Halloween Night 👻🎃

 

Halloween Night in Peterborough!

Who wouldn't want to experience a classic USA Halloween? Luckily we got the chance and went trick or 
treating with our American hosts. After we all met, we started moving from house to house. Of course we also got a lot of American sweets. Whether it's Reese's peanut butter cups or Hershey's milk chocolate. I think there is something for everyone. 🍬🍫

- Ruben Sailer

Flee market and haunted trail at ConVal

 Today me and my host sisters went to a little flee market at the middle school where my host mom is a teacher in. We played games there and bought cute,handmade items,that people were selling there.

Then at 6pm we went with some other Austrians to the scary trail at ConVal High School, which the Band of the school built the whole afternoon. So let’s appreciate that for a minute!! We weren’t really scared but itwas a lot of fun.

-Marlene Reiner

Shopping in Newbury Street in Boston

 Friday,28th of October:

Today the Wilsons took us: Marlene,Charlotte,Lisa,Consti,Linus,Lena,Sophia,Lea and Franzi along with host sister Laramie and spanish exchange student Eva to Newbury Street in Boston to stroll through the shops and eat at cute cafes and restaurants. 

Not only was it a great opportunity to buy stuff in american stores like TJ maxx,but also to have a first glance at the Downtown of Boston before the whole class goes there on Tuesday. 

Even though it was a long car ride (with a short stop at Dunkin’ Donuts on the way) it was totally worth it!! :)

-Marlene Reiner

Fieldtrip to Northampton

 Northampton 

As you may have read in other blogs the weather hasn’t been on our side this week. But today we were extremely lucky. The sun was shining and it was warm. The perfect weather to visit Northampton!! A small town in Massachusetts. First we visited the Smith College, which seemed gigantic compared to Keene Sate College. It was an all girl college too. There we went to the art museum, where we saw pieces of a lot of famous artists like Goya, Picasso, Giorgia O’Keeffe, Kokoschka or Monet. But that wasn’t the only thing we got to see on the campus. We also went to the botanical garden ! Then we walked down the Main Street where we got some free time to enter some shops and eat. But in the end we all ended up in the same place eating Burritos. Of course we couldn’t end our trip without a dessert, so we drove to a Country Market and ate some cider donuts, which were really good. On the way back to school we decided to stop one last time at a view point to have a look at the Quabbin Reservoir. 

Gloria Paraja 

enjoying the art pieces

inside the botanical garden 

professor Baier showing us how to (not) park correctly

the Country Market

and professor Baier with his new friend

the beautiful view over the Quabbin Reservoir 

our group (prof. Landa missing)

 ending the field trip with a nap in the car after blasting to the Beatles with prof. Baier and prof. Landa

Girls Volleyball Playoff Game

This evening most of us went to the Girls Volleyball Playoff Game at ConVal High. The theme this time was Halloween, so many students showed up in costumes and some of them were really extraordinary. Me and some of my friends did not dress up but were wearing orange shirts, each with a different letter which together spelled „Kendall“ (one of the volleyball players) because we wanted to support her. ConVal played really good and won 3:0 against Hanover High School! It was a great game and we had lots of fun! Sports games are surely one of the most exciting things here!

Emilia Hittmair

Group picture with Kendall :)

One of the costumes at the game.

Washburn's Windy Hill Orchard

While most of us attended the normal American classes today, Lena, Linus, Constantin, and I went on an amazing field trip, organized by Tina, Emilia’s host mum.

We started our trip at ConVal High school, where Tina picked us up with her car. A 25 min drive later we arrived at Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard – an apple farm with a corn maze.

At first, we went into the gigantic corn maze. We got lost a couple of times but in the end, we finally made it to the exit. We had a lot of fun trying to catch each other and hide in the corn maze.

Then we took a walk through the apple trees. Unfortunately nearly all of the apples had already fallen from the trees but still found a few to pick. We tasted them so believe me, they were amazing. Tina also showed us the sticks that are used to get the apples from the top of the tree. Sadly we couldn’t use it but still it was very interesting.

