Rotary District 7870 Team in the News
by: Gretyl
Visit http://www.wzonline.de/ today to see the latest news story in Germany about the team's visit to Niedersachsen in the "Wilhelmshavener Zeitung."
This includes my first foray into international journalism as I wrote a short piece (auf Englisch) about our impressions of Wilhelmshaven. Very exciting!! Thanks to our friends Gottfried and Gisela Hoch in Wilhelmshaven for forwarding this along.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Friday, June 15, 2012
Challenges and Changes in Wilhelmshaven
(written 13 juni)
by: Gretyl
It seems impossible that this Rotary Group Study Exchange experience is nearing it's end, but there it is - the bitter with the sweet. Today, we will visit the Jade-Weser-Port project and I will write a story (auf Englisch) for the Wilhelmshavener Zeitung about my impressions of their city and of the past five weeks in Lower Saxony. I have no idea how I am going to sum this up into a very short news story.
I spent a spectacular vocational day at the WZ on Wednesday, and was really made a part of the news team. I joined one reporter on an assignment and had the chance to interview another who has been covering the Jade Weser Port project since the planning began around 2003.
My impression of Wilhelmshaven is that it is a port city undergoing significant change. It is a relatively young city, only about 166 years old, and was created specifically to be a Navy harbor. Industry did not really start coming to the area until the 1950s, after more than 80 percent of the city had been destroyed by the Allied Forces during and after the war.
The Jade-Weser-Port is a symbol of hope for the local economy, but they have seen these signs before. Just last year, an oil refinery shuttered, leaving about 300 people without work. A decline in the size of the Navy, and a nearby Air Force Base closure, have had similiar effects on the economy as the closure of Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, New Hampshire did in the 1990s: schools closed and people moved out. In the last 20 years, the population in Wilhelmshaven has dropped from about 110,000 to about 80,000.
On a vacant lot in town, a large sign announces a new grocery store will open, but nothing has happened in over a year. There are similar stories throughout town.
A reporter told me today there are about 3,000 vacant apartments in Wilhelmshaven, and although they are cheap, there are not enough jobs to bring the people into them.
Many hope the giant container port at Jade-Weser will change this, but another reporter, who has covered the harbor and related issues for many years, thinks it will be five to 10 years before any real positive economic outcome is realized.
So far only one major container company has signed on to use the port, and on the logistics side, only one company, Nord Frost, has committed. The rest of the logistics area is currently vacant as the sand continues to settle and corporations wait to see how things go.
The craziest thing about the project, is that it was built right out of the sea. About 44.66 million (cubic meters?) of sand were dredged from the basin to build the port. It is not the first dramatic change in the shoreline in Wilhelmshaven's history, and the entire industrial area was created in the same way.
A good rendering and additional information is available at EUROGATE, the company that will operate the container port at Wilhelmshaven.
The first feeder ship was scheduled to arrive at the port on Wednesday afternoon, just hours after we were given a personal van tour of the area up close with the giant container cranes that will unload and load the largest container vessels in the world.
Matthias Düßmann, Works Manager for the JadeWeserPort Realisierungs GmbH & Co. KG, also provided a detailed presentation about the reasons for locating the port in Wilhelmshaven, and the expectations for the size and capabalities of the port in the future.
The project is certainly impressive and, if all goes according to plan, it should provide a real economic boost to the region.
But not everyone is convinced the project will be a success.
One reporter told me she moved from Wilhelmshaven to Jever a couple of years ago because people in Wilhelmshaven were too pessimistic.
"There are positive things about Wilhelmshaven, too," she said.
I, and the rest of the team, can certainly attest to this. There are the lovely families who opened their homes to us, and shared their time with us as we visited an important museum of marine military history at the harbor, a haus introducing the Wattenmeer, a super-important migration area for birds and a recently named UNESCO World Heritage site, and one of the oldest and most important aviation research centers in the world. There is a beach, although it is grassy, and nice tea houses along the South Promenade.
Our tour of the Deutsches Marinemuseum was presented by retired German Navy Rear-Admiral (2 Stars) Gottfried Hoch, who served from 1967-2008. His stories are incredible, from his leading of NATO forces in the early stages of Operation Enduring Freedom, to the evacuation of German troops from Somalia after the incident known in the states as "Black Hawk Down." Hoch and his wife served as Christine's hosts in Wilhelmshaven, and she could not say enough good things about her experience with them. Gisela Hoch even made sure to send her off with brötchen for the long journey back to the states.
Wilhelmshaven is also at the coast of the open sea, and as a resident of the Seacoast in New Hampshire, I think there is no better place to be than at the water.
It remains to be seen how the port will help Wilhelmshaven, but this reporter will be watching - with optimism.
As we had been throughout the trip, we were also hosted by incredible families, who went out of their way to show us new and interesting things and to make our send-off from Niedersachsen as warm as our welcome. We shared many, many laughs, heard amazing stories and history and appreciated incredible hospitality right up to the end of our journey.
(written 13 juni)
by: Gretyl
It seems impossible that this Rotary Group Study Exchange experience is nearing it's end, but there it is - the bitter with the sweet. Today, we will visit the Jade-Weser-Port project and I will write a story (auf Englisch) for the Wilhelmshavener Zeitung about my impressions of their city and of the past five weeks in Lower Saxony. I have no idea how I am going to sum this up into a very short news story.
I spent a spectacular vocational day at the WZ on Wednesday, and was really made a part of the news team. I joined one reporter on an assignment and had the chance to interview another who has been covering the Jade Weser Port project since the planning began around 2003.
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| On assignment with "Wilhelmshavener Zeitung" reporter Kristin Hilbinger. |
My impression of Wilhelmshaven is that it is a port city undergoing significant change. It is a relatively young city, only about 166 years old, and was created specifically to be a Navy harbor. Industry did not really start coming to the area until the 1950s, after more than 80 percent of the city had been destroyed by the Allied Forces during and after the war.
