Last day

Today is the last day! The time past sooo fast. Unfortunately. In the morning we went to school and just finished our projects. Now we got lunch and afterwards we'll have freetime. At 5 o'clock there will be a celebration again. Then we'll spend the last evening together. Tomorrow in the morning we have to leave again... 5:45 is the meeting. I hope we'll stay in contact!

Much history!

On Thursday we finns went to Trier which was founded by the Romans. We had a guided tour there. The guide was a nice old lady. The tour started from Porta Nigra. Then we headed to an old merchant's storage in cellar. We also saw the Judengasse. After that we heard about history of the dome and the other cathedrals. We finished our two hours tour in Kaiserthermen.

After the tour we boys went to a restaurant and the girls went shopping again. Then it was time to take the train back to Koblenz. We were picked up by the Germans from the central station. We went to Forum and ate something. Afterwards we took the funicular up to the fortress. We enjoyed the view, the sunset and of course spending time with great people.

18 years old teachers

We started the day with project works. At 10 o'clock we Finns had a reception at Koblenz city hall. Mr Knopp spoke, unfortunately mostly in german,  for us how important the exchange program is. Local TV and newspaper interviewed some of us.
After lunch we went by bus to Sayn. There we started to climb. In this case "climb" means to get from one platform on a tree to another across an element like to swing on a robe. We had there about 3,5 hours to finish different courses.

In the evening there was a celebration for the 10th anniversary of this exchange program. In the beginning the concert band of Görres-Gymnasium played some well known songs and the german headteacher welcomed all in german AND in finnish, the pronunciation was pretty good. After a short break the finnish band Vend rocked Koblenz out! Everybody was standing and dancing, especially the teachers, who felt like 18 again.

Trip to Köln

Yesterday we Finns were in Köln. We left early in the morning by train. We arrived about half past nine and met our German guide. Then we had a tour in dome. The cathedral was very big and another guide told us interesting or not so interesting things about the dome. The tour was just ok.

After that we had free time. The girls went shopping and we boys went for coffees. After coffees also we boys went shopping. We also had a good lunch in a restaurant. We went to Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum in the afternoon. There we had a very interesting guided tour. The museum uses very modern technology. After the tour we had a little bit more free time and then we took the train to Koblenz. In the evening we had nice time at home. We just hanged around. We Germans had to go to school and most of us wrote an unexpected English test :( Today we are going to visit the "Kletterwald Bendorf-Sayn". There we can climb different parcours. Pictures will follow ^^

This time in Germany!

Here we are again! The Finns are now in town and we keep on writing this blog! The members changed a bit. So Hilla and Jule are fired and the new professional writer is Christian. So please introduce yourself: "Hey guys, I'm Christian. I'm 16 years old and the exchance partner of Roni. Unfortunately he's in Brazil and enjoys the sun :D. My hobbys are- of course- playing football, but I also like riding my motorcycle. I live together with my mum Sabine, my dad Frank, my three years younger brother Fabian and my Grandfather Günther in Koblenz- Kesselheim. The stay in Finland was marvellous and very exciting and I hope the reexchange is again so great." Leo: We left from Jyväskylä yesterday early in the morning. The traveling went nicely and we arrived Koblenz about half past five. Then I met my host family which was super nice! We had a very good dinner and after that Daniel and I went to the city centrum with boys. Today we had our first school day. German students guided us through the building and after that we worked with the projects and joined the lessons. In the afternoon we had a city tour which was guided by the german students. We visited home and then almost all exchange students went bowling. That was really nice with great people. Have a great week!

Very late...

Hey it's me Jule! Since about a month back here in Germany and I really miss Finland and all the great people there. I'm so happy  that I've joined this exchange, because this was a wonderful experience and I've got knew a new culture new people and   much more.

Hilla and I understand each other so well and maybe I'll visit her again in summer (without the exchange program).

When I look back on this time I just have to say that I would do this every time again.

Thanks to everybody who has made this exchange possible! 

Special thanks and a hug to Hilla! I had such a amazing time! And I'm sure we'll visit each other outside this program :)

P.S. This is just apple juice there on the picture :)

Jule <3

After all...

