Berlin adventures!

Students had an incredible trip to Berlin early in July, experiencing the city through touch, sound, and taste! ️ They navigated the city on the S-Bahn and U-Bahn, visiting iconic landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie.

Pictured: The group of staff and students stand in front of the Brandenburg Gate

History came alive with audio tours and special touch tours at the Wannsee Museum and the Bernauerstrasse Wall Memorial. They learned about the city's reunification and the realities of the Holocaust.

The weather wasn't great, so it was just a walk around Schlachtensee Lake, rather than a dip this time!

A picnic was had in Tiergarten, a large park, and delicious meals at local restaurants kept everyone happy.

Students even got to practice their German listening and speaking skills. A truly unforgettable trip for all involved!

For more photos of the trip, click here.

Here is what student Raven had to say about the trip:

'The Berlin trip was by far the best trip I have ever been on whilst in education, due to the enthusiasm of both staff and students, and the efforts that were made to make everything accessible. We packed as much as we could into each day, so that we could really get a feel for Berlin culture and history while we were there.

'One thing that stuck with me was the travel. As we had to travel for every activity, stressful journeys could have really taken the fun out of it. But between the organised public transport of Germany and the commitment of the staff to transport us calmly and safely, I found the journeys to be highly enjoyable parts of the day. We hit many road-bumps, as is expected with a group our size abroad, but everyone continued to smile and take things as they came, which was the overarching attitude for the whole trip.

'It was clear that everybody on the trip wanted to make the most of it. For some people, this was their first time abroad, or on a plane, and for me, it was a visit to a different area of a country I have roots in. Students with a wide range of travel experience were able to have a wonderful time abroad because the trip was so well-planned.

'I was especially intrigued by our interactive tour of the Berlin Wall, which we got to touch and walk around a segment of. We lifted our canes to the top of the wall, to feel how high it was. We asked the tour-guide a lot of questions, stepped where secret tunnels had been built and learned the history of the wall in a way we could not experience in a classroom. There were even tactile maps, which allowed us to see how Berlin had looked when it was divided.

'The activity that I enjoyed the most was the Dine in the Dark experience. Not only did we get to eat a delicious four-course German meal, but we were able to experience food in a completely unfamiliar way. Eating in the pitch black put us all on a level playing field, meaning we had the chance to reflect on how we use our varying levels of eyesight. The experience sparked some interesting conversation and it was great to see the staff experience what we do on a daily basis.

'Originally, I thought I might struggle with the food, as a picky eater like many in the group. However, the overwhelming consensus of German food was positive, with everyone finding something they liked. Kaiserschmarrn was particularly popular in the group, and I discovered that I am a fan of sauerkraut.

'I would say that the trip has made me more confident to travel abroad, which is especially important as I intend to go to university in Germany. I have now used the S-Bahn and U-Bahn, which I found simpler to comprehend than I expected to. Plus, I was able to practice my German reading, listening and speaking skills a fair amount while I was there, from ordering food for my group, to listening to museum guides in German.'