Final Thoughts And Pictures

So here I am sitting at home, listening to some football music my host family gave me, and reflecting on my time abroad and my first trip overseas. As the trip came to a close, I caught myself wishing for more time to spend in Germany. I couldn't believe it, as much as I missed my home, the thought of leaving such a beautiful country was almost unbearable. The air was clean and the land was green and beautiful.








(Berlin from the airplane, taken shortly after takeoff)










(The fields in Bietigheim-Bissingen behind my house)









I have learned so much and met so many different people, German, Czech and even new people from DGS. People from different walks of life, all brought together through music. Music truly is the universal language, and I am glad I was able to be a part of this exchange. I would really like to thank my wonderful host family for taking great care of me and making me feel more like a member of the family instead of just another tourist visiting their house.






(My host family)








There is so much about Germany that I will miss.I think that I will miss all of the excitement of the football games in the Euro Cup tournament a whole lot. It was so much fun to be caught up in the noise and excitement of the public viewings. I will definitely miss Bionade (a cross between lemonade and soda that is all natural) and all the bakeries along the streets in Germany (mmmm.... Fresh bread every morning!). I really loved all the historical sites that we visited, I think the one that had the most impact on me was the Teresienstaldt Memorial for some of the Jewish victims of WWII. It was shocking to see all the gravestones in a line and to think that it was all the idea of a single person that set this tragedy in motion.







(Teresienstaldt Memorial)






Well I guess this is probably a final goodbye from me unless I find something else I think is worth sharing. I would like to again thank the directors and chaperones for everything they did from setting up the trip to helping students get from place to place on time (shout out to Mrs. Williams for always being on time) and to all the drivers and tour guides for being excellent and always getting us to where we needed to be. Peace to all and thank you for reading.


Tschüss,
Ben Tullis

Prague.... hmmm

Leaving our host families was depressing to say the least, and I can say that I was a little homesick for my German family. The host families were so sad to see us go that some of the kids held a sit-down protest. Yes! they actually sat in front of the buses to stop them from leaving. When we got to Prague, the feeling was worse because the Hotel Dum mattresses were not as comfortable as our host family. But that was only a minor thing. The city of Prague was beautiful. It was so cool to experience the city and its shops. A lot of the shops were touristy, but the street vendors were the best. I had my first experience in haggling prices. It was a successful trip. One of the most bizarre things were the Czech currency called Crowns. The exchange rate from yesterday was around 16 crows per US dollars. I felt rich! The food at the restaurant was pretty good especially the nonalcoholic eggnog filled ho-hos (yum!). Well we are in Berlin now, and everyone seems happy to be back in Germany. I got a message from my host family that says they miss me and to have fun on the rest of the trip! By the way, Germany won their fußball match yesterday 1-0!

Ciao for now

Ben Tullis

(photos added to post - B. Teague)

On new and old friendships and leaving home

So when I first left home last Saturday, I was really unsure of the whole idea of staying a week in another persons house. It was strange to think that for a whole week, I would for all intents and purposes have a new family. I initially thought that it would be awkward and that I would miss my home and my family. And while I have missed my home and family, my (host) family here in Germany has been extraordinary. I have felt like I belong from the moment I first crossed the threshold into their house. From everything to laundry to planning events, they have been kind and helpful, and it has really helped me to see what life in Germany is like. Viktor (my host brother) has also introduced me to various German fußball (soccer for all the Americans) songs.

Throughout the the trip I have seen many old friendships that have become stronger, but the thing that is the coolest for me is the new friendships that have formed across North and South. I have met people with interests similar to mine, even within the flute section! I have also seen sections become closer and play better just because of the experience of being in Germany.

As a final thought, the first Jazz Concert today was amazing and the crowd was even more excited than at the Band Concert. Well for now I will have to go and prepare for tonights concert and pack for tomorrow. I am sad to be leaving my host family, and would like to spend more time here. Tomorrow we leave for the Czech Republic. Peace All.

Soccer, Stuttgart, Concerts and more

Picture 1 (Top): the pope mobile
Picture 2 (Bottom): Kate B. and Andrew K. in the Race simulator

Hello all,





So yesterday was our first concert and it was absolutely amazing! We played our set and the crowd loved it. They clapped so much that we just had to play an encore. The audience really like Godzilla Eats Las Vegas and The White Rose March. Throughout the March, people clapped and the lightng technician even made the lights dance and change color! There was even reports of some people jumping up and down! Today, we traveled to Stuttgart to visit the Mercedes-Benz mueum which was alot of fun. I especially liked getting to see the pope-mobile (yes it is actually called the pope-mobile) and going into the race simulation. It was so much fun. It had actuall footage from races that a Mercedes won, and it moved the capsule and the steering wheel to match the footage. Oh, it was so much fun! Unhappily though, we lost our second soccer match against the Germans. But I guess it is more about the experience instead of the outcome. It was still a great experience to represent our country in an international soccer match. And even though we were two seperate teams and countries, the soccer game and the exchange has brought us closer together than most global citizens. Tonight we are going to go out and have some more fun. I will have to tell you more later!

Amazing First Day

Hello all,

So the first day was amazing. I won't say too much about the plane ride, except that it was nice to sit in the middle of a row with people I didn't know. It was nice to talk to someone that was not on our trip about our trip, and to ask them about their trip (the man on my right was going to India to visit his mom and the people on my left slept the whole way). Anyway, my host family did not all come to pick me up, they sent Viktor to get me because his mom was preparing breakfast and his dad had biked to a farm in the mountains to get asparagas for dinner that night (which consisted of potatoes, asparagas and a little cooked ham all covered in a creamy cheese sauce. It was amazing). Before dinner we went to an indoor beach and played an informal soccer match, U.S. vs. Germany (and JJ J.). The US clamied a victory with a score of 6 to 4. After a short game of Frisbee we were all pretty tired and went home to shower the sand, sweat, and adrenaline from our bodies before dinner. After dinner, Viktor and I met a a few friends at a sports bar to watch the Germany vs. Poland European Cup game. It was really loud and you couldn't help but get swept up in the excitement! After a thrilling victory of 2-0 we drove around town honking the horn and flying the German flag. We were not alone, it seemed like most of Germary was out last night celebrating! I can't wait for the next match on Thursday!

Well talk to you all later!
Auf Wiedersehen

A Tale by Clement Clarke Moore, Arranged by Ben Tullis

'Twas the night before the band trip

and all through the house,

All the creatures were stirring,

Yes, even the mouse.

My clothes are packed in my suitcase with care,

in hopes that the band trip will soon be here.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter...

Well... ok so we don't have mice in my house.

And the clatter is definitely in the house, and not on the lawn. And maybe my suitcase isn't completely packed.

But the creatures are stirring as we rush around trying to get me completely packed and ready. However, progress is currently being hindered by the cat sitting in my suitcase.

Wow, I can't believe the trip is already upon us. This will be my first time leaving the country, but I couldn't think of a better way to take my first international trip than with 87 of my colleagues from Downers Grove North and South. Throughout the rehearsals this week, I have gotten to make great music, and new friends, and I can't wait to get on that plane tomorrow and share two weeks immersed in a new culture with them! I am so anxious to meet my host family and I am looking forward to new experiences in Germany. I would like to thank the music staff from North and South for preparing this trip and making it all possible so that me and many others can experience world cultures first hand. Well I'm done for right now, I will talk to you all from Germany!

...Happy band trip to all,

And to all a good night!