Chelsea
French Literature
Feb. 17, 2007

The end of this week has given us both the chance of a lifetime and also the bittersweet moment of saying goodbye to those we’ve gotten to know well.

Thursday, we got the opportunity to travel into Germany, only an hour-and-a-half away, to tour the Mercedes-Benz Factory. It was here that we learned just how a Mercedes is made, and now we fully understand why these cars are so expensive. The craftsmanship that goes into each car is indescribable and the care for each individual part is hard to compare with anything else. After the tour, we had the opportunity to eat a wonderful lunch, actually sit in a real Mercedes (Classes A, B, and S…and a Formula One race car…), and visit the boutique. No one bought a car, as the price tag didn’t quite fit our budget.

After the factory, we got another regional treat by getting to go to the Caracalla Spa in Baden-Baden, Germany. All of us welcomed this education of mind and heart, as the mineral water was good for the relaxation of our mind while the lightning quick dips into the freezing 66˚F pool was beneficial to our hearts! These baths clearly helped us in relaxing a good deal, as we all continue to press on with our studies wholeheartedly.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and tonight, Saturday, finds us having one last big party with our amazing host families. We are having a regional dish, Tarte Flambé (kind of like a pizza, with onions, bacon, and a white sauce), and there will be a very joyful atmosphere as we put our last two weeks into use, and sing, play, joke, and talk with the families who have taken us into their homes. It is hard to believe that we’ve been here two weeks already, as the time has passed by so quickly. Tomorrow, after many of us attend mass with our families at the local Catholic Church, we will be saying our goodbyes, exchanging addresses, making plans for coming weekends, and leaving for the next step in our trip.

Until then, au revoir Saverne, bonjour Strasbourg!