THE FIRST TRIP BACK TO GERMANY
Lara and Maxi’s mum is attending an industrial conference in Munich, so their family has decided to take a holiday back in Germany after the conference. As it’s the first time Lara and Maxi have lived in another country for nearly a year, it will be great for them to visit grandparents and friends back in their hometown.
August 10, Munich
We came back to Munich for the summer vacation! I was not expecting this as Mum’s schedule is very busy. I thought we would enjoy the summer in Shenyang and probably go to summer camp organized by HuZ, just like what my classmates are doing right now.
My friends Leah and Natalie were also excited about my return and couldn’t wait to hear my stories. They both lived in Shenyang for some time studying at HuZ. That’s also one of the reasons we became best friends and have a lot to share. Their experiences transferring back to a German school are a bit different but also have some similarities, and both reintegrated quite smoothly.
Leah applied to a good German school with the certificate provided by HuZ. In a 30-minute online interview, the school asked about her academic performance, school life and experiences in Shenyang. In the end, the school was very satisfied and sent her a solid offer. When she started at the German school, she didn’t feel uncomfortable or like she was struggling. And she was invited to a new friend’s party in the first month at the new school!
Natalie stayed in Shenyang for over 2 years. So even though she went back to the same school in Germany, she still had to make a new application, according to the rules of German schools. During the assessment, the school thought she managed some of her subjects very well, such as English. For some subjects, such as chemistry, there might be some gaps between the two school’s curriculums. So, she was given a three-month period to see if she can adapt to it. Without a doubt, she passed through this period with no problems. As she was abroad for quite a long time, she needed a longer time than Leah to get back to her old life. But now, she’s also made some new friends along with her old friends!
I showed them the video clip we produced for the European Video Contest. Natalie was interested in how much time we spent in editing and post-production. I showed her the editing software on my mobile phone, which was installed in Shenyang. She was impressed by the fact that I could use software in Chinese! “That’s how I learned it,” I told her. When I use the language for a specific task, I can quickly recognize the characters and understand the meaning.
Natalie asked me if I miss my hometown. I really do. No matter how wonderful the adventure is, I still miss it and my friends here. I am so happy to be back home and enjoying the summer sunshine. Actually, the small German community in Shenyang enhanced and expanded my connections in Germany. Some friends I met in Shenyang relocated back to Germany and other European cities beyond Munich. This has given me a good reason to visit more cities! I have to say that life on another continent expanded my world, enriched my life, and helped me accept differences.
I used to read biographies of explorers and didn’t understand why they would take all those risks to encounter something strange and uncertain. However, after living a year abroad, I know what triggered them to explore. The broader the world we see, the more curiosity we have for the unknown. This drive pushes us forward. That’s why I have more to say in the MSA presentation. I believe this thinking process will benefit me even beyond my college application.
August 12, Munich
I was so excited to see my friends! Dad and Mum arranged a picnic at Olympia Park with my friends Tom, Hogen, and their families, starting with a traditional Sunday morning football game. It was so good to see them and play football together – it felt like I had never left!
On the way, I worried whether we would still play well together, but thanks to regular practice in HuZ, I hadn’t fallen behind. Nick was kind of surprised to see me. “Oh, Maxi, welcome back home,” he said. “What about football in China?” I told him we have a German and an international team for games. I also told him about our Shenyang games and how I met new football friends. Football is a way for me to stay connected.
Hogan was keen to go to Shenyang because another boy Leo on our football team, was back from Shenyang with his brother last year. Leo got along well with the boys, and talked a lot about Shenyang and China with them. His excellence in Maths and English impressed teachers and gained him a reputation among his friends. He usually solves maths problems much quicker than the rest of the class. His teacher also found his English vocabulary quite strong, and his reading level is ahead of his classmates.
From the experience and tips shared by his parents, my mum regularly discusses my learning progress and subjects with German teachers to see if they were well-connected, and the answer was always yes. So, I’m quite confident that I will be OK when I’m back in a German school, just like Leo and his brother.
I showed them the video that I took part in for the Young Spokesperson Event of “China-German established Diplomatic Relationship for 50 years” with 10 other students from HuZ at the Shenyang Imperial Palace. They were so surprised by my great experience! It also made me very proud that I am like an ambassador for exchanging the cultures of the two countries. I promised them if they came to Shenyang, I would be their tour guide and take them to all the fun places I enjoy!
As I talked to my friends, I realized how many experiences we had in the past year, experiences we would not have had if we were not in Shenyang. A year out of Germany has added so many flavors to my life. I was not expecting it, but I am enjoying it!
I am kind of looking forward to the new semester in Shenyang. Dad has promised me he will join the parent board to support our annual events, such as Christmas and the Bookfair. It will be great to see my parents on campus!
