Orientation 2012: Photo Adventures

Students walk up the steep hill to Starkenburg Castle.

In the last month here at DFSR, our courtyard has been full of eager German learners, our teachers are cheerfully preparing new lessons and assignments and our offices are filled with laughter from the students during their lunch break. August always proves to be a busy time here at DFSR, and we wouldn't have it any other way!

We've collected a few photos of our inbound high school students from the last few days here in Heppenheim. The students are in their second week of intensive language courses and orientation at the DFSR headquarters before meeting their host families throughout Germany next week. You can read more about our high school program here.

Make sure to check back often to this blog or to our Facebook page for updated photos!

Heppenheim Starkenburg Castle, near the DFSR office

Beginning the journey to Starkenburg

Students explore the castle walls.

Students learn and work together in the intensive German class.

Learning how to give directions in German

Inbound Students gather for an outing!

Students relax after lunch.

Students line up for lunch in the DFSR garden!

Teamwork: Students help each other with a German assignment.

A beautiful day in Heppenheim. Students enjoy lunch in the garden.

Students gather for lunch in the DFSR garden.

Students gather for lunch in the DFSR garden.

 

Enjoying lunch in the garden.

High School Germany: 30 Students Arrive for Orientation!

Inbound students pose for a photo with their new shirts!

The DFSR headquarters is lively as ever today as we welcome thirty inbound students from all over the world. The students have traveled from Canada, Ecuador, Japan, the USA, Brazil, Mexico, Macedonia, and Italy, and are living at the DFSR headquarters here in Heppenheim, Germany for two weeks while attending intensive German courses and orientation. After the two weeks, the students will travel throughout the country to meet their host families and start high school. The orientation period gives the students time to develop a support network, in addition to the one that they already have from DFSR. The students will live in different cities throughout the country, but will always have connections and friendships that they make through this two week orientation program.

For the next two weeks, the DFSR coordinators have planned exciting outings for the students. In addition to German lessons every day, the students will be able to go swimming, shopping, to the zoo and visit nearby cities such as Heidelberg and Frankfurt.  Here are a few photos from the first days of orientation!

The group gathers for a photo in front of DFSR

Frankie the owl adorns all shirts!

With the temperature at a toasty 34° C  (94° F), students enjoyed cooling off by the fountain.

Trying to beat the heat with some fountain splashing!

Using new German skills to order ice cream

Enjoying some Eis (Ice cream) in the Heppenheim Marktplatz

Students enjoying lunch in the DFSR garden

Students borrow these DFSR bikes to explore Heppenheim.

International Dinner: What's cooking?

On Friday evening, our seven inbound students decided to have an "international dinner" and cook for each other. After shopping at the local supermarket, each student prepared a dish from their home country and shared a bit of their culture with the other students.

The students are staying here at the DFSR residence in Heppenheim, Germany for two weeks while attending German language orientation and getting acquainted with life abroad. They will meet their host families at the end of this week before starting high school in Germany next week. We have captured some photos from their international dinner along with the recipes to share with you! Guten apetit!

Our Canadian students shared traditional Sheppard's Pie from Quebec. Here's how they made it:

Ingredients:
Ground Beef
Corn
Mashed Potatoes
Cream
Ketchup as a condiment

Directions:
1.Cook the ground beef in a skillet until it is browned.
2. At the same time, boil and mash potatoes, add the cream as you mash.
3. Place the items in a baking dish in the following order: Ground beef, corn, mashed potatoes.
4. Cook the dish at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes.
5. Eat with ketchup, and enjoy!

More recipes to come...

Shopping at the supermarket!

Girls getting ready for the dinner!

Getting ready together!

Cooking Sheppard's Pie!

Cooking in the kitchen! Students work together to create a delicious array of foods.

Student's enjoying their homemade dinner.