Hello all! This is my first time in Germany and actually Europe. The people have been amazing, and the hospitality "above and beyond". We have, as a team, seen very many attractions in the few days we have been here. We have already visited: a TV and Radio station, a university, a school, the Kiel canal,the Naval Memorial, enjoyed a small plane tour, and many other places. Today we travel to the island of Amrum and get to participate in a 5K race. Quite excited!

Wow! Trying to figure out how to get in and write with German language directions is a bit of a challenge. But I think I have done it. Well, who would have thought that in such a modern and technically advanced country we would have had trouble finding WiFi, but that has been our problem so this is my first chance to write something. The Rotarians have been too fabulous for words. What warm and fun hosts. They have filled our days with interesting and exciting visits: the North German Radio/TV station, Christian-Albrechts University in Keil, the Geomar undersea research lab, a terrific concert and organ demonstration at the St Nikolai Church, a tour of the locks of the  Keil Canal, a fascinating talk about German Naval history at the Naval Memorial in Laboe, a tour of the Keil City Hall where we met the Lord Mayor, a small airplane flight over Keil, and much more. We have been fed with spargle, herring, strawberries, worst, und lots of excellent Deutches bier. Is gut! Today we were transported to Hosum and new hosts, and tomorrow we go to Amrum to run in a race. I'll try to write more soon, and include some pictures.

We are here!! (Germany)

After many hours in the air we have arrived! It was fun travelling with the German team. We had a wonderful greeting from Wolfgang Janus and Bernd Diepenhorst. They took us on the autobahn and through the beautiful countryside to Molfsee, near Kiel.

Showers!!! :)

Frau und Herr Diepenhorst hosted a great cookout with other rotarians. It was a lot of fun, but now we are tired and ready for bed!

Tschüß

Today the GSE team met at the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Fryeburg, Maine. This was our last GSE meeting before we head off to Deutschland this Sunday. Six days left and we were able to practice our presentations in front of a live audience. A few Fryeburg Rotary club members as well as a few Bridgeton club members came to hear our presentation. They had some great advice for us. Vielen Dank to both clubs for taking the time to meet with us and to hear us practice.  

Afterwards we had dinner at the 302 West Smokehouse & Tavern. Now some much needed rest and then the District Conference on Saturday, May 19^th. Gute Nacht.

GSE outbound Team is looking sharp!!

Now this is a sharp looking team! We look so smart with all those books behind us! Thanks Ashley for the photographing skills and Barbara for putting together such a fancy look!


Lawrence - Myles - Arthur
Agus - Ashley





Hope for Sunday

The last two meetings of our team were incomplete as for various, and good, reasons each time we had a missing member. This Sunday (May day) I'm hoping everyone will be here. We've got most of the "boring organizational" stuff done, and now it is time to seriously work on our presentations. We need time to practice in front of warm bodies. It has seemed like our trip is a long time off, but now it is definitely getting closer. Barbara has been looking at flights and the incoming team from Germany will arrive in 3 weeks. I am so looking forward to meeting them. Our Club has just about completed our hosting plans, and I know it will be lots of fun.

Work hard, play hard!

On March 20th the GSE team traveled to Bethel, Maine for a team meeting. Agus and Ashley took advantage of the beautiful weather and skied at Sunday River. Afterwards the team met at the V.I.P. Ski Suite at Southridge lodge and had lunch at the Foggy Goggle. The team went over presentation, checklists and practiced the German song they will be singing at the end of their presentation, Sah ein Knab ein Röslein stehen. It is starting to sound great but they missed their vocal coach, Barbara Sutcliffe, Lawrence's wife. The GSE team meets again April 1st.