The visit programme promises to be extremely interesting. A trip to Wrocław, an excursion to the Karkonosze Mountains, and visits to Grodziec Castle and the Borowski Glassworks. What is more, the young residents of Siegburg will have the opportunity to meet representatives of the town and county authorities. “Germans are very eager to take part in exchanges. They are very open,” says Wojciech Markiewicz, a German teacher and one of the project coordinators.
I Liceum Ogólnokształcące has hosted our western neighbours for the 17th time. “Friendships are formed during exchanges, and young people then arrange to meet during the holidays,” says an I LO teacher. “Interestingly, one of our secondary-school students met his future wife this way.”
After one day here, the young Germans are pleasantly surprised by our country. “The family I am staying with is very nice,” says René Marx. “What I like most is Polish hospitality,” emphasises Paula Fenker. “Our peers dress like we do. In fact, we are very similar to one another.”
“The students like Poland very much,” confirms Aleksandra Termin, the German-side project coordinator. “They tell us that it is completely different from what they imagined. They are particularly delighted by large cities such as Wrocław.”
Paula and René are taking part in an exchange for the first time. “We decided to come here because our friends spoke very highly of their stay in your country,” René points out. And although they have only recently arrived in Poland, they have already learned several useful Polish words and phrases (Paula handles the tongue-twister ‘W Szczebrzeszynie chrząszcz brzmi w trzcinie’ very well).
This does not change the fact that they communicate with Polish families primarily in Goethe’s language. “Some students speak German excellently,” emphasises Wojciech Markiewicz. “Those who do not know the language quite so well also have to find a way to communicate with their guests. And they manage.”
“This is a true uniting of nations,” the teacher says with a smile. “Although we try to avoid grand words. We do not talk about reconciliation or forgiving the sins of the past. Politicians talk about that. We do our part. And it is producing results. Young people are very pleased with these exchanges.”
(information ii)