coach and then walked to Morden Station. From there, we took the Tube to Charing Cross Station without leaving anyone behind. (Our teachers must have been very proud of us because we were reliable, disciplined, friendly, polite and punctual! Plus: We minded the gap and looked into the right direction before we crossed the street all the time!) Our teachers gave us one last briefing at the Embankment and then we could go on our own, which meant: flying the London Eye, being overwhelmed by the wide diversity of objects in the British Museum, strolling down Oxford Street, exploring back alleys, viewing the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, observing paintings in the National Gallery, checking the latest exhibit on the Fourth Plinth, Trafalgar Square, (Katharina Fritsch's Blue Cockerel this time), shopping in Soho, having a cuppa tea, and whatnot.

But time really passed too quickly! At six p.m., Gisbert picked us up, drove us safely through the narrow streets of London, and, eventually, we had to say good-bye. Thus, we made it through the night: talking, snoring, reminiscing, sleeping, whispering, dozing, singing, dreaming … home via Dover, Dunkerque, final destination Sankt Peter-Ording.

We got home on Sunday around 1:30 p.m. where our parents had already expected us. Before we really understood, our trip – part school trip, part holiday trip – was over. It was, however, not our last trip to London. That we were sure of!

Leonie Trapp/Albert Vietz

P.S.: Many thanks to Ms Dorl and Mr Vietz for organising the tour and being with us. And many thanks to the students who made the trip a wonderful experience.

Hier folgt eine kurze Zusammenfassung des Textes in deutscher Sprache.

London-Fahrt 2013

Nach einigen Monaten der Planung ging es am 2.10.2013 für 53 Schüler unseres Jahrgangs auf Stufenfahrt nach London. Schon Tage vorher freuten wir uns, nach den ersten anstrengenden Wochen in der Oberstufe etwas Neues kennenzulernen. Pünktlich um 18:00 starteten wir in Sankt Peter-Ording und konnten am nächsten Morgen um 8:00 ganz entspannt auf die Fähre, um nach Dover zu kommen. Von dort ging es dann, mit zwei Zwischenhalten in Canterbury und Greenwich, nach London, wo wir von unseren Gastfamilien in Empfang genommen worden sind. Den nächsten Tag begannen wir mit einer Stadtrundfahrt, die uns unter anderem über die Tower Bridge und vorbei an einigen Sehenswürdigkeiten wie dem Buckingham Palace und dem London Eye führte. Nachmittags besichtigten wir das Windsor Castle im gleichnamigen Ort. Am letzten Tag machten wir uns von "unserem" Stadtteil Morden mit der U-Bahn auf den Weg in die Innenstadt. In kleine Gruppen aufgeteilt hatten wir einen ganzen Tag zur Verfügung, um London auf eigene Faust zu erkunden. So gab es abends im Bus auf dem Rückweg nach Hause eine Menge zu berichten und viele von uns wären gerne noch ein wenig da geblieben, um London noch weiter kennenzulernen. Gedankt sei an dieser Stelle noch einmal Frau Dorl und Herrn Vietz, die die Fahrt organisiert und begleitet haben. Es war eine sehr schöne Zeit und sicherlich für viele von uns nicht die letzte Fahrt nach London.

Von Leonie Trapp