Seniors Set Off on Germany Trip

Last month, 21 seniors embarked on the first international ICGL trip in nearly three years, setting off on a red-eye flight to Munich on the evening of Friday, Jan. 6. Led by three electric chaperones, history teacher Tim Hornor and math teachers Jason Smith and Heather McCloskey, the dynamic group landed and learned to navigate the metro with only minor setbacks. After a traditional German dinner on the first night, including schnitzel and spaetzle, the students retreated to the hostel to catch up on their jet-lag. “Staying in the hostels was like a ten day sleepover with your best friends,” said Sara Mazur. “The company made up for the freezing cold communal showers.”

The next morning marked the commencement of the weeklong deep dive into German culture and history, with a walking tour of Munich and its most famous museums. Mr. Hornor’s AP Art History students were thrilled with the opportunity of applying their knowledge in real time. “Seeing the bust of Nefertiti in person was an experience on par with seeing God in the flesh” shared Alice Voigt. Mr. Hornor acted as a museum guide for the group, cold-calling students to answer questions on the works they had studied last semester.

Braving the cold of the Alps, the group awoke at 5AM the next morning to make the journey to Neuschwanstein Castle. “The scenery at the castle was so incredible. We took a horse-drawn carriage to the top which was so cinematic,” said Sheza Merchant. The trip was also a celebration of the arts, and the group leaders fit two performances into the itinerary, the philharmonic and the opera. “Seeing Mendelssohn’s ‘Elijah’ at the Berlin Philharmonic was exhilarating. From the famed orchestra to the talented singers, the musical and cultural experience was unmatched!” said Charlotte Vadnais.

The most impactful event of the trip was certainly the side trip to the Dachau concentration camp, a site of innumerable atrocities. “Visiting Dachau was a sobering experience.” shared Marit Uyham “However, as with the rest of the trip, I appreciated the opportunity to deepen my understanding of historical events.” Viewing the bunkers, gas chamber and memorial sites on ground, was both a painful and educational experience for the group, but one they felt privileged to have the opportunity to witness nonetheless.

On the final day of the trip, the group retreated to Potsdam to explore the extravagant lifestyle of the royal Hohenzollern ruler, Frederick the Great. This enlightened absolutist personality became a group favorite.

The group poses in front of Sans-Souci Palace.

“Frederick the Great was only 5 ’2’’ but when he stands on his money he’s 6 ‘6”. Sans Souci’s opulent decor and vast grounds are unmatched,” said Forest

Pollard. Bundled up for the cold, they walked around the gardens and palace complexes, appreciating the rococo flair of the former ruler.

As they returned to Atlanta to catch up on their week’s worth of missed schoolwork, the group reflected on the valuable historical and cultural lessons they learned.