Head's Up, Kathleen McNamara

This article by Anders Schinkel is the perfect intersection of science and our While Child Philosophy at Seven Hills.

https://psyche.co/ideas/why-good-teachers-allow-a-childs-mind-to-wander-and-wonder?fbclid=IwAR2sahspxH0AWC-OWYdcv2HodnAzv20txe26660PL_zcpGNN67VJs7L78Ks

Our mission at Seven Hills calls us to develop the intellect, engage the spirit and foster respect for and responsibility to our world. This is a roadmap for all of us!

Though I may not be here with you, I urge you to answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe. In my life I have done all I can to demonstrate that the way of peace, the way of love and nonviolence is the more excellent way. Now it is your turn to let freedom ring.

The best advice seems to be validating how children are feeling without overpromising what can happen when this is over…

https://slate.com/human-interest/2020/03/coronavirus-senior-year-cancelations-care-and-feeding.html

Our stalwart travelers were up and packed and ready for one final yummy European breakfast! On our ride to the airport, our new best friend and guide, Stefania, played a song for the farewell! She has a very good playlist for her trips, curated carefully and right on the money!

We gave her a few parting gifts and are now waiting in the airport having passed three different security controls! The Germans are nothing if not thorough!

Soon we will board for the 12 hour flight and be ready to see family at SFO!!

Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes. I’m afraid it’s time for goodbye again…

Billy Joel

So this was our final day of activities. After another terrific and plentiful hotel breakfast, we were off to the Salt Mines, which are in Germany (although we did briefly drive into Austria to get there). We suited up and then began our one hour tour. Part science and education, part novelty and fun, the tour proved very interesting, and, once again, we did a great job of supporting the German economy with our purchases in the salt mine souvenir shop.

Then it was off to discover one village in the Bavarian Alps and have lunch. This was a beautiful spot with some amazing views.

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Our final stop proved short and rainy as we drove by the Nymphenberg Palace back in Munich. Then it was off to our final dinner. And our trip ends the way it began in London, on the metro! Tomorrow it’s breakfast and then off to the airport.

Day 11 is in the books!

Today alternated between light and heavy, and very heavy and light again. After a yummy and plentiful breakfast, we met our Munich guide, Michael, who dazzled, educated, impersonated, deejayed and left us all gobsmacked by the end of his time with us. He gave us a little background on Germany, Bavaria and Munich, introduced how Hitler came to power in Munich at a specific moment in time.

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He was entertaining and really taught us a few things. We then stood in the town square and watched the famous glockenspiel at 11am. Then it was time for lunch with lots of options all around the square: bratwurst, goulash, burgers, pretzels and a good lunch was had by all. We also got the chance to enjoy some local “color.”

Then it was off to Dachau. Each seventh grader will likely process the visit with family differently. It was somber, solemn and very moving. Mr. Lechner shared some ritual with students to commemorate the dead and students responded with solemnity and introspection. If there is such a thing as a great visit to such a site, this was a great opportunity.

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To lighten the mood, we went to BMW Welt where students got to sit in vehicles and shop! Since all of Munich is closed on Sundays and therefore there is no shopping, we made up for that at BMW.

Then it was off to dinner via Munich metro. Another German meal and a metro ride back to our hotel! What a day!!

After a wonderful breakfast in Cologne, we took our coach bus again for a brief trip to the train station, with a beautiful sunrise, where we boarded a three hour bullet train to Nuremberg.

We saw some beautiful countryside and arrived to Nuremberg. We walked through parts of the city and grabbed lunch at an open air market in the central square. The older part of the city had a great European charm.

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Then we took a vigorous walk through the city and up a few hills, road the bus out to the Nuremberg rally grounds, propaganda museum and started to learn more about the impact of the Nazi movement before and during WWII.

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Then we made our way back to our hotel, where we checked in and where we will be for three nights! Yay! After a little rest time in rooms, we made our way into Munich on the subway to dinner where we had what can only be described as a very authentic Bavarian experience in a massive beer hall where we had excellent food. It was the first dinner out of nine dinners where we did not need to “shush” the students because the whole place was much louder than we were!!

Now we are off to bed to rest up for another full day tomorrow!

Another day of emotion and movement: we woke up in Bastogne, Belgium and are headed to sleep in Cologne, Germany. After a yummy breakfast at our hotel, we learned all about the Battle of the Bulge and why Bastogne is considered “a very American city.” Our guide, Henri, was 9 years old when the battle was fought. He told stories that included German soldiers taking over his household and his father’s death as a result of shrapnel. He told amazing stories and gave his first hand account of the events to the students, an amazing gift.

We said goodbye to Henri and headed off to lunch with many, many choices in Bastogne! We then visited the Musée de Piconrue and after that, we were off in mid-afternoon to Cologne, Germany, a three hour bus ride.

We arrived to our hotel, checked in and freshened up before heading out to visit the Cathedral and have a typical German meal.

Upon our departure from dinner, we happened enjoyed a local brass band creating a little commotion in a town square!

Tomorrow, we have another early call to be on a bullet train to Nuremburg! Onward!