Day 7 - Great final day for pupils and staff

We were kindly taken to Bochum's Bergbaumuseum (Mining Museum) by Mr Meyer. Bochum is in the heart of Germany's industrial heartland. We took the train and the underground to reach the museum. We had a guided tour of a demonstration pit including a simulator lift which took us to 1200m below ground. We learnt about the developments of the mining industry, the dangers faced by the workers and the noise they would have experienced; many of them would not have been able to eat or write due to constant numbness and the drilling sensation coursing their veins having finished their shifts thus preventing them from gripping cutlery or a pen. 

 

 

Most pupils made it to the annual Weihnachtskonzert in a church near the school. We all enjoyed a a varied programme of songs and ensembles. At short notice Rebecca Ousby and Emily Hill sang the opening solo of 'Silent Night' as the choir had been afflicted by illness; Mr Meyer was delighted by this co-operation and they received generous applause following their international debut!

 

Miss Beale, Mr Morris and I have really enjoyed the pupils' company throughout and none of the host families have raised any concerns.  It is also very clear that our pupils have got on well with their hosts. We will leave Munster at 2pm tomorrow and head to Düsseldorfer Flughafen for the 6:20pm Easyjet flight to Gatwick. I will say my farewell to the group there and Miss Beale will bring them back to Bath as planned. My thanks to her in particular for having to hold the fort on a number of occasions this week as I sorted out a replacement travel document.

 

Frohe Weihnachten und einen guten Rutsch ins Neue Jahr!