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| Phase one of the JadeWeser Port should be complete by October. |
On a vacant lot in town, a large sign announces a new grocery store will open, but nothing has happened in over a year. There are similar stories throughout town.
Many hope the giant container port at Jade-Weser will change this, but another reporter, who has covered the harbor and related issues for many years, thinks it will be five to 10 years before any real positive economic outcome is realized.
 |
| The Nord Frost building under construction at the port. |
The craziest thing about the project, is that it was built right out of the sea. About 44.66 million (cubic meters?) of sand were dredged from the basin to build the port. It is not the first dramatic change in the shoreline in Wilhelmshaven's history, and the entire industrial area was created in the same way.
A good rendering and additional information is available at EUROGATE, the company that will operate the container port at Wilhelmshaven.
The first feeder ship was scheduled to arrive at the port on Wednesday afternoon, just hours after we were given a personal van tour of the area up close with the giant container cranes that will unload and load the largest container vessels in the world.
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| The team with Rotarian hosts Rolf Fleckstein and Günther Gerhartz underneath the giant container cranes at the JadeWeserPort in Wilhelmshaven. It will be able to handle larger container ships than Bremerhaven or Hamburg because of its depth and proximity to the open sea. |
Matthias Düßmann, Works Manager for the JadeWeserPort Realisierungs GmbH & Co. KG, also provided a detailed presentation about the reasons for locating the port in Wilhelmshaven, and the expectations for the size and capabalities of the port in the future.
The project is certainly impressive and, if all goes according to plan, it should provide a real economic boost to the region.
But not everyone is convinced the project will be a success.
One reporter told me she moved from Wilhelmshaven to Jever a couple of years ago because people in Wilhelmshaven were too pessimistic.
"There are positive things about Wilhelmshaven, too," she said.
I, and the rest of the team, can certainly attest to this. There are the lovely families who opened their homes to us, and shared their time with us as we visited an important museum of marine military history at the harbor, a haus introducing the Wattenmeer, a super-important migration area for birds and a recently named UNESCO World Heritage site, and one of the oldest and most important aviation research centers in the world. There is a beach, although it is grassy, and nice tea houses along the South Promenade. |
| The team on a U.S. built Destroyer at the Deutsches Marinemuseum. |
Our tour of the Deutsches Marinemuseum was presented by retired German Navy Rear-Admiral (2 Stars) Gottfried Hoch, who served from 1967-2008. His stories are incredible, from his leading of NATO forces in the early stages of Operation Enduring Freedom, to the evacuation of German troops from Somalia after the incident known in the states as "Black Hawk Down." Hoch and his wife served as Christine's hosts in Wilhelmshaven, and she could not say enough good things about her experience with them. Gisela Hoch even made sure to send her off with brötchen for the long journey back to the states.
Wilhelmshaven is also at the coast of the open sea, and as a resident of the Seacoast in New Hampshire, I think there is no better place to be than at the water.
It remains to be seen how the port will help Wilhelmshaven, but this reporter will be watching - with optimism.
As we had been throughout the trip, we were also hosted by incredible families, who went out of their way to show us new and interesting things and to make our send-off from Niedersachsen as warm as our welcome. We shared many, many laughs, heard amazing stories and history and appreciated incredible hospitality right up to the end of our journey.
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| On left, Jonathan presents his sponsoring Rotary Club's banner to RC Wilhelmshaven-Friesland President Andreas Pape, who was Jodi's host during our final days in Germany, and on right, the team with all of our wonderful hosts, and now friends, in Wilhelmshaven. |
Thursday, June 14, 2012
The End of a Beginning by Karen
It is in some ways hard to believe that it has been 31 days since we as a team were sitting in the Manchester airport embarking on this adventure called GSE. We have had a very special view into a country that very few visitors see, not only geographically, but in experience.
In a GSE one builds friendship with Rotarians and their families as they open their homes to the team members. Not only are we given tours of the historical sites and museums, but we view the who, how, what, and where of the economic structure. We are living a slice somewhere between being a resident and a visitor.
This is a bittersweet day. On the one hand we are all anxious to see and resume life with family and friends back home, but tonight we will part with our new friends. We have been changed. We have developed a comparison of countries, how they live work and play; we have developed an understanding of the important role of history in shaping the future; we have become a part of a worldwide network of friends called Rotary; and we have planted the seeds of new beginnings.
This has been a very special team. They have been open about their needs and wants but not demanding, they have been flexible and enduring, and most important they have brought joy and laughter to this experience called GSE. Thank you for making this a rich experience for me too.
In a GSE one builds friendship with Rotarians and their families as they open their homes to the team members. Not only are we given tours of the historical sites and museums, but we view the who, how, what, and where of the economic structure. We are living a slice somewhere between being a resident and a visitor.
This is a bittersweet day. On the one hand we are all anxious to see and resume life with family and friends back home, but tonight we will part with our new friends. We have been changed. We have developed a comparison of countries, how they live work and play; we have developed an understanding of the important role of history in shaping the future; we have become a part of a worldwide network of friends called Rotary; and we have planted the seeds of new beginnings.
This has been a very special team. They have been open about their needs and wants but not demanding, they have been flexible and enduring, and most important they have brought joy and laughter to this experience called GSE. Thank you for making this a rich experience for me too.
Monday, June 11, 2012
So far in Wilhelmshaven
by: Gretyl
Our visit to Wilhelmshaven began on Friday with some time with our host families, followed by the day-long Rotary 1850 "Distriktkonferenz" in Ganderkesee. The highlight was seeing over 80 Rotary Youth Exchange Students all together. As the Mayor of Ganderkesee said, it really gives you goosebumps, to see the international connections being made. We also saw our friend from Oldenburg, Franz Josef Aka become the Rotary Distrikt 1850 Governor.
