Last day 31.10.2019

After a great sleep and an amazing breakfast, our last day at Norman North started. Our first shocking moment of the day was, as Jan-Christoph told us, that his GAPP partner Owen's car broke down. They told us that because of that they had nearly had an accident with another car.

After this experience, everybody went to different classes or stayed in the CCC to do some homework or just study for our tests in Germany. As for me, I stayed in the CCC and tried to study some Chemistry and Sport Theories, but somebody also studied for Economics. After the bell, seven of us went to Choir with me, to listen to and to watch my GAPP partner Luke Byrd. However, we were surprised because something was different. As we went into the Choir room, there was a completely different class and my GAPP partner was nowhere to see. After asking the teacher we found out that this  was a presentation about students' possibilities after graduating from high school. Afterwards, the teacher asked us some question about our culture, the school trip and the differences between Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Gymnasium and Norman North High School. After this long and very interesting conversation, we got a super-delicious donut from the teacher.

Now the real class started, but that day many people from different colleges like The University of Oklahoma (OU) or Oklahoma State University (OSU) visited the class to get an impression of one of the best choir classes in the State of Oklahoma. We were lucky because there was a lot of space on the couch in the corner of the classroom, where we were very comfortable. It only took a few minutes until everybody had a microphone and was ready to sing some vocals. I felt like I was at a professional gospel concert or in an opera. It was so intense and breathtaking! Then I realized those students could be the opera singer of the future, so it got even more breathtaking.

After those two hours of listening to some amazing music, my partner and I went to a typical American diner. I ordered a fantastic chicken BBQ sandwich and a glass of  water. And again I was truly impressed: I could have my cup refilled for free as many times as I wanted to! That is such a good concept. They should do that  everywhere in Germany, too!

When we were back at school we went to some random classes, for example: Living Skills, History, French, and Earth Education. It was so interesting to see some of them, for example Earth Education, because we don’t have anything similar to that in Germany. Our last class at Norman North - i.e. Jan-Christoph's, Chiara's, and mine - was French. It was completely different to our French classes, and we were shocked about the little knowledge the students had. At the end of our school day, we went to see some new friends who aren’t in the GAPP program and said "goodbye" and “I hope I will see you again“.

Back at home, we had some time to pack our stuff. One hour later, we were at a community church for the farewell party. Everybody was there: the parents, the teachers, and of course all of the GAPP students. The majority of the students went to play something like volleyball, the others had some interesting and deep conversations about God and the world. Later that evening, we had the chance to eat one of the best pizzas ever or some healthy vegetables and fruits.

After the amazing meal, it was time for dodgeball. So we went to a small gym inside the community chuch. Of course it had to be "Germany against the US". We played "best of five", so whoever won more out of five games would be the overall winner. The first match was very close, but the Germans ended up winning it. The next match was a clear win for Germany again. But the next two matches were clear wins for the USA. The last match was almost a war, but the USA won! And after the game everybody hugged each other, like brothers.

The next game was Happy Hippo. The rules were simple: you had to collect as many balls sitting in the middle of the court as you could. The team with most balls would win the game. But it was only allowed to get the ball with the use a basket and the one person allowed to do that had to be laying on a little cart similar to a skateboard. Two other persons from the same team had to pull or push, and also steer the cart with the use of a rope which was attached to the cart. It was so much fun, everybody laughed and was happy.

After some more group activities we went back to play volleyball or have conversations or just eat. One hour later, we all got together in big circle. Mrs. Rex and Mrs. Bagg said thank you to us and to our host families. Mrs. Rex gave us a Norman newspaper with an incredible article about our school trip and an interview with Mrs. Hiller, Mrs. Rex, Pia, and Chloe L.

After the party some people (Jordan, Mona, Sara, Hannah, Josi, Jan-Christoph, Owen, Chloe, Luke, and I) went to a shop to get some FroYo (frozen yoghurt). Someone had the idea to play Hide-and-Seek at Target (a huge supermarket) across the road. So we jumped in our cars and went over to Target and started our game. Our first hiding spot was behind a wall made out of toilet paper. It was extremely hot behind the wall, but the the other guys didn’t find us for over 20 minutes. Now the other people went to hiding spot. I found Chiara and Jan-Christoph between the jackets, but they had helped us a little bit. So it was my turn again. My next hiding spot was between a mirror and some pillows. It was very hard to be hid there because there was little space and it was quite hot. After a few minutes I got caught by an employee, who just laughed at me and said: “I will not kick you out, if you buy something.“  I was so lucky! After ten more minutes, I got caught by my friends, so we bought something and went back to Luke's place with Owen, Jan-Christoph, Hannah, and Josi. We played pool and talked for hours. Many hours later, the others went home and Luke and I went to bed. I fell into a dreamless sleep. What a last day!

Our last day:

On this day, it was the last day in Norman and the united States. As I woke up, I was so sad about

our last day here. After I packed my things we went, with some others from the GAPP-program; to

a typical american Diner. This great Diner was next to an airfield. My Partner explained me: “This

airfield is used by the Oklahoma University.“ Our breakfast was so amazing. We could eat as much

as we can and was delicious. So after that we went back home take my case and my other bags. I

said Good bye to Lukes Dad and dog and went outside with my stuff. It was a very quiet drive,

because everybody was sad about my flight back home. After a big goodbye session, with atleast

everyone we went to our Gate. We were so depressed and sad about it, but we felt us a little bit

better, when we noticed they will come to us. We entered the plane to Dallas and after a couple of

minutes we were in the air. Nearly one hour later we landed in Dallas. We got some many text

Messages from Norman. And one message was strange. An unknown number wrote me a text. The

message was from a girl from the Norman North and she gave me a few questions for their

Yearbook. So after a few hours our plane was ready. We entered our second plane and started our

long journey to Frankfurt am Main. We watched movies, talked to each other, slept, played video

games or did some other stuff. But not me. I`m sitting here and write my Blogtext for yesterday and

today. Maybe I will sleep a little bit and will finish this at home. After a few hours we landed in

Frankfurt. It was so cold. After the landing we noticed we were in Frankfurt not in Stuttgart. So we

had to take the train. After a powernap in the train we arrivied at home and we could see the happy

faces of our family and we were glad to be there without any injuries. It was an amzing time in

Oklahoma and I want to travel back.