Stepping off the plane, stretching out the stiffness, suffering from jet lag — yet filled with excitement. This was the state of multiple juniors as they arrived in Germany for the first part of the German exchange plan offered by Spring-Ford High School.

Wow she’s tall — was the first thought that entered junior MJ Keller’s mind as she met her exchange student, Noelie Offner, for the first time, but very quickly that thought left her mind as she met Noelie and their family.

“I’ve never felt so welcomed by people I had never met before,” Keller said.

This was the beginning of a connection formed across oceans.

Students were matched with a student in Germany long before the first part of the German exchange occurred in mid-December, where Spring-Ford juniors flew to Germany. They attended their schools and explored parts of the cities, attended markets, and saw landmarks.

In the second part of the exchange, juniors from Germany came to visit the US. Similarly, they attended Spring-Ford and went on trips to Washington DC and an overnight stay in New York.

More importantly, students experienced different routines and cultures.

“Our mornings in Germany were slow… I got up at least an hour later and had a massive bread-filled breakfast,” Keller said. “On the other hand, when they stayed with me, our mornings were rushed and frantic.”

Furthermore, the exchange accentuated differences in the schooling systems.

“The biggest difference was how free their schools felt,” Keller said. “Many students only stayed for the classes they had, and days could range from 3-8 hours.”

She also observed, “There was a lot less security within schools.”

As important as it is to experience and explore different systems and cultures, the memories made also made the trip a staple of these students’ junior years. Robyn Bruno, another junior at Spring-Ford, talked about the best moments of their trip.

“The best memories, honestly, are the days where we were free to do what we wanted,” Bruno said. “My friend and I would stay home and chat, or we’d wander the city, and she’d point out interesting buildings on our way to eat or such.”

This highlights the experience of the trip is not only rooted in cultural exploration but the creation of friendships.

“It’s an unforgettable experience, and I’ve made lifelong friends,” Bruno said. “I gained a lot on this trip, much more than school could teach me.”