On Sunday, we each spent the morning with our host families, and then met to tour the Jever Castle. We were a lively and loud bunch touring the museum and had great fun learning the history of the castle and the path of the monarchy from Jever to Russia back to Jever.
Today, Monday, June 11, we will have a guided tour of the Wattenmeerhaus and visit a museum of military ships, led by Christine's host, Gottfried Hoch, a retired Navy Vice-Admiral with some incredible stories to tell. It should be another spectacular day for our Rotary GSE Team.
by: Gretyl
Our visit to Wilhelmshaven began on Friday with some time with our host families, followed by the day-long Rotary 1850 "Distriktkonferenz" in Ganderkesee. The highlight was seeing over 80 Rotary Youth Exchange Students all together. As the Mayor of Ganderkesee said, it really gives you goosebumps, to see the international connections being made. We also saw our friend from Oldenburg, Franz Josef Aka become the Rotary Distrikt 1850 Governor.
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| Sheep on a dyke on the road to the new Weser-Jade-Port Container Terminal in Wilhelmshaven. |
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| Jever Castle |
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| The team and our hosts from RC Wilhelmshaven-Friesland begin a tour of Jever Castle. |
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Norderney - Rotary GSE Team Style
by: Gretyl
The President of the Norderney Rotary Club, Horst Wirdemann, and other fellow club members treated us to a spectacular introductory day on this resort island in the North Sea on Tuesday, June 5.
It began with a meeting with the Bürghermeister, Ulrichs Frank at the Rathaus, and continued with a bicycle tour around this amazing island.
Norderney is one of seven East Frisian islands in a chain in the North Sea and has only about 6,000 permanent residents, but becomes a population of about 50,000 in the summertime. It is a destination primarily for German visitors, but the local Staatsbad is working to make it the premier Thalasso in all of Europe. It is the only one of the seven islands that is accessible multiple times each day via ferry, and one of two islands which allow vehicles. Many say it is the "party island" but the Staatsbad is working to change that image with a new marketing campaign, Meine Insel which Jodi mentioned below.
We paid a visit to the Norderney Leuchtturm, had a tour of the Wasserwerks and had lunch at the Flugplatz. After lunch Herr Wirdemann took us on a plane ride around the island, which was spectacular!! The skies were clear blue for the afternoon and from the sky it is clear that the island offers a little something for everyone.
One end of the island is full of residences and businesses, and the other is a protected UNESCO World Heritage site where building is prohibited.
The island offers quiet, white, sandy beaches, beautiful dunes, quaint shops, music, horse back riding, wind surfing and so much more.
On Tuesday afternoon, one of our wonderful hosts, Volker Jänsch, demonstrated his old Heidelberg printing press, which for me, as a journalist who loves old things, was a highlight. Volker has a cabinet full of seed boxes that were his grandfather's and are over 100 years old. Setting type and running a printing machine used to truly be an artform, I think, and it was really neat to see it in action. Volker is a printer, not a typesetter, he said, but he set special type and printed us each a unique and numbered sheet on handmade paper to commemorate the day. I will try and get video up soon!
On Wednesday, June 6 Christine, Jodi, Karen and I had the pleasure of spending the morning with the marketing and tourism staff at the Staatsbad, learning about the Meine Insel marketing campaign.
In the afternoon, Christine and I were interviewed by one of the
island's three newspapers, the Ostfriesischer Kurier. One of the three "newspapers" is a free daily that goes out each
morning and looks more like a newsletter. The other two are in
competition, but the reporters work out of the same office, and the
papers are owned by the same parent company on the mainland. It is an
interesting arrangement. A story about our team will appear in this Tuesday's edition of the paper.
In the summer, the news is geared primarily to the tourists, and does not feature much "hard" news. But when the tourists leave, the politics kick in, the editor informed us, and that is what he likes best - a true journalist. I told him if he liked politics, he would love being a journalist in New Hampshire, but I think he likes it here on the island, so my job is secure for now.
On Thursday, June 7 we took a walk in the Wattenmeer, which at low tide actually connects the island to the mainland via an important biological habitat and migrating area for birds. The area also features thick "shlick" which is so good for your skin, you can buy some of the mud for about 15 Euro in area stores.
Jodi posted some great pictures below of our walk in the schlick with a guide who also taught us about the wildlife that live in and rely on the unique habitat.
That afternoon we spent in the Badehouse, enjoying the saltwater swimming pool, hot tubs, salzbads, and even a shlick treatment. It was so relaxing, that we all couldn't help but openly yawn by the end of our farewell dinner at the Giftbude that evening.
While on the island, I had the great pleasure of being hosted by the family that owns and operates the Central Cafe. The cafe has existed on the island for more than 75 years and features professional confectioners so they make all their own cakes, candies and eis. Needless to say I was a happy and well-fed girl for the week and the Tillmann and Kanngießer family made me feel like one of their own!!
Sadly, Friday, June 8 was our last day on the island and we took the ferry back to "Germany" as the Norderneyers would say.
by: Gretyl
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| The team with the Norderney Bürghermeister, center, Assistant Bürghermeister, third from left, and RC Norderney President, Horst Wirdemann, second from left. |
It began with a meeting with the Bürghermeister, Ulrichs Frank at the Rathaus, and continued with a bicycle tour around this amazing island.
We paid a visit to the Norderney Leuchtturm, had a tour of the Wasserwerks and had lunch at the Flugplatz. After lunch Herr Wirdemann took us on a plane ride around the island, which was spectacular!! The skies were clear blue for the afternoon and from the sky it is clear that the island offers a little something for everyone.One end of the island is full of residences and businesses, and the other is a protected UNESCO World Heritage site where building is prohibited.
