Germany - Day One

Going to Germany has been in the back of my mind since the Friendship Exchange started some years ago. I had been hoping it was something Tyler wanted to do so I could tag along for the ride. And what a ride it has been. We left Webster with a bit of nervous butterflies, hoping the trip would be a success and the students would all be sensible. We had several conversations in the months prior informing the kids of the expectations and standards set. I was keeping my fingers crossed that I was not being naive about what would actually transpire once we were in Germany. As I sit now in Claudia's office, having already spent 7 days here, without a doubt this trip has been truly successful. The kids have been wonderful, respectful, appreciative. They are using their manners and it is "gutt" (good). Claudia and the other parents are nothing short of amazing hosts. They have filled our days with adventure, laughter, friendship, and the most stunning scenery. While my words will not come close to describing our days here, I will do my best to tell my story.
Sunday 6-13-2011
Our flight to Minneapolis was uneventful and brief. We had just the right amount of time in Minneapolis to find our gate and wait to board. Our next leg of the journey took us across the Atlantic to Amsterdam. Eight hours in flight was a long time in a not so roomy seat. We boarded about 10 PM and we all tried to sleep. Not so much. The stewardesses started moving down the aisle about 2 AM with a chicken dish. The kids thought they were mashed potatoes, but it was a scoop of thick bread stuffing. I dozed here and there, awaking once to see land. Each seat in the plane was equipped with a GPS map which was displayed on a screen. At that moment, we were flying over Ireland. It was at that moment, that it hit me. I was going to Europe! Excitement like a child. Gazing at the clouds from above is a site one never tires of. I was content just watching the landscape pass by. Then again about 6 AM, they arrived with an egg biscuit. The jet lag already seemed to be taking effect. It would take a bit to adjust to the time change. Arriving in Amsterdam, we had nearly 2 hours to rest and people watch. Some tried to nap where they could - on the floor, in the chair, anywhere to catch a doze. The last portion of the flight was short taking us into Stuttgart Germany. To our delight every single piece of baggage appeared on the carousel so all was good. We no more than stepped out into the lobby when Herman the German appeared with an entourage of fellow countrymen. Each person took the time to shake hands and say "Hullo" - Hello- to each one of us. This personal greeting upon arrival I would soon discover is engrained in the culture. We moved outdoors and in the parking lot Herman explained it was tradition to serve beverages and pretzels right then and there. Christine and I each received a small bottle of champagne. We had our first taste of the bubbly water. Soon we were all dispersed into vehicles and on our way to the famous Dewangen, about an hour away. We were all a bit dazed with a case of official jet lag, but we all knew our adventure was beginning. We went to the Hiking Club to meet with another delegation from the Friendship Club. For some reason, I knew which woman was Claudia right away. We visited a bit. I chatted with Mayor Margit. My lack of German seemed not too big of a problem as most of the people speak some English. We did not stay long, as we all needed a real bed, having been traveling for 16 plus hours. At Claudia's, I was shown my room and promptly went to bed. Claudia's home was a modern beautiful home with lots of natural wood and lighting. I took but a few notes in my travel journal and tried hard to fall asleep quickly.