Why did you decide to take part in a GAPP exchange?
I first heard about the GAPP exchange when I took German in the seventh grade; it was common knowledge amongst the students that our local high school, Naperville Central, had been partnered with Humboldt Gymnasium for over 20 years at that point. It's still running today, so the partnership has been going for well over 35 years now. When I got to sophomore year I had heard great things about the program for years, and I jumped at the opportunity to go on my own adventure. So we hosted a student named Yannic for three weeks in 2007, then the following year in 2008 I got on the plane to Solingen to do my own exchange.
What was Solingen like?
It was a medium-sized city of around 160,000, not huge like Cologne or Dusseldorf. Solingen was basically a bunch of smaller villages grouped together. It reminded me of my hometown in a lot of ways, which helped ease the transition a bit.
Where else did you visit in Germany?
We traveled all over. I saw a lot of historical sites, like Deutsches Eck in Koblenz, but my favorite landmark was Schlossberg Castle. I also studied abroad in Vallendar for a year at the Otto Beisheim School of Management, one of Germany’s most popular private universities.
Could you describe your expectations of Germany?
I had heard a lot from both students who had gone to Germany and the exchange students who attended our school, especially those that we hosted. Even with all of the stories all I could really tell was that it would be very…different. It's difficult to describe, but when I got there I felt sort of a positive culture shock.
Can you talk more about feeling a “positive culture shock?”
Well, it was my first time in another country, so right from the start it was a level of unfamiliarity I had never experienced. Getting off the plane and seeing all the strange cars and buildings, constantly being surrounded by a new language, smelling and tasting all of the amazing food, it was such a new and novel experience. Even the way their school is structured is so different from America; it wasn’t a bad thing by any means, just something I wasn’t used to. The people were kind, and my host family was extremely helpful in making me feel at home.
What is your favorite memory from your time in Germany?
It's tough to narrow it down to one memory, it was more just all of the little things. Playing handball, interacting with curious students, trying all of the different foods, improving my German, making new friends. We were there during the 2008 European Soccer Championships, and I enjoyed the atmosphere and excitement of the city as they watched the competition. Overall, it was just a very important time in my life; I don’t think I could choose a single moment as my favorite.
How do you feel like your GAPP experience shaped your future?
The exchange was easily one of the most impactful decisions of my life. If I hadn’t taken a GAPP exchange, I probably wouldn’t have continued my education in German. If I hadn’t done that, I certainly wouldn’t be teaching German now. Not only did my trip to Germany expand my interest and knowledge in the German language, it encouraged me to study abroad elsewhere and learn other languages like Spanish. Traveling to another country and learning about their culture at such a young age showed me just how much there was to experience in the world. That's why I take part in GAPP to this day by coordinating exchanges for students at my school. I want them to get the chance to experience the world like I did.
What advice would you have to a student thinking about participating in a GAPP exchange?
Helping to arrange GAPP exchanges I’m biased, but I think it could be one of the biggest decisions of your life. Don’t go into thinking it will be easy: there will be ups and downs. But get excited, jump in, and get ready to have the adventure of a lifetime.
