© Lina Jakobs (Open Door International e.V.)
BONN – Sausages, beer, and a great atmosphere: a typical and borderline-stereotypical German party except for the guests, 25 American students.
The 25 Americans are all participants of the Congress Bundestag Exchange Program, a program supported, as well as funded, by the German Bundestag and United States Congress through a partnership between Open Door International (www.opendoorinternational.de) and the AIB.
The CBYX program provides the students an opportunity to live in Germany for a year to learn about culture, language and participate in internships in their field of interest, ranging from engineering and medicine to business and arts.
For the first seven weeks, the students partake in an intensive language course at the AIB while living with diverse host families all across Bonn. The AIB not only provides German classes but welcomes the students to Germany while easing the transition into everyday life.
On Friday, the AIB hosted a “Wurst Fest” or Bratwurst tasting party for the CBYX participants and their Area Reps with over 8 different types of meats along with the traditional sauerkraut and mustard.
© Lina Jakobs (Open Door International e.V.)
After their time in Bonn, the participants will live in different parts of Germany for the remaining months where they will be assisted by “Area Reps” who are in charge of finding host families and possible internships for the students.
Along with the opportunity to test from a large selection of bratwursts, the party gave the students and their respective Area Reps the first chance to personally interact with one another and talk face to face about their future expectations in their upcoming locations across Germany.
Out of the varied assortments of bratwurst, the students and Area Reps alike chose the Munich Weisswurst and the Rheinische Bratwurst among their favorites, consequently deeming the party at the AIB a great success.
Written by Hecko Flores
