As of: February 10, 2024, 7:00 a.m
By: Elena Royer
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For the family album: The 41 French exchange students took a souvenir photo together after their visit to the town hall.
There they received gift bags with information about Geretsried.
© Elena Royer
French students were guests in Geretsried.
In addition to various excursions, they also visited the town hall.
There was one thing in particular that amazed them.
Geretsried
– Bienvenue à Geretsried!
– Welcome to Geretsried!
41 students from the French twin town of Chamalières populated the large meeting room in the Geretsried town hall on Wednesday.
“Je suis le maire,” Mayor Michael Müller explained his job to them.
The head of the town hall welcomes the students in French
But that wasn't the only thing he reported in French.
The town hall boss told them a lot more.
For example, he has been mayor for ten years, has a son and a daughter, and that Geretsried is the largest city in the district with around 26,000 inhabitants.
The students listened with interest.
They found it particularly exciting when the mayor presented them with his silver chain of office.
There is no such thing in France.
Instead, the mayors wear a sash around their upper body.
A “Wow” went through the rows, and some students even pulled out their cell phones to take photos of the valuable piece.
“I'm glad you're here, take the opportunity to cultivate this exchange,” the mayor told them before a souvenir photo was taken together.
You can read the latest news from Geretsried here.
Packed days in Bavaria
Before their appointment at the town hall, the students from the Collège de Chamalières visited the Badehaus memorial site in Waldram.
In addition, the days from February 2nd to 9th were packed with all sorts of interesting activities.
“The exchange students arrived here on Friday evening,” said Melanie Hartwagner, teacher of French and English at the high school in Geretsried.
In addition to a weekend program for families to get to know each other, there was a lot more on offer.
“We were in Munich, at the Olympic Tower, in the German Museum, at Linderhof Castle and bowling.” The students had the day off on Tuesday afternoon.
“They thought that was really great,” explained Hartwagner.
“Because in France there is always school until the afternoon.”
A tour of the school building followed by a visit to class was also on the program.
The finale on Thursday evening was a farewell party under the carnival theme.
This Friday we go back to Auvergne.
“Language must also be lived”
Hartwagner organizes the exchange at the high school and finds it very important.
“The students learn the language theoretically at school.
But language also has to be lived.
“It works best in another country,” she says.
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Chloe liked bowling the best.
“Being with everyone was nice,” said the 14-year-old.
She also felt comfortable in her Geretsried host family.
“That fits well.” What she likes about Geretsried is that the city is so big, “but still quiet and natural,” said the Frenchwoman.
At the end, the girls and boys received gift bags with information about Geretsried, pens, a beach ball and much more, which were presented by Edith Peter and Thomas Schmid from the partnership club.
In March, the Geretsried high school students set off for a return visit to France.
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