The island offers quiet, white, sandy beaches, beautiful dunes, quaint shops, music, horse back riding, wind surfing and so much more.
On Wednesday, June 6 Christine, Jodi, Karen and I had the pleasure of spending the morning with the marketing and tourism staff at the Staatsbad, learning about the Meine Insel marketing campaign.
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| Christine assists Inga Devermann, Marketingkoordination Neue Medien with some video editing. |
In the summer, the news is geared primarily to the tourists, and does not feature much "hard" news. But when the tourists leave, the politics kick in, the editor informed us, and that is what he likes best - a true journalist. I told him if he liked politics, he would love being a journalist in New Hampshire, but I think he likes it here on the island, so my job is secure for now.
Jodi posted some great pictures below of our walk in the schlick with a guide who also taught us about the wildlife that live in and rely on the unique habitat.
That afternoon we spent in the Badehouse, enjoying the saltwater swimming pool, hot tubs, salzbads, and even a shlick treatment. It was so relaxing, that we all couldn't help but openly yawn by the end of our farewell dinner at the Giftbude that evening.
 |
| Jon and Jodi prepare to devour some eis at the Central Cafe. |
Sadly, Friday, June 8 was our last day on the island and we took the ferry back to "Germany" as the Norderneyers would say.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
District 1850 Conference by Karen
One of the team's final duties is to make a presentation at host country District Conference. This year was a scheduling miracle. Germany's District 1850 sent two teams, one to Turkey District 4440 and one to our District 7870. This year both outgoing teams had returned to join both visiting teams.
Having the opportunity to discuss our impressions and experiences with our counterparts was special and rare.
Standing foremost in the many benefits of a GSE experience is the Rotary way.
The warm Rotary hospitality laid the foundation for the adventures into how our host country lives, works and plays. Rotarians are proud of their country and the community services they provide, giving visitors a level of comparison to their homeland that is rare.
A District Conference is where the club presidents and secretaries of a particular district gather for an overview of the progress the Rotarians have been achieving in their local, regional and international goals. Here in Germany they are working to preserve their unique wildlife environment in addition to their humanitarian efforts to provide clean water and eradicate polio worldwide. Rotarians understand the importance of working together to accomplish what cannot be achieved alone. Their efforts to establish a vast network is borne in their investment in the next generations locally through Rotaract and internationally through exchange programs.
In addition to the Group Study Exchanges, this district alone sponsored nearly 90 student exchanges. These students have an opportunity to live in country with 2-4 families while they attend a year of high school (gymnasium).
The District Conference is a last farewell for half of the students. A certain electricity fills the air wherever the exchange students gather. And we were not disappointed with their 10 member parody on the difficulties encountered learning a new language in a foreign land.
A change of command concluded the day's events as the new District Governor Franz-Joseph Aka received the medal of authority from the outgoing District Governor Jost Schütte. Throughout it all "Service Above Self" rings loud as the Rotary way.
Having the opportunity to discuss our impressions and experiences with our counterparts was special and rare.
Standing foremost in the many benefits of a GSE experience is the Rotary way.
The warm Rotary hospitality laid the foundation for the adventures into how our host country lives, works and plays. Rotarians are proud of their country and the community services they provide, giving visitors a level of comparison to their homeland that is rare.
A District Conference is where the club presidents and secretaries of a particular district gather for an overview of the progress the Rotarians have been achieving in their local, regional and international goals. Here in Germany they are working to preserve their unique wildlife environment in addition to their humanitarian efforts to provide clean water and eradicate polio worldwide. Rotarians understand the importance of working together to accomplish what cannot be achieved alone. Their efforts to establish a vast network is borne in their investment in the next generations locally through Rotaract and internationally through exchange programs.
In addition to the Group Study Exchanges, this district alone sponsored nearly 90 student exchanges. These students have an opportunity to live in country with 2-4 families while they attend a year of high school (gymnasium).
The District Conference is a last farewell for half of the students. A certain electricity fills the air wherever the exchange students gather. And we were not disappointed with their 10 member parody on the difficulties encountered learning a new language in a foreign land.
A change of command concluded the day's events as the new District Governor Franz-Joseph Aka received the medal of authority from the outgoing District Governor Jost Schütte. Throughout it all "Service Above Self" rings loud as the Rotary way.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Norderney in photos
by: Jodi
As the sun is setting on our final evening here in lovely Norderney, it is nice to sit back and reflect on all of the incredible things we have done here in the city. (Although my reflections will be brief since it is past my bedtime!) Today, especially, has been a wonderful day for me as we were able to wander around the mud flats during the low tide. Here's a little information from Gretyl's info guide:
"The Schleswig-Holstein Mud Flats National Park Wattenmeer, with a surface area of 441,000 hectares, is the largest of Germany's 14 national parks" Two years ago, the Wattenmeer, which stretches on either side to Denmark and the Netherlands, was designated as an UNESCO World Heritage site.
Here is a link to information about the park auf Deutsch: http://www.nationalpark-
For me, especially, I think Norderney has been a very special trip with many fond memories made. The people we've met and the places we've seen have been so incredible, I'm glad to have had the opportunity to spend a few days here. The city's tourism department recently has run a new marketing campaign with the slogan 'Miene Insel' (aka My Island) and after five days on the island I think that is a brilliant descriptor of how one feels after spending some time enjoying all that Norderney has to offer. And as it is sad to think of leaving and very late, I leave you with some of my favorite pictures from this week.