... our exchange week was a great experience! :) I'm so glad that I decided to take part in it - I got many new friends, especially Jule, and had a lot of fun! The most difficult thing was to find the right words in English when it was six o'clock in the morning and your brains were still asleep. But I made it, and now I'm looking forwatd to visit Germany :) Here are a couple of pictures for you:

 

I suppose that at least for me and Jule one of the most exciting thing was to go to a snow blanket straight from our sauna. Yeap, I have to admit that it was my first time to torture my body so badly with the snow :D What kind of Finn am I...

 

We also saw the big prom of Jyväskylä's upper secondary schools. Let me tell you, after that (for us girls) it was more than difficult to talk about anything else than the dresses there!!

 

For some students throwing snowbalss (even in the middle of taking photos) seemed to be necessary... :D

 

Of course visiting Suomenlinna wouldn't be anything without a delicious coffee brake ;)

 

Every woman has a right to shoes! Seriously, poking around in the clothing stores of Helsinki would be just a waste of time without trying any beautiful shoes...

All you German students of this exchange project, I will miss you! But we'll see again in Germany, I have to think about some Finnish song to teach to you ;D I really recommend this international experience for everyone who considers about it, it will give you so much! Now I've done my share, thank you one more time :)

<3, Hilla

 

Say "hi" to Helsinki!

The clock is way too much, like always, I should study for my Spanish test and take care of my health by sleeping... Yeah, you always SHOULD do things but when it comes to doing them, it's not that easy anymore :D But from one topic to another, I think I should tell you a bit about our weekend trip in Helsinki :) I have to admit that I'm really bad at every kind of technology stuff and surprise surprise - I have some problems with adding any pictures here from iPad, so that's why you can't get any photos from our weekend, sorry :/

We left here from Jyväskylä at 7am and let me tell you, the bus trip here was reeally quiet. I bet that every one of us at least tried some kind of sleeping. At least I have slept so little during this week that  the possible intellgent life in my brain is really much slower than what it used to be - in case it isn't dead already xD

Today we saw Senaatintori, Tuomiokirkko, Suomen Kansallismuseo and many other interesting things. Later in the evening we went to a American restaurant, eventhough before going there we had many funny adventures in the streets of Helsinki xD After all, poking around in the snowy weather was totally worth it - when we had this separate backroom for our group of 21 students the atmosphere was amazing! We had two good speeches, delicious food and lovely people around us. What could be better?! I already miss all the German students but fortunately we are going to visit Germany next autumn so I don't have to miss them so long :) I just have to say that thank you all for the wonderful evening and day in Helsinki, you're the best <3 !

And especially thanks for Jule, my own guest partner who has given me so much joy during this week :) <3

Hilla :)

PS. Hope that some day I will learn the lyrics of your cookie song, boys..... :DD

A sporty, funny and yummy day

Yeah! Girlpower :)
Today we had a PE lesson.

And here's the famous "kuperkeikka", in German Purzelbaum (sorry, we didn't know it in English at the moment we took the video :D ). Enjoy :)

In the afternoon we've worked on our projects. On Friday we will have a Talent Show where we are going to show our special (or not so special... xD ) skills.

 

Here are the Finnish people having a coffee break during the German students...

           ...are sitting in the Auditorium and practicing for theire Talent show.

In the evening we (Hilla and Jule) were having such a great time in a restaurant called Amarillo with two friends of Hilla, Tiina and Salla.

 

 After the delicious dinner we had a dessert coffee moment in Coffee House - that was a good ending for a good evening! In addition to all this Salla had a great chance to use her language skills by talking in German with Jule. :)

Iso halaus kaikille! <3

A big hug for everybody! <3

Eine große Umarmung fÜr jeden! <3

- Jule & Hilla (:

A wild morning in the gymnastics hall

Here we are, in our school's gymnastics hall, writing this blog. Here are a couple of interviewes of our groups' members.

First, Daniel:

What do you think about Finland?
- I think Finland is cool - in both meanings. I like it.

What did you do in the yesterday evening from 6 to 10 pm?
- I was in the Coffee House with other exchange students drinking some coffee. After this Leo and I were picked up by his mom and we went to his house. Then we had a dinner and went to sauna. It was really relaxing.

