The city of Kempten is located on the very southern border of Germany. It houses about 60,000 people and is one of, if not the, oldest city in Germany. It has a very rich history that I am very excited to learn about, and resides in one of the most beautiful places in Germany. Coined "castle country" the southern 1/3rd of Germany is comprised of people that are very friendly and kind, and less formal in comparison to Northern Germany. They also embrace the richer traditions of ancient Germany like liederhosen and other cultural things you may traditionally coin with Germany. These descriptions are all generalizations I have read about and been told, but do not necessarily mean that all of the people I encounter in Southern Germany will be like this.
This is an aerial picture of a "suburb" of Kempten called Altusried, where I will spend December - February with my Youth Exchange Officer (YEO), or my second host family. Manfred Damiani is my YEO, he is a longstanding member of Rotary and a "Malermeister" or "Paint Master", he designs interior paintings schemes and runs his own painting business. The family has 3 children, one younger girl, one girl my age, and an older son who does not live with them anymore. Barbara is Manfred's wife and my first host mother.
I will have 3 other families as well, 4 in total (which is common for Rotary students in Germany). My first host family is the Büchters, who have 2 children. The are extremely nice people (from emails!), and live in Kempten proper. My third host family is the Müllers, who have 4 children and also live in Kempten. Lastly, I will stay with Gabi Grotz, whose only daughter will be spending the year in Brasil. All of my families seem exceptional, with varying interests from acting, to skiing, to medicine, or shopping. I am so, so excited to spend the year in such good hands.
The picture to the left is of the castle Neuchwanstein, a very famous castle that is the basis design for the Disney castle. It, as well as Switzerland and Austria, are approximately 20 minutes from Kempten. I am about 120km south (and slightly west) of Munich, or about an hours train ride. Munich is the nearest "large" city.
I leave for Germany on September 3rd from Minneapolis airport, 9.15 at night. I will fly into Amsterdam with a 3hr layover, and then on to Munich where I will be picked up. The last picture I leave you with is of a rescue station on the top of one of the mountains just south of Kempten. I am so excited to begin my exchange year, and be an ambassador representing America in the best way I can. If anyone has any questions regarding my exchange, please comment here on my blog or email me at sonja.smerud@yahoo.com.