As the sun is setting on our final evening here in lovely Norderney, it is nice to sit back and reflect on all of the incredible things we have done here in the city. (Although my reflections will be brief since it is past my bedtime!) Today, especially, has been a wonderful day for me as we were able to wander around the mud flats during the low tide. Here's a little information from Gretyl's info guide:
"The Schleswig-Holstein Mud Flats National Park Wattenmeer, with a surface area of 441,000 hectares, is the largest of Germany's 14 national parks" Two years ago, the Wattenmeer, which stretches on either side to Denmark and the Netherlands, was designated as an UNESCO World Heritage site.
Here is a link to information about the park auf Deutsch: http://www.nationalpark-
For me, especially, I think Norderney has been a very special trip with many fond memories made. The people we've met and the places we've seen have been so incredible, I'm glad to have had the opportunity to spend a few days here. The city's tourism department recently has run a new marketing campaign with the slogan 'Miene Insel' (aka My Island) and after five days on the island I think that is a brilliant descriptor of how one feels after spending some time enjoying all that Norderney has to offer. And as it is sad to think of leaving and very late, I leave you with some of my favorite pictures from this week.
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| The team and our guides getting ready to wander around the Wattenmeer. L-R: Jodi, Volker, Karen, Gretyl, Horst, Jon, Christine |
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| A view of the breath-taking scenery we were treated to on the island |
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| Gretyl enjoyed all the wildlife we were finding! |
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| Manfried and Volker helping with our tour of the water treatment facilities |
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| Volker with our guide |
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| Volker and Christine |
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| Jon getting more great pictures of the beautiful scenery on the island |
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| More incredible views! |
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| The group in the best part of all -- the schlick! L-R: Jon, Horst, Karen, Volker, Jodi, Gretyl, Christine |
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| Muddy toes! |
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| Christine and I on top of the lighthouse |
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| Norderney is home to some of the most beautiful beaches I've seen! |
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| Getting ready to head on an island tour in Horst's airplane |
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| And one of the best parts of the trip was Volker demonstrating his Original Heidelberg printing press for us, and we even were given a custom designed print! |
Monday, June 4, 2012
Sögel -- Finally a post from Christine :)
by: Christine
Sögel is a lovely rural community, with a small but cozy downtown, where our team was introduced to spaghetti ice cream. Delicious. You can get it in a bowl -- it's like soft serve - and it looks like noodles on the outside. Sehr gut!
The Söegel club kept us very busy during our stay with wonderful trips to their local businesses, a hybrid (water) windmill, old ruins, the chateau of an old prince, Meyer Werte where they build the huge cruise ships, and what we all decided was the highlight of the sight-seeing: The Netherlands! Thanks to the bad weather, we cancelled the canoeing, and took a trip to Bourting! Very neat little "fort" village!
But the best experience with the Söegel club was with out a doubt the BBQ with the Rotarians, their wives, and their younger children. It was so much fun to play with the children and see the family life.
We had such a wonderful stay in Söegel. And while many Germans (we found) did not know where Söegel was when we told them about it, we will never forget it, and will tell our friends and family about the little town with the blue sheep with fond memories.
(My special thanks to my wonderful hosts, Christopher and Imgrad... and Mattis!)
Sögel is a lovely rural community, with a small but cozy downtown, where our team was introduced to spaghetti ice cream. Delicious. You can get it in a bowl -- it's like soft serve - and it looks like noodles on the outside. Sehr gut!
The Söegel club kept us very busy during our stay with wonderful trips to their local businesses, a hybrid (water) windmill, old ruins, the chateau of an old prince, Meyer Werte where they build the huge cruise ships, and what we all decided was the highlight of the sight-seeing: The Netherlands! Thanks to the bad weather, we cancelled the canoeing, and took a trip to Bourting! Very neat little "fort" village!
But the best experience with the Söegel club was with out a doubt the BBQ with the Rotarians, their wives, and their younger children. It was so much fun to play with the children and see the family life.
We had such a wonderful stay in Söegel. And while many Germans (we found) did not know where Söegel was when we told them about it, we will never forget it, and will tell our friends and family about the little town with the blue sheep with fond memories.
(My special thanks to my wonderful hosts, Christopher and Imgrad... and Mattis!)
A little island on the North Sea
by: Jodi
Impression is a word used quite often on our journey thus far, and while we have only been here a few hours, Norderney has made quite the impression for me. As we said goodbye to our wonderful hosts and new friends from the Hümmling zu Sögel club we boarded the car ferry and headed off to spend the next 5 days to check out what all of the talk has been about. During our travels so far, whenever anyone from the team would mention our stay in Norderney faces would light up and everyone would say "oh, Norderney is schön!" Needless to say, my first impressions of the island have lived up to the hype!
One thing I really am looking forward to is being able to travel everywhere by bike. In Manchester it is relatively uncommon to see people traveling around by bike because of the high volume of auto traffic and many hills. Being able to spend limited time in the car here has been very refreshing, and I hope to find a bike when I return so I can try to bring the European bike trend to New England!
It's time for us to be off to the club meeting, so I leave you with some of my first impressions of this lovely little island they call Norderney.
Impression is a word used quite often on our journey thus far, and while we have only been here a few hours, Norderney has made quite the impression for me. As we said goodbye to our wonderful hosts and new friends from the Hümmling zu Sögel club we boarded the car ferry and headed off to spend the next 5 days to check out what all of the talk has been about. During our travels so far, whenever anyone from the team would mention our stay in Norderney faces would light up and everyone would say "oh, Norderney is schön!" Needless to say, my first impressions of the island have lived up to the hype!
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| My transportation for the week! |
It's time for us to be off to the club meeting, so I leave you with some of my first impressions of this lovely little island they call Norderney.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Fabulous Verden and Geburtstag Celebrations
by: Gretyl:
The team is about to wrap up another fabulous week in the charming towns of Verden and Achim.
