Intensivsprachwoche Boston 3B+2AL
The value of this trip initiated well before the group landed in Boston Logan Airport. Most students have never flown in an airplane and hence already felt a rough concoction of excitement and joy. Going through metal detectors and airport security may have been quite a hassle, but the journey, though long, was very pleasant. The group was offered plenty of food, amenities, and entertainment while the flight attendants were attentive to the needs of each passenger.
As the flight prepared for landing, the Austrian students would also be given their first perception of United States immigration laws. Customs forms inquiring on the purpose of the visit would need to be thoroughly and honestly completed and signed. After exiting the aircraft, the group would be interrogated, fingerprinted, and photographed for security purposes. Such procedures gave Austrians an important insight into the post-9/11 world. Since the September 11th attacks, the United States has been especially weary of immigration. Thankfully, everyone in the group managed to easily get through U.S Customs and Immigration.
A van would be waiting as the group took its first steps outside of the airport. The van would take each student to a host family. The views of Boston from the van were particularly exciting to an evidently exhausted and jet-lagged group. Each student had a family that was unique in some way. Since the big cities of the United States are very ethnically diverse, it was no big surprise for several students to stay with families of various ethnic groups. Many students were especially excited to interact and share opinions with friendly people of other cultures and races-for the first time. Though the students were eager to get acquainted with their new city and host families, they had to also prepare for a vigorous ten days of academic and social challenges.
Classes at EC Boston can be summarized as simply fantastic. Classes normally began at 9:00 am and ended at approximately 12:30 pm. The students were split into groups based on their English-language abilities-then the fun began. The teachers at EC Boston were specialized at making the English language fun and easy to learn.
Commonly confusing grammatical procedures, statements, and idioms were quickly transformed into competently practiced linguistic tools for the Austrian students. The teachers were experts at not only building linguistic skills, but also at building confidence and humour into every student's language ability.
Each class was normally followed by a fun and informative cultural excursion. It was a special time to be in the United States-the presidential elections were at hand! The spirit of hope and freedom has been renewed in the country, and one excursion particularly enjoyed by the group was the tour of Boston's "Freedom Trail."
The Freedom Trail is a tour through downtown Boston that leads to various important historical sites. Noteworthy historical sites included the Boston Common, the Bunker Hill Monument, the Granary Burial Ground, and the site of the Boston Massacre. The group was enthralled by the rich cultural heritage of such a large and modern city. The tour guide was especially informative as he was well aware of the cultural significance in the most overlooked and minute details. The group found it particularly interesting that certain street signs had a historical meaning. "Spring Lane", for example, labelled the area where Boston's first reservoirs were built. Other than the Freedom Trail, equally amusing excursions in Boston included the Prudential Skywalk, the Museum of Science, and lunch at Boston's famous seafood restaurant called "Atlantic Fish". The group was also taken briefly to Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts and to Newport, Rhode Island.
A landmark opportunity for the students was a full-day tour of New York City, giving the group a glimpse at "big city life." This full-day tour of the USA's most populated city was particularly strenuous and exciting. It began with a 5:00 a.m. awakening, an early breakfast, and a 7:00 a.m. train departure from Boston to New York City. The weather may not have been ideal, but the atmosphere was incomparably genuine. The crowds never dissipated along the streets as the group gawked at the grandeur of the Empire State Building. Utilizing the public transportation system of NYC may have been seemingly complex and intimidating, but the students managed to benefit from its comprehensive web of pure (though crowded) travel convenience.
After sauntering the bustling streets of Broadway, another daunting site was the famous Rockefeller Center. Initially built in 1926, it consists of 19 skyscrapers and an ice-skating rink. This is also the site of the famous Rockefeller Center Tree. Afterwards, the group ventured into the historical financial district, partially known Wall Street. This area, once fortified to ward off attacks from Native Americans, was evidently still a symbol of the world's financial sector. Nearby was the sombre facade of Ground Zero. This was the area of the World Trade Center prior to the September 11th attacks. Though the area was overwhelmed by construction and repair, the memory of the brave and perseverant since the tragic day brings new hope for peace and unity in the world.
As the group reminisces on their experience in the United States, there is a harvest of emotions that one cannot be fully expressed nor experienced by a mere report. One must do as the group as done. One must venture into the unknown and immerse oneself in the challenge. The journey will yield to understanding and accomplishment.
