On Friday, May 17th 2024, we all gathered at Dublin Airport in the early morning hours at 4:30 AM. The excitement was palpable, and all the children were full of anticipation.
Our flight to Munich took about two and a half hours, and after landing, we continued by bus towards Bad Schussenried in the beautiful region of Upper Swabia-Allgäu. Upon arrival, the children first explored their rooms, each getting a cozy double room.
We ended the evening with a campfire, where we roasted stick bread and marshmallows. This created a wonderful atmosphere and was a perfect start to our class trip.
The second day was marked by an exciting full-day excursion to Füssen. Our destination: the world-famous Neuschwanstein Castle. We first hiked through the forest up to Marienbrücke, from where we enjoyed a breathtaking view of the castle. Although the hike was strenuous, the view more than compensated for all the effort. Afterwards, we had the pleasure of a private tour of Neuschwanstein Castle. The children were fascinated by the magnificent rooms and the thrilling stories surrounding King Ludwig II. To conclude the day, the children strolled through Füssen and treated themselves to delicious ice cream.
The next day began with German lessons. Our students took a placement test and were divided into different groups in which they were taught in the mornings for the rest of the week.
The afternoons were diverse and offered a variety of activities. Our children could choose between basketball, hockey, swimming, tennis, cooking classes, and arts & crafts. They especially enjoyed tie-dyeing T-shirts. We also took trips to the city, where we visited ice cream parlors and enjoyed delicious spaghetti ice cream. Another highlight of the week was a trip to a climbing park in Biberach, where the children could showcase their climbing skills. A scavenger hunt and a photo rally through the city also provided lots of fun and adventure. In the evenings, we created photo collages as beautiful memories of our shared experiences.
For the grand finale, on the last evening, there was an award ceremony where every student was recognised for their participation in the course. The subsequent disco night in the house’s party cellar perfectly rounded off the week. The mood was fantastic, and everyone danced and celebrated exuberantly. On Friday, we flew back to Dublin from Munich, with many beautiful memories in tow.
Lena Otterbach
Primary School Teacher in St. Kilian’s