This evening, the RC Verden hosted a lovely farewell dinner for us, and the room was alight with much conversation between team members and local Rotarians, which, as I have said before, is the highlight of this exchange.
Our Verden hosts have been no less gracious than our former hosts, and have continued to help us improve on our Deutsch language skills (ein bissen), our understanding of European history, and our appreciation for all that Northern Germany has to offer.
We spent Saturday in Hamburg, a vital trade city, walking around to see both modern and historic structures (of which there are few as a result of the wars), and enjoying the light breeze off the river on a ferry ride.
On Sunday, we visited Fischude and the Otto Modersohn Museum (which I really enjoyed), had some lunch at "Caffe Crazy" in Worpswede, a famous community for artists, and enjoyed a peat boat ride. Later in the evening, we were treated to a beautiful and delicious homemade dinner and more wonderful conversation at the home of Rotarian Herr Dupree and his wife, Barbara.
Monday was a public holiday in Germany and also meine Geburtstag, and I am so happy to have spent it with my host family, Ingrid and Klaus Kossow. I arrived at my seat at the breakfast table to find a coffee cake encircling a candle wreathed in little flowers, which was a lovely way to start the morning.
Shortly thereafter, the Duprees phoned to sing me Happy Birthday and to wish me and my family good health and long lives, and I pretty much did not stop smiling for the rest of the day.
I also received messages and warm wishes from my two previous host families and other friends we have made along the way, which made my special day even more special (as cheesy at that sounds, I mean it sincerely.)
Jodi, Karen and I took a walk to the Achim Windmill with Ingrid and Klaus and enjoyed some jazz music in the afternoon, and then the rest of the team came over to enjoy a variety of cakes, both homemade by Ingrid (lemon cake, my favorite, and cheesecake) and rich, creamy cakes from the local bakery.
It was really a perfect day and I think everyone on the team appreciated the relaxing holiday with no real schedule.
Today, Tuesday, we each had a vocational day, and I visited Verdenen Alle-Zeitung, a small and laidback newsroom in Verden, and especially enjoyed chatting with an editor named Reike, as we are the same age and share many of the same feelings about being journalists today.
We are already "Facebook friends" and I am hoping she will take me up on an invitation to come visit New Hampshire. The hospitality we are greeted with here over and over again is humbling each time, and I look forward to returning it in future days.
For the second time so far this adventure, I will also be in a newspaper article instead of writing one. I will post the link to the story when/if it becomes available tomorrow! Nord-West Zeitung in Oldenburg also ran a short blip about the team's trip,with a picture of yours truly
Tomorrow, Wednesday, we head for Huemmling zu Soegel. "Where is that?" you ask. Well, no one really seems to know much about it, so we will be sure to post details and pictures in the coming week. But we are all quite confident that the people we meet will be wonderful, and that is all that matters.
P.S. Christine says "Hallo" and hopes to post an update soon!
Until next time, Gute Nacht
by: Gretyl:
The team is about to wrap up another fabulous week in the charming towns of Verden and Achim.
This evening, the RC Verden hosted a lovely farewell dinner for us, and the room was alight with much conversation between team members and local Rotarians, which, as I have said before, is the highlight of this exchange.
 |
| Rotary District 7870 team with RC Verden, Germany |
Our Verden hosts have been no less gracious than our former hosts, and have continued to help us improve on our Deutsch language skills (ein bissen), our understanding of European history, and our appreciation for all that Northern Germany has to offer.
We spent Saturday in Hamburg, a vital trade city, walking around to see both modern and historic structures (of which there are few as a result of the wars), and enjoying the light breeze off the river on a ferry ride.
 |
| View of Hamburg from St. Michael's Cathedral. |
On Sunday, we visited Fischude and the Otto Modersohn Museum (which I really enjoyed), had some lunch at "Caffe Crazy" in Worpswede, a famous community for artists, and enjoyed a peat boat ride. Later in the evening, we were treated to a beautiful and delicious homemade dinner and more wonderful conversation at the home of Rotarian Herr Dupree and his wife, Barbara.
Monday was a public holiday in Germany and also meine Geburtstag, and I am so happy to have spent it with my host family, Ingrid and Klaus Kossow. I arrived at my seat at the breakfast table to find a coffee cake encircling a candle wreathed in little flowers, which was a lovely way to start the morning.
 |
| Birthday Cake for Breakfast! With Klaus and Ingrid. |
Shortly thereafter, the Duprees phoned to sing me Happy Birthday and to wish me and my family good health and long lives, and I pretty much did not stop smiling for the rest of the day.
I also received messages and warm wishes from my two previous host families and other friends we have made along the way, which made my special day even more special (as cheesy at that sounds, I mean it sincerely.)
Jodi, Karen and I took a walk to the Achim Windmill with Ingrid and Klaus and enjoyed some jazz music in the afternoon, and then the rest of the team came over to enjoy a variety of cakes, both homemade by Ingrid (lemon cake, my favorite, and cheesecake) and rich, creamy cakes from the local bakery.
 |
| The team came together at the home of Ingrid and Klaus Kossow to celebrate my birthday on Monday, including "Iggy" another of our Rotary hosts in Verden. |
It was really a perfect day and I think everyone on the team appreciated the relaxing holiday with no real schedule.
Today, Tuesday, we each had a vocational day, and I visited Verdenen Alle-Zeitung, a small and laidback newsroom in Verden, and especially enjoyed chatting with an editor named Reike, as we are the same age and share many of the same feelings about being journalists today.
We are already "Facebook friends" and I am hoping she will take me up on an invitation to come visit New Hampshire. The hospitality we are greeted with here over and over again is humbling each time, and I look forward to returning it in future days.
