The Delbarton community will be hosting German students from Bildungszentrum Markdorf University Prep School in Baden-Wurttemberg from March 24th to April 3th, 2025 as a part of the Delbarton German Exchange Program.
For the past 25 years, Delbarton American History and former German language teacher Mr. Conn has coordinated the German Exchange in order to allow students from both Germany and the United States the chance to travel abroad. After landing in Newark Airport from Munich, the German students will stay with Delbarton host families throughout their stay. During their visit, the visitors will be given a tour of the campus, speak with Father Michael, and get a firsthand look at the college admissions process. Throughout the trip, the German exchange students sit in on Delbarton classes. These experiences help to give the Markdorf students a sense of both the American and Benedictine style of education.
The German exchange program does not just seek to display American education, but also American culture and society as a whole. During the trip, excursions will be made to Princeton for a walking tour, to Morristown to view Washington’s headquarters, to midtown NYC to view a matinee on Broadway, to the Statue of Liberty, and to Washington D.C. These field trips serve to give the German students a comprehensive view of what American society represents.
From the day that school ends on June 5th, the Delbarton students who hosted German students will return the favor by traveling to Germany, an opportunity that immerses the student in German culture regardless of their fluency in the German language. Over the course of the trip, Delbarton students will visit three countries, twelve towns, and countless churches. From the towering beauty of Neuschwanstein to the more modernized castle of Hohenklingen, Delbartons students will surely be amazed with the stunning architecture that Germany has to offer. There is also the chance to view animals rare to us in the United States: such as monkeys and storks. Delbarton students will have the chance to relax with their brothers at Europa Park, which has incredible rides and sections designed to resemble different European countries. All in all, the German trip will place students outside their comfort zone, but in doing so will grant them a fun and exciting vacation after their rigorous final exams.
Delbarton supports global programs both in endorsement and financial assistance, because we as a community believe in the benefits of travel. Mr. Pieraccini, the Director of Global Programs at Delbarton, explained the importance of global programs, stating, “We offer you the opportunity for safe spaces, and we teach you that the world is such a scary place and that your needs and your comfort are paramount, and yet the very motto of this school begins with the words “cut down,” suggesting that adversity and challenge are not only necessary to growth, but actually the beginning of every hero’s journey. In order to rectify this situation, we are here today to provide you with opportunities to adventure. To meet that which is unfamiliar and different, and rather than combat it with your experience and ideas, instead, to shut up and humbly take it in, appreciate it, and live through something different than your everyday routine.”
Although registration to host a German student has passed, make sure to stay alert for future updates from any of the Delbarton exchange programs, German, Irish, and French, if you are interested in either hosting an exchange student or traveling to another country.
