Page 6 - 張祝珊英文中學－ECHOv1.2

AFS exchange program

An Exchange Year in Germany

5C Hung Kai Yin

We all know that ‘he who travels far knows Studying in Germany
much’, which is why I opted to be an exchange
student in Germany for a year. Although I will During my time in Germany, of course I didn't
graduate one year later than my schoolmates of travel around all the time. Like other German teens
the same age, I have never regretted my decision of my age, I attended school daily and it didn't
because this year in Germany was magnificent take long for me to notice, and be amazed at, the
beyond words. difference between German students and Hong Kong
students. You couldn't believe the activeness of
Having fun in Germany German students in class! When the teacher asked a
question, they eagerly responded, not caring whether
My life in Germany was no short of their answers were good or not. When they did not
unforgettable moments. For instance, at one understand something, they did not hold back but
weekend, my host family brought me to a theme asked the teacher loud right away. When there was a
park called Tropical Island. Unlike those theme project, they treated it seriously and tapped into their
parks in Hong Kong, Tropical Island is an indoor creativity. Although I could tell that some of my
park with its environment and setting resembling that classmates were trying to show off their intelligence,
of a tropical forest. There is even an artifi cial beach! generally speaking there is no denying that their
I spent the day playing ball games and bumper cars passion for learning is missing in us. Frankly, there
with my host family. Screaming and laughing with is no reason for us to be so shy in class. Certainly we
others, I found myself blending in with my host have to learn from our German counterparts.
family and also the Germans.

In Germany, I also joined the course of
protecting the environment. The Black Forest is a
mountainous region in southwest Germany. Still
teeming with Christmas trees a few years ago, the
Black Forest has now become partly infertile as
a substantial number of trees have been cut down
by the locals. In my one-week stint as a volunteer,
I planted one hundred trees while only eating
vegetables. It was by no means an easy week, but
my suffering was far outweighed by my gain. Not A giant clock in downtown Berlin which
only did I learn a lesson of environmental protection, shows the time of different big cities.
I also met a lot of fellow environment lovers with
whom I still keep in touch now. My experience in
the Black Forest is undoubtedly one of the highlights
of my time in Germany.

Christmas in Germany

Germans really ‘go deep’ when celebrating Christmas. Take Christmas trees as an
example. Germans actually DIY their Christmas trees! They would go into the forest, pick a
nice tree and then do all the cutting and decoration themselves. Lamentably, we cannot plant
Christmas trees in Hong Kong or I will make one.

Another highlight of Christmas is certainly chocolates! There is this specially-designed
calendar which hides chocolates behind each date. When a day passes, children will get the
chocolates of that day. Strictly speaking, I am not a child anymore but I also got a lot of
chocolates!

Admittedly, it was not easy in the fi rst few months as I felt lonely and missed my family
a lot. However, this was a fantastic experience. I get more mature, active and independent.
On top of that, I know one more language and make a lot of friends. What else can you ask
for from a trip? Next year, if you have the chance, don't hesitate to apply to be an exchange
student!

Family trip to Cuxhaven, a city situated on the shore of the North Sea. I try
horse riding there while my host brother helps lead it. Me and my host sister at Treptower Park