For the second time so far this adventure, I will also be in a newspaper article instead of writing one. I will post the link to the story when/if it becomes available tomorrow! Nord-West Zeitung in Oldenburg also ran a short blip about the team's trip,with a picture of yours truly
 |
| A picture much like this one will appear in Verden's local daily on Wednesday. |
P.S. Christine says "Hallo" and hopes to post an update soon!
Until next time, Gute Nacht
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Bremen, part 1
Welcome to week 2. It's hard to imagine that we've been here for 7 days already! We've seen and done so many wonderful things that I am in constant awe of all that these cities we're visiting have to offer. After a bittersweet hand-off from Oldenburg to Bremen at lunch on Friday, we met Herr Ziegler who somehow managed to fit all five of us and our luggage into a van. I think being able to pack a car really should be a skill to put on your resume, since you never know when you'll need to put many bags into small places, right?
Well, after playing 'luggage tetris' we were off to Bremen, but not without a pit-stop for a plane ride. We drove through the schön countryside and stopped at a small airport, really not unlike the Oceana County airport where I grew up in Michigan. After stretching out legs and admiring the windmills (seriously, they're EVERYWHERE here and I think it's so awesome!) we met Harald and were taken for a flight in his plane to see Bremen from above.
Talk about an incredible experience! Now only are we in Germany meeting and seeing some of the country's best people and places (because without a doubt, Rotarians are the best of the best!), we're certainly doing so in style. I can't say an aerial tour of Bremen was what I had expected for this trip, but having done so I'm very grateful for Herr Ziegler and the others from the Bremen club for having planned such a thoughtful trip for us!
Saturday was a bit of an early morning, but for good reason. We took a boat ride up the River Weser to spend the day in Bremerhaven, a port city located on the north sea. The trip was a little over three hours, but talk about a great way to travel! My host family, as well as Herr Ziegler and his wife were our tour guides for the day. For me the boat ride was a nice and quiet time to do some knitting, bask in the beauty of the Northern Germany countryside, and to reflect on how grateful I am to be here on this trip.
We visited two museums that day, a shipping museum and the Deutsch Auswander Haus (a museum on German immigration). The shipyard museum was very fascinating, with a guided tour that ended up with the display of a 700 year-old ship. Every day here I am just in awe of the history and culture that exists, especially the respect that Germans have for said history and culture. Without a doubt I have learned more in the last 2 weeks than I could have ever imagined, and we're just getting started! The Auswander Haus was especially exciting for me as my Great Grandfather immigrated to the USA in 1909 through Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The museum was set up in a 'learning by doing' style, which really made it an experience I am not soon to forget. After a short introduction we were taken in to an incredibly ominous room set up as a life-sized replica of the dock and ship with people boarding to go to the new world. I was really struck with teh somber mood of fear and excitement all at the same time. To be able to put myself in the shoes of my ancestors (even though he did not travel through Bremerhaven) is something I am very thankful for. The whole museum was set up in a similar manner, where you really experience the stations, per say, that someone who was immigrating went through. To sum it all up, it was truly an incredible day.
For me, Sunday was one of the best days in Germany yet, as I was reunited with my sister Jeni, who I had not seen since she visited me in NH in September of 2010.
Because we skype often it hasn't seemed like that long, but it sure was great to be able to see her and catch up on everything that has been happening in both of our lives. It really worked out perfectly that we had a 'day off' on Sunday which just so happens to be Jeni's day off too and she lives only an hour train-ride away in Hamburg. She took an early train and came to my host family's home for second breakfast (which is so cool, how can you not love a country that eats my favorite meal of the day multiple times?!?) before we left for jazz in the park. Talk about a great way to enjoy the afternoon, sitting in the park with friends drinking some alkoholfrei (a perfect way to enjoy the taste of beer at 11:30am without the guilt of drinking so early!) beer and listening to the band play. I am really fascinated how the people here are really quite purposeful in making time to enjoy life, and not let work consume them. Taking the time to breather, enjoy the world around me, and just bask in the moment is a German practice that I look forward to bringing back with me to the USA. That and sparkling water... who ever thought I'd find wasser mit gas so refreshing?
Really I feel like I've been saying this a lot and will continue to do so, but I truly am honored and humbled to be a part of this GSE team representing the Manchester Rotary club from District 7870 here in Northern Germany with District 1850. But it's getting late, and even the song on my playlist is saying 'I guess I should go to Sleep' so with that I am off. Until next time!
~Jodi
Well, after playing 'luggage tetris' we were off to Bremen, but not without a pit-stop for a plane ride. We drove through the schön countryside and stopped at a small airport, really not unlike the Oceana County airport where I grew up in Michigan. After stretching out legs and admiring the windmills (seriously, they're EVERYWHERE here and I think it's so awesome!) we met Harald and were taken for a flight in his plane to see Bremen from above.
 | ||||||||
| An aerial view of the outskirts of Bremen |
Saturday was a bit of an early morning, but for good reason. We took a boat ride up the River Weser to spend the day in Bremerhaven, a port city located on the north sea. The trip was a little over three hours, but talk about a great way to travel! My host family, as well as Herr Ziegler and his wife were our tour guides for the day. For me the boat ride was a nice and quiet time to do some knitting, bask in the beauty of the Northern Germany countryside, and to reflect on how grateful I am to be here on this trip.
 |
| Me & Gretyl enjoying the boat ride |
For me, Sunday was one of the best days in Germany yet, as I was reunited with my sister Jeni, who I had not seen since she visited me in NH in September of 2010.
 |
| Me and my sister Jeni at the park |
Really I feel like I've been saying this a lot and will continue to do so, but I truly am honored and humbled to be a part of this GSE team representing the Manchester Rotary club from District 7870 here in Northern Germany with District 1850. But it's getting late, and even the song on my playlist is saying 'I guess I should go to Sleep' so with that I am off. Until next time!