At the Orchard they had a small giftshop, were Lena and I tried frozen Apple Cider. Apple Cider is a very good form of apple juice. It tasted wonderful.

Lena getting her frozen apple cider

We got back in the car to go to Parker’s Maple Barn - a small restaurant. The inside reminded me of an Austrian skiing hut. It was exactly what my mum would call “urig”. We ordered something to eat – apple cinnamon pancakes. You can’t imagine how good these tasted!!!

Arriving at Parker's Maple Barn

When everyone of us was full we made our way back to the school. Today truly has been an amazing day and I had a lot of fun! We enjoyed ourselves a lot and would definitely go on that field trip again.

Sophia Oberhuber

Trip to Keene State College

Wednesday, October 26 2022

Today, all of us went on a trip to Keene, where we had time to explore the downtown area before getting a tour around the Keene State College, in short KSC.

Downtown Keene

After a half an hour trip in a school bus, we arrived in the centre of Keene. First, Mr. Baier showed us around a little bit, telling us stories about the the yearly pumpkin festival or places that were used as a background for the movie „Jumanji“, like the mural below. Afterwards, we got an hour to walk around on our own, visiting the little stores and coffee shops. Despite the rain, the area had a really nice flair with its red brick houses and the remains of foliage.

Keene State College

From downtown Keene, it took us only a few minutes to walk to the campus of the KSC. After a short introduction by a faculty member, we got a little tour through the whole campus by a college senior from Scotland, who actually decided to graduate in Keene after doing an exchange program there. 

He took us for a walk around the huge area that seems more like a small town than a European university, introduced us to the school buildings for all the different subject and also let us sneak a peek into the gym and the dorms, where some of students live together with a roommate.

It was a really interesting visit, showing us all the differences to studying in Austria, and even though I appreciate our universities, I am really envious of the beautiful environment and engaging campus life here in the US.

Lena Moser

Short Trip To The Peterborough Town Library

Today, I finally had the chance to visit the Peterborough Town Library in the afternoon. My host Danielle drove us to the library right after school and I was very excited to see the inside of the building.

 

As some of you might know, I'm a passionate reader and so it might be no surprise that I visited the library, however there is more to it than you might think: It is actually the oldest public library in the United States. The library was recently renovated, but they still kept a part of the old building. The renovated building was reopened on September 12, 2021. 

The inside was very modern and new, but at the same time it was very comfortable and I could have spent the whole day in there, just looking at books. 

The first floor had all the children's books, but the more interesting part for me was the second floor with the (non)fiction books, biographies and of course the young adult section. We spent around an hour and a half at the library and I was able to bring some books back home with me using Danielle's library card. 

If you ever happen to be in Peterborough I would definitely recommend checking out the library, not only for the books but also for the historical aspect of it! Hopefully, more students from my class will have the chance to visit it before we leave. 

Lea Hagivara 

Field Trip to Walden Pond

Today Lena, Maya, Paula, Jo, Frau Prof. Landa and I joined some ConVal High School Students on their field trip to Walden Pond.

When we got into the bus, I had no idea what I would experience. At first, we drove about one and a half hour in one of these famous yellow school busses. I won’t forget that so soon because we had to squeeze together since there were not enough seats for everyone of us.

Walden Pond Visitor Center

When we finally reached our destination – as you can imagine – my whole body hurt. We began our tour in the Walden Pond Visitor centre where they showed us an interesting movie about Walden Pond and the Author Henry David Thoreau, that used to live there many years ago.

Then we went down to the Pond, even though I would actually call it a lake. We got some time to write in journals whatever came up to our mind because the lake was very inspirational and idyllic. You should really have seen it! Some people even went into the water! We went to the place, where the author had lived and could even go into a hut, that was quite similar to the one, he had lived in.

Before we drove back to school, we made a lunch break at the beach. The view was so beautiful that I even forgot the uncomfortable bus ride.

All in all, it was an amazing trip, and I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to get there.

Sophia Oberhuber