German Parliament Group Promotes Youth Exchange
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(© Germany.info)
A German delegation led by Bartholomäus Kalb, Member of the German Parliament and head of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program commission at the Council of Elders, visited Nashville, TN to promote youth exchange with Germany. They met with host families and German exchange students currently participating in the program.
The delegation met with Mayor Karl Dean at the Nashville city hall and attended a breakfast hosted by German Honorary Consul Douglas Berry where they enjoyed the opportunity to talk with several representatives from politics, business and culture. At the core of these conversations was the desire to share information about the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program and the opportunities it offers to American students. At the same time, the delegation was interested in finding out more about possibilities for co-operation in exchange programs between Tennessee and Germany. They also met with Helmut Smith, PhD, Professor of history at Vanderbilt University and Principal of the Max-Kade Institute of European Studies.
In the afternoon, the delegation met with the German exchange students currently participating in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program and their local host families. During the lively discussion both “sides” were able to share their experiences, the things that already worked very well and the ones that needed improvement. The delegation listened closely to all the comments and promised to take them into consideration for next year’s planning.
Overall, students and host families agreed that this year has enriched their lifes and given them priceless experiences about the other culture and its people.