Leo:

Do you have any expectations when you will visit Germany?
- I'm looking forward to meet German youngsters and I want to learn something new about German culture. I think we will have a lot of fun.

What are your feelings about German students' visit here by now?
- Very good because I think they are very nice and funny persons.

Jule:

Has Finland been like you expected it to be?
- It has been colder than I expected. People are very nice, friendly and open.

What do you think about sauna?
- I think it is really nice but I don't like it if the temperature is too high. I think it's worth of trying.

Hilla:

How are your feelings about the exchange by now?
- I really love to do this, speaking English and be with all the people. I certainly do not regret!

Do you have any stereotypical pictures of German people?
-I think German people usually have very dark hair and brown eyes. In Germany people eat a looooot of sausages and drink beer.

Jääkiekkoa ja kebabia mahan täydeltä | Eishockey und ein Bauch voller Kebab

Hallo! Wie geht's? We've had such a wonderful day! :) After Jule had tried downhill skiing and come back to Hilla's place we had about half an hour to leave the house. We went to watch an ice hockey match to Synergia-areena - Jyp-Akatemia was playing against Leki from Lempäälä. Unfortunately Jyp-Akatemia didn't win the game but at least Jule got her first experience of watching ice hockey. Jule thought they were playing really hard and the tackling looked really painful. At least ice hockey has good reasons to be Finland's most popular sport: it is really exciting and interesting to follow. Still, we all should remember the most important thing in men's ice hockey: the reeeally good-looking player guys! ;)

 Here are we in Kebab House.

Directley after the game we went there to take some food with us at home. We were very hungry after the whole long day and glad to get some yummy food. The only bad thing was that they gave the wrong food to Hilla (very hot and spicy). We think that this was a exhausting but very great day, so this food was the perfect ending for it.

Hyvää yötä kaikki ihanat <3 !

- Hilla & Jule :)

Introduction part three: Jule

Hey! My name is Jule and I'm 15 years old.  This is my first time in finland and I'm so excited to get to know the new culture and new people. My hobby is playing the violine , wich I do twice a week. I'm never alone at home , because I live there with my sister , brother , mother , father and a cat called Mau. Books and Music are one of the importanst things in my live. And my favorite books are `The Hunger Games´ by Suzanne Collins. I like almost all kind of music. I'm really into the english language , so for me this exchange was a perfect way to improve my language skills. I'm very excited to meet Hilla , my exchange student. I'm happy that we understand each other so well.
So I'll hope we all have a great time in Jyväskylä.
Best , Jule ; )

Greetings to my best friend Miriam : )

Introduction of Leo and Daniel

Hi!

We are Leo and Daniel. We are both 16 years old boys.

I live in Finland in Jyväskylä. My family consists of four people: mother Katariina, Father Kimmo, brother Joel and me. I'm into floorball and I usually train 5-7 times a week. I enjoy hanging out with my friends, listening to music and of course sleeping. I joined the exchange program because I want to get new friends and learn something new about Germany. Have fun!


And I, Daniel, live in Koblenz in Germany. In my family there are my mother Eleonore, my father Christoph, my brother Johannes (who doesn't live at home anymore) and my sister Doro. I play tennis and the drums. I like to listen to music and go to the city with my friends. I'm part of the exchange program because I like to know other cultures. Keep reading!



Hilla we love you! ;)

Introduction part one: Hilla

Hi there!:) My name is Hilla Inkilä and I'm 17 years old. I live in Muurame with my family that consists of my parents, two sisters (the elder one of them lives on her own, though) and a dog. I go to upper secondary school at Jyväskylän Normaalikoulun lukio (University of Jyväskylä Teacher Training School) and I joined this exchange because I haven't travelled abroad so much and I wanted to gain some new experiences and make some international friends. I'm into basketball, I've played it for eight and a half years now and I actually go to our school's sports line. I really like to speak English and it's so excited to do it in everyday life's situations! My German guest for this week will be Jule, and I'm sure we're going to have great fun :) I guess that's pretty much all of it... Greetings to all of you and have an unforgettably fun exchange week here in Jyväskylä, Finland! :)

Best, Hilla :)

PS. This blog is for our group task for this week, I forgot to mention. Enjoy! :)