The Home Leg

On Monday 17th September, a group of fourteen exchange pupils from the Gymnasium Philippinum in Marburg, Germany arrived in Edinburgh, ready to embark on a ten-day sojourn in Scotland's capital and the surrounding area. Accompanied by Frau Heid and Frau Guempel, it seemed fitting that the group's arrival should coincide with blazing sunshine and (by our standards at least) soaring temperatures - and on a Monday holiday too!

Whisked away by their exchange partners (all S5 and S6 pupils from Heriot's and Tynecastle High School), the group arrived at the school on Tuesday morning, eager to participate in lessons and learn something about Scottish history (thanks to Mr McCabe), before finding out about Scotland's national drink at the Whisky Heritage Centre. Visits to the Castle, the Royal Yacht Britannia and other Edinburgh attractions were supplemented with excursions to New Lanark, the Wallace Monument, Deep Sea World and the East Neuk, where one or two sampled what many regard as the best fish and chips in the land - "lecker!". However, for many the highlight was undoubtedly the Witchery Tour, as some of Edinburgh's most renowned ghosts and ghouls made special appearances, just when we least expected it!

The Away Leg

Thankfully, the farewells exchanged in Edinburgh back in September were only temporary, as the combined Heriot's and Tynecastle group set off from Edinburgh Airport on Thursday 14th February, accompanied by Mrs Sutherland and Mr Grant, Marburg bound. A typically fast and efficient rail transfer from Frankfurt Airport ensured that we arrived at Marburg station on schedule, to be picked up and taken away to settle into what would become our homes for the next week and a half.

Frau Heid had certainly pulled out all the stops in putting together a most varied and interesting programme. Participation in lessons at the Gymnasium Philippinum was supplemented with a series of activities specially organised for our benefit by our German colleagues, including guided tours of the Philippinum and the school's planetarium and observatory, lessons about the history of the school and German geography, and of course "sing-along-a-Folko", during which the group belted out a variety of traditional German and Scottish songs with gusto, led by Herr Ahrens (with guitar) and Mrs Sutherland.

Excursions included fascinating tours of Marburg and Oberrosphe's rural local history museum, not to mention a visit to the city of Cologne, the highlights of which were an exhausting climb up the spire of the world famous Gothic cathedral and visits to the Sports Museum and the Imhoff/Stollwerk Chocolate Mmmmmuseum. The programme continued with a day in Kassel, during which the pupils indulged in some Scottish country dancing on ice, surely a first! Following a visit to the theatre to see a highly entertaining production of Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest", the combined group of Germans and Scots headed for Frankfurt, home of the European Central Bank and without doubt the most important financial centre in continental Europe. Tours of the "Goethehaus" (home of Germany's most famous poet, novelist and dramatist, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, during the early part of his life) and the Film Museum were complemented perfectly with the opportunity to scale the "Maintower" (some 241 metres high), a dose of retail therapy and some fun and relaxation in the "Rebstockbad" (swimming and leisure pool).

The welcome and hospitality extended to us were matched only by the size of the pizzas at the farewell party, as the words of pupils from both groups brought the programme to a fitting conclusion. Thanks are due in no small measure to the host families, exchange partners and staff involved, both in Marburg and Edinburgh, without whose support and commitment a thoroughly positive experience for all concerned would not have been possible. Here's hoping next year's exchange is every bit as enjoyable!

MGG