~Jodi
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Intro to Deutschland via Oldenburg
by: Gretyl
As soon as we left Oldenburg and I had Internet access, I emailed my boyfriend and told him to get his passport in order.
“I have to come back,” I said.
I did not expect this to happen.
On our second day in Oldenburg, over meals of smoked eel, white asparagus and brats, our esteemed and now beloved host Herr Doktor Michael Schulz of the Oldenburg Rotary Club asked us about our expectations for our trip and for Germany.
Most of us said we didn’t have any, and the good teacher that he is, he challenged us.
One always has expectations, he told us.
So, as not to be too polite, here is my truth.
I expected I would enjoy my trip to Germany, but not necessarily want to return. I expected to be greeted by a country gray and stern, and found quite the opposite.
From the moment we were greeted in Bremen Airport by a large group of Rotarians, including our host families, with coffee and chocolate, they made us feel as if we were friends, not strangers.
And THIS is what makes for a good adventure.
The next five days are hard to put into words. The city of Oldenburg is just beautiful, and very historic, as it is one of few places in Germany not to have been destroyed during the World Wars.
Karen and I stayed with Stefanie and Gerd Reiners in their beautiful home in the “new” part of the city, which is also where Gerd (81) was born. On our first day, they took us for a walk, we enjoyed some coffee, and then went back to their home for dinner and rest.
On Monday, Michael and two former university professors provided us with an overview of Europe, Germany and Lower Saxony, which has proved more than helpful as our adventures have continued in northern Germany.
He then led us on a fascinating and fun tour of the city.
On Tuesday, I spent my vocational day at Nord-West Zeitung, the main newspaper in Oldenburg.
I visited with editors in the newsroom, sat in on their news conference, which used video equipment that allowed nine reporters spread throughout greater Oldenburg to participate and I liked seeing this coming together of news staff for a short discussion each morning, no matter their location.
The paper’s general manager, Ulrich Gathmann, and the owner (whose name escapes me at the moment) treated me to some fine dining at a local restaurant. It was the first of many meals so far to feature Spargel, white asparagus, which is in season until mid-June here in Germany. We had a vibrant discussion about the newspaper business as a whole, and how things are changing.
Things are not so different in Germany as they are in the United States thanks to the World Wide Web, but as a media house, Nord-West Zeitung is helped by also having associated radio stations and a television studio.
They also gave me a tour of their printing presses, which was a fine example of German efficiency.
It was a very informative day, but the highlight was also the capstone, when Herr Gathmann took me for my first real ride on the Autobahn in a very nice, very new BMW. On the Autobahn to Wilhelmshaven we hit the maximum speed of 250 km/hour, which was as exciting as it sounds.
The next three days in Oldenburg were no less amazing and leaving was bittersweet, just like a traditional cup of tea, as we left for the next leg of our journey.
In my humble opinion, we could not have asked for a better introduction to Germany.
by: Gretyl
As soon as we left Oldenburg and I had Internet access, I emailed my boyfriend and told him to get his passport in order.
“I have to come back,” I said.
I did not expect this to happen.
On our second day in Oldenburg, over meals of smoked eel, white asparagus and brats, our esteemed and now beloved host Herr Doktor Michael Schulz of the Oldenburg Rotary Club asked us about our expectations for our trip and for Germany.
Most of us said we didn’t have any, and the good teacher that he is, he challenged us.
One always has expectations, he told us.
So, as not to be too polite, here is my truth.
I expected I would enjoy my trip to Germany, but not necessarily want to return. I expected to be greeted by a country gray and stern, and found quite the opposite.
From the moment we were greeted in Bremen Airport by a large group of Rotarians, including our host families, with coffee and chocolate, they made us feel as if we were friends, not strangers.
And THIS is what makes for a good adventure.
The next five days are hard to put into words. The city of Oldenburg is just beautiful, and very historic, as it is one of few places in Germany not to have been destroyed during the World Wars.
 |
| Oldenburg Castle |
Karen and I stayed with Stefanie and Gerd Reiners in their beautiful home in the “new” part of the city, which is also where Gerd (81) was born. On our first day, they took us for a walk, we enjoyed some coffee, and then went back to their home for dinner and rest.
 |
| My view in Oldenburg. |
 |
| Michael, ever the teacher. |
He then led us on a fascinating and fun tour of the city.
On Tuesday, I spent my vocational day at Nord-West Zeitung, the main newspaper in Oldenburg.
I visited with editors in the newsroom, sat in on their news conference, which used video equipment that allowed nine reporters spread throughout greater Oldenburg to participate and I liked seeing this coming together of news staff for a short discussion each morning, no matter their location.
The paper’s general manager, Ulrich Gathmann, and the owner (whose name escapes me at the moment) treated me to some fine dining at a local restaurant. It was the first of many meals so far to feature Spargel, white asparagus, which is in season until mid-June here in Germany. We had a vibrant discussion about the newspaper business as a whole, and how things are changing.
Things are not so different in Germany as they are in the United States thanks to the World Wide Web, but as a media house, Nord-West Zeitung is helped by also having associated radio stations and a television studio.
They also gave me a tour of their printing presses, which was a fine example of German efficiency.
 |
| Me with Herr Gathmann at the NWZ printing presses. |
It was a very informative day, but the highlight was also the capstone, when Herr Gathmann took me for my first real ride on the Autobahn in a very nice, very new BMW. On the Autobahn to Wilhelmshaven we hit the maximum speed of 250 km/hour, which was as exciting as it sounds.
The next three days in Oldenburg were no less amazing and leaving was bittersweet, just like a traditional cup of tea, as we left for the next leg of our journey.
 |
| Farewell from our new friends in Oldenburg. From left, Michael and Silke Schulz and Stefanie and Gerd Reiners. |
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