Rke – Early on Sunday morning, three classes of 9th graders set off on our trip to England in a double-decker bus. After about eleven hours, we reached the port of Dunkirk, took the ferry across the English Channel to Dover and finally continued on to the small, charming coastal town of Broadstairs in southeast England.

The following morning, lessons began at the Kent School of English (KSE). After a short placement test, we were divided into different language groups. The lessons were very different from our usual school routine: instead of dry grammar, the programme included lots of games, group work and conversations – together with groups of students from Munich, Italy, Spain and Portugal – all in English, of course. This allowed us not only to improve our language skills, but also to make many new friends.

Between lessons, we had a generous lunch break each day. Many of us used the time to pick up meal deals from local supermarkets and then relax on the beach – with a view of the sea and the sun on our faces.

In the afternoon, we explored Broadstairs on an exciting city rallye, which gave us a playful introduction to the most important places in the town. The first evening ended with a barn dance: we tried out traditional English dances to live music. The cheerful atmosphere and lots of laughter made this evening a special experience.

The next day, we started again with lessons in our fixed groups and spent the afternoon at KSE as well. But instead of lessons, creative challenges were on the agenda: our groups filmed short videos about Broadstairs, interviewed the locals, and some even tried their hand at songwriting. In the evening, we got to dance to our favourite songs at an international disco and end the day together.

On Wednesday morning, we headed to London – a highlight of our trip. After a quick visit to Greenwich Park, we took a boat trip on the Thames and admired sights such as the London Eye, Tower Bridge and heard the chimes of Big Ben. Afterwards, we took part in a city tour, during which we marvelled at Buckingham Palace, among other things. We then had two hours of free time to explore the vibrant metropolis on our own in small groups – from bustling Covent Garden to small second-hand shops. It was particularly exciting to see the French president’s escort through the streets of London.

After this exciting day, we continued on to the historic city of Canterbury on Thursday. There we were given a short guided tour of the city and then had the opportunity to visit the impressive cathedral with its huge windows and ornate details. In the evening, a singalong with a live band rounded off the day, during which we sang along loudly to everything from pop and rock to classics.

The last full day of our trip began with lessons again, before we went on a coastal walk to Ramsgate in the afternoon and enjoyed the fresh sea air. Some took the opportunity to swim in the sea, others strolled through Ramsgate or played volleyball on the beach. In the evening, the ‘team challenges’ took place – creative and fun tasks such as building spaghetti towers, music quizzes and recognising country outlines provided lots of fun and a very successful end to the week together.

On Saturday morning, it was time to say goodbye – to our host families, friends and this wonderful time. And so, with a bittersweet and nostalgic feeling in our hearts, we boarded the packed bus ready for departure. After the return trip by ferry and a delicious English breakfast on board, we finally made our way back to Erlangen, tired but full of wonderful memories, arriving late at night.

By Selina Anger and Hanna Holtmannspötter (9e)