Martha Machray

I am one of the two UK finalists who took part in the Goethe-Institut's IDO (Internationale Deutscholympiade) 2022.

I have so many great memories of the IDO 2022 - two amazing weeks in Hamburg with over 100 young people from all over the world who all have a passion for learning German.

There are too many fun activities and happy moments to list, but the memory that really stands out for me was the last day when we were all saying goodbye, signing each other's T-shirts, wishing each other well and hoping we would meet again. Even though there is also sadness in this memory, I think that this was the moment when it really hit home for all of us as to what a unique, special experience the IDO 2022 had been, and what a privilege it had been to represent our countries and to have had the opportunity to learn about each other's cultures.

Without the Goethe-Institut London, I wouldn't have met such good friends from all over the world with whom I am still in contact virtually every day. I also wouldn't have had such an immersive experience in German culture, which I love, nor have been able to learn first-hand about so many other world cultures. Being at the IDO improved my German a great deal, and it has really motivated me to keep learning and practising German even more.