Augsburg
First day – Completing the Foundation’s annual language competition (German language A2, B1, B2, C1 level) the winners had the pleasure to set off today (25th June) to Augsburg. Here they not only will have the chance to spend a week participating in a language course, but to explore the city and its hidden treasures. Hence the early start and late arrival all the 12 group members were jolly as meeting the host families, who welcomed us in the parking lot of the city sports hall. Hopefully the weather will be getting better as tonight it was rather springy.
Second day – around the town: Our first full day in Augsburg started as usual: the host families took us to the language school or showed us how to get there. When there, we were sorted into different groups based on our fluency in German. In the first class we got to know the teachers, introduced ourselves and shared our first impressions about Augsburg. As the school doesn’t have a canteen, we were handed some money for lunch and headed for the local market, where hot food is sold and can be eaten there. After our meals we took to the Town Hall to start a tour around Augsburg. For this tour we split into smaller teams and tried to look for the answers to questions about the town’s history and its beautiful sights while also visiting these landmark buildings, towers, churches and fountains. As it turned out, we achieved varying results, but everyone was happy to take their reward in the form of some delicious and eye-catching ice creams.
Third day – on the outskirts: We now know Augsburg so well that everybody managed to get to the school timely on their own. After the morning German classes we took to the town centre to eat for lunch. After that and a quick change of plans, we scaled almost three hundred steps to get to the top of the Perlachturm on the main square, from where we could see the whole town. Then the three of us left to visit the University of Augsburg and learn about its many faculties covering many fields, its top programs, the diverse German education system (the details of which vary by state) and the school facilities on the campus which included multiple libraries, a vast sports field and even a day care centre for the kids of teachers and students. Meanwhile, the rest of us went to the Textile Museum. There we saw the evolution of weaving machines, observed different cloth-making procedures like knitting, sewing and weaving. We could also try our hands at a loom and made little bags for ourselves to take home.
Fourth day – The visit: Aside from a few changes after yesterday’s class, everything is now going smoothly for us at school. However, we had some visitors. Winning an international tender launched by the LR Global Kind Fund, our Foundation received a donation which covered the cost of the annual German language camp. Today the representatives spent with us a wonderful day (28th June). After the classes we had some delicious local dishes for lunch in a restaurant located in a historical cellar. Then we headed for the museum dedicated to the Fugger and Welser families, two clans that became immensely rich after the period we now know as Middle Ages. Their business endeavours made Augsburg the wealthiest place in 16th century Europe. A high level of interactivity such as short clips and games made us really like the exhibition. After this and an ice cream in the town centre a short bus journey followed. We went to a place, where a lake for paddle boats was lined on the shore by bars and restaurants. After a short boat journey the final act of the day was introduced, where we had to create a story or a poem in German using some given words. It was real fun!
Fifth day – Water: Rain hit in the morning, but after that it was a sunny day all along. After our routine business of classes and lunch we first visited the water towers which are located on the perimeter of the old town, right next to where the town wall stood. Water is a very important element of Augsburg’s culture and identity, as there are many canals and fountains in the town and sources outside it, furthermore, the town has world heritage ambitions relating to its water supply network. The ‘curators’ showed us how potable water would reach the prosperous medieval town, the different pump mechanisms connected to water wheels as well as some tricks which demonstrate the unique physical properties of water. After that we took a long break from exploring Augsburg in the cinema to see the newest instalment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, then did some more language quiz. In the evening we returned to the town centre to experience the festive atmosphere thanks to the stream of people attending the ‘Summer Nights in Augsburg’.
Sixth day – The fruits of hard work: Friday was the final day of school. We thanked and bid farewell to our teachers and got our certificates for which we worked so hard for, both here and at home. We left the building of the language school for the last time and entered the Golden Hall of the Augsburg Town Hall. The hall, in which everything is heavily gilded, has a height of a three-story building and was completely destroyed in the Second World War. To restore its original glory took about ten years. After that, we had free time to spend some money on presents. In the evening we met once again and went bowling, during which we had dinner and each of us got some books of great use for how we helped to make this camp great and unforgettable.
Seventh day – The last act: aturday was very well the final day for us in Augsburg; we’re flying home tomorrow. We met at around the same time in the morning as in previous days, but this time around we got to use our creative skills as well: we painted ceramic kitchenware to our liking. We had cereal bowls, mugs and cups to choose from and we made use of different techniques to create something special that would be with us every day. Planning, painting and leaning up took the better part of the morning, so in the afternoon we actually left Augsburg for a western-themed park in nearby Dasing. From horse shows to knife throw, from stylish buildings to country music, this place had everything. The theatre performance which adapted parts of Karl May’s Winnetou was a well-received, spectacular and at times moderately funny show, it really put the cherry on the cake not just for this trip, but also for the week we got to spend in Augsburg, a town filled with beauty and history.
