As the previous school year began to wind down, big things were just beginning for junior Alex Feiertag. Feiertag, a 3rd year German student at the time, was preparing for a life changing trip to Germany that she won through her outstanding performance on the National German Exam.

Winning the trip to Germany was by no means an easy task. To be eligible for the trip, students had to score in at least the 90th percentile on the National German Exam. Afterwards, contestants had to answer questions in German, write a letter explaining their personality and life, and participate in a phone interview.

“It took some convincing from my German teacher, Frau Zins-Adams. I had conflicts with another trip and high school soccer,” said Feiertag. “I’m happy I made the right decision to go to Germany. I figured it was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I couldn’t afford to miss out on.”

Alex would soon learn life lessons from her choice. Alex’s host family had a daughter the same age as Alex, which meant she was able to grasp what a German teenager’s life was like. Living with a host family, she was able to experience how an actual German family lives, which was different from just learning about it in class. Alex was finally able to experience things she had learned in class, adding meaning to her previous knowledge.

“My favorite part of the trip was being able to interact with my German host sister and her friends. It was cool to see how my friends were similar, but at the same time, different than hers,” said Feiertag. “I also liked being in Germany for the Euro 2008 Soccer Tournament. I was surrounded by crazy soccer fans.” In some ways Germany was very different from the United States. “The roads, shops, and surroundings are much different. Even the cars are smaller. However, Germans were extremely friendly and the town that I stayed in was small, which made me feel at home,” she said. “All in all, the trip was an amazing experience.”

This year, Alex is in her 4th year of German language, having started as an 8th grader.

“I think it was easier to absorb the language at a younger age, when my classes were not as difficult,” said Feiertag. “I wouldn’t say it’s difficult to learn, though. All it takes is patience with the language. Frau Zins-Adams makes learning German more enjoyable for me.”

Alex’s story is one that confirms the proverb, “hard work will pay off in the end”. This 4-week trip taught her about other cultures and Alex would recommend the experience to people of all ages.

“I think that everyone should get the opportunity to travel overseas, even if it’s not to Germany. Everyone deserves a chance to observe a different culture and get to know great people who you never would have known,” said Feiertag.