Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Safely Home
We miss them already, but we can feel good knowing they arrived safely and are back with those they love. Our thanks to our friends in the Peoria Club, our sister city organization in Friedrichshafen, for providing these photos as well as those of our guests' departure for Peoria.
See you next year!
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Departing for Home
We knew this day would come, but that knowledge did not make it easier to bear our parting. The three weeks passed by surprisingly fast, but it was enough time to make a real connection from one culture to another.
It was a morning of both smiles and hugs. Our homes will feel much emptier tonight. But we will fill those quieter moments with memories of our good times together.
Marius and Monika "volunteered" to speak to the man from the Peoria television station who came to see them off. The Friends of Friedrichshafen appreciated their efforts to help tell our city about this wonderful experience.
When the call for "final goodbyes" went out, everybody got in their last, lingering hugs. Oh, the tears! Oh, the sad faces! But both of these were clear signs that our exchange created good friends between our communities once again.
We hated to say Auf Wiedersehen ... but many were also heard to say, "See you next year!"
Sunday, August 14, 2005
One Final Gathering
To say farewell to our guests, we held a picnic at the home of a longtime FOF supporter. Their spacious home and their private lake made a perfect setting for another memorable day in which we ate well, had great fun, and dreaded the parting that would come in just a few days.
Daniel (right) and Chris row their boat ashore, as did several other students who took to the calm waters of our host's private lake.
Our hosts provided plenty of meat and everyone pitched in with a dish to pass. Plenty of delicious food!
These girls' faces tell the whole story: everyone had fun at the farewell party and during the entire exchange!
Our German guests were given a quiz (by their own chaperones!) to see how much they had learned about Peoria and Illinois. Several tied for the best marks, with 14 of 15 questions answered correctly.
One last group photo at our last official gathering.
Only a few more days until our guests (sadly) depart.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Around Town in Big, Big Cars
Our students took part in a limousine scavenger hunt, sponsored by the Peoria Park District. They were split into teams, each one trying to find certain locations throughout Peoria. At a predetermined time, they returned to the starting point for a pizza party and awards. A great time for everyone!
This event used just about every limousine available in Peoria ... although it seems they were short on qualified drivers!
Each team was given the same items: matching shirts, a list of clues and a camera. They studied the clues to decipher where they needed to go in town and collect items to prove they had been there. Sometimes, they could take photos. Sometimes, they needed to gather something from that location.
If each team stretched fingertip to fingertip, they still probably could not reach around these cars!
Here, the tan team is shown next to their car and driver.
The blue team can hardly sit still in their cavernous car and Corrina is all smiles as the yellow team excitedly gets into their limousine to begin the hunt!
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Meeting Peoria's Mayor
The Friends of Friedrichshafen is a proud supporter of the Peoria Sister City Commission. To further the effort to promote our relationship with our German friends, we visited Peoria's mayor, Jim Ardis, in the grand city council chambers. The mayor and city clerk welcomed our group and expressed warm wishes for a happy visit.
After the meeting, we attended a reception given by the Sister City Commission. Then several of our guests and host families attended the Taste of Peoria -- an event celebrating our city's cuisine, music and entertainment talents.
Mayor Ardis called our guests up individually (such as Nathalie) and handed each one a personalized proclamation honoring their visit to their American sister city.
All of our German guests attended, as well as many of their host students and families. The mayor was pleased to see so many smiling faces!
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
(Chicago is) My Kind of Town
A full day in Chicago ... what could be better? The sun was shining on this beautiful city, so we took full advantage. A little sightseeing, plenty of shopping, and lots of fun awaited us as we enjoyed ourselves in one of America's most famous cities. This photo shows the Chicago Watertower ... one of the few buildings left standing after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 ... set against the Hancock Building (formerly one of the world's tallest).
We're on top of the world! The Sears Tower was our first stop. Unparalleled views from one of the world's tallest buildings helped our group understand how large Chicago is ... and how high we were! Mary, Julia and Kate (left to right) are all smiles.
Buckingham Fountain is a landmark located in Chicago's Grant Park. From left, Jessie, Katharina and Lauren pose for a photo that has the Sears Tower looming in the background.
The group enjoyed stopping along Lake Michigan to get spectacular photos of the downtown skyline.
A highlight of the exchange is the opportunity to explore downtown Chicago in small (or large) groups. From shopping on the city's Magnificent Mile to its expansive parks, this city has something for everyone.
For dinner, several of our group went to Ed Debevic's, which recreates the atmosphere of a 1950's diner. One of the German chaperones studies an antique booth-side jukebox, which were popular in that era. You've got to love that hat!
Within a few city blocks, our group found many restaurants to spend their final hour in Chicago. The Hard Rock Cafe is next door to the Rock & Roll McDonalds, two of our group's most popular stops.
Chicago is great fun!
Friday, August 05, 2005
Lake Party Fun
Today, our group was hosted by a family that has a long tradition of supporting the youth exchange, even though their children aged out years ago! Every host year, they open their lakeside home to our guests and host families for a day of fun in the sun. Here, our hostess, Joyce (in right foreground), welcomes one host family and points out everything there is to do.
The excitement begins to build as a group launches a ski boat. Our hosts have a lovely location on a local lake, where our youth can ski, swim, dive or float in the water. They can also play volleyball, throw a frisbee and have fun in many ways.
One of the American chaperones demonstrates to Martha (center) and Britney how to ski. Or is she demonstrating how NOT to ski? Maybe how to fall?
Ski boats are not the only way to get around! A pontoon boat took a more leisurely tour of the lake for those not skiing. For some it's the only way to get around!
With plenty of good food to eat, everyone had a wonderful day on the lake!
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Peoria's Big Yellow
The same day as the Peoria Chief's game, our group was hosted by Caterpillar. The day began with a tour of a manufacturing plant, where our students saw how Big Yellow assembles its impressive machines. After lunch -- also provided by Caterpillar -- we saw the massive earthmovers at work. It was hot, but it was very interesting.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
A day at the (ball)park
It was another hot, muggy night when we saw the Peoria Chiefs play baseball. The park was crowded as a Chicago Cubs pitcher, Kerry Woods, was playing to help recover from an injury. So our guests were in for an uncommon treat! The Chiefs lost the game, but our youth exchange "won" by enjoying another fun evening together.
A brave Friedrichshafen guest, Bianca, agreed to throw out a ceremonial first pitch. She was asked to stand on the pitcher's mound and throw a baseball 90 feet to home plate! (And she nearly made it there!!)
Friedrichshafen resident Svenja (right) and her host Jenny enjoyed the game. Jenny's father is behind her; another German guest, Corinna, is behind them in yellow.
Monday, August 01, 2005
Native Americans for a day
We held the official Welcome Party at the Seven Circles Heritage Center, just outside Peoria. This is home to a contemporary Native American community where anyone can learn and appreciate America's indigenous heritage.
Everyone had the opportunity to make a Native American craft item, such as a prayer stick or dream catcher. The center's Rainbow Dancers offered an hour-long demonstration of several interesting dances. Then we all shared a meal of foods that were significant to Native Americans.
An entertaining day in which everyone learned something new!
The Rainbow Dancers invited everyone to take part in several group dances, so we could experience how Native Americans lived ... just a little bit better. We may not have done the dances perfectly, but we had fun!
After the dance program, all of our guests posed for a group shot with the dancers around the covered drum circle.
