Brandenburg Gate, originally uploaded by Wolfgang Staudt.

Yesterday, we met up with another agent who is probably one of the most infectious people I’ll ever meet. I must admit, five minutes into the meeting, I was thinking LOUD! LOUD! LOUD! But as time went by, I couldn’t help but enjoy her dynamism and marvel at the spirit that she carried. It was as though Elmo and Zoe had a daughter who’s all grown up. However, the problem with such personalities is that you can’t help wondering if they’re selling themselves, or the product. Fine line there.

Anyhow, this agent worked out a reverse tour of the other offer, with us starting in Berlin and wrapping it up in Munich. No Prague here (aww), but sanity argued that this itinerary would be much more manageable, for both the students and the teachers. Already, it’s gonna be tough having to look after 20 wide-eyed, overly stimulated teenagers. The extra travelling would certainly make the whole trip more laborious. Also, the company offered us a 3-night homestay in Munich, which is awesome because it’ll be an extremely enriching cultural experience and we get to save on accommodation.

I really liked the previous agent (his itinerary was extremely comprehensive and he seemed so earnest and dependable!), but I think I’m leaning towards this one mostly because (1) they’re able to work within our budget, (2) there’s a lot less travelling, and (3) hello – homestay! Of course, secret reason #4 is that we’ll get to travel via Emirates on this itinerary. After SQ, Emirates is my carrier of choice, so yeah, this agent has my vote. But only barely.

Next on the agenda – shortlisting the applicants. We’ve already come up with the interview questions (some seemingly off-topic, such as “How many burgers do you think a teenage male eats in his lifetime?” but trust me – they’re all totally relevant to our objectives) and the students have been asked to select their preferences. We’re anticipating a slightly overwhelming response but we’ve got an idea of the type of kids we want, so I’m hoping it wouldn’t be too difficult. *fingers crossed*

When I checked the box that said “Germany”, it was mostly because of the fact that it was Europe. Having visited Prague & Amsterdam just last December, I was still enamoured of the European culture and architecture, and I couldn’t wait to immerse myself again. So when I was selected for the trip, the excitement was mostly about my being able to visit Europe again. But today, after meeting with a potential agent and having heard his proposed itinerary, I must say I’m even more excited about this trip, and it’s because I can’t wait to visit all these historical sites and gain a deeper understanding of WW2 and the Cold War.

Proposed destinations include Munich, Nuremberg, Dresden and Berlin, with a possible stopover in Prague. Prague!! I actually couldn’t contain my glee when I saw that Prague was on the agenda. I would absolutely LOVE it if we could visit Prague, even if it was just for a day. I can’t wait to see the Charles Bridge again, this time glowing under the glorious Summer sunshine. And visiting Malá Strana and Prague Castle once more, without having to contend with the shorter days of winter? That would be a real treat. In case you were wondering, yes, the city is that beautiful and it is that deserving of a second visit so you can bask in its gorgeousness all over again.

But back to Germany.

Even though I never took History, I’ve always been interested in war and being able to see first-hand the Concentration Camps, key locations that were pivotal in WW2, and of course Checkpoint Charlie, I’m certain I’ll come back with a richer perspective, one that I can share with my students. Also, we really liked that the proposed itinerary gives students a more authentic walk-through of the development of this atrocious act of power. I just hope that we select the right students who will respect the place, its history, and appreciate this wonderful learning opportunity. I know I will, and I’m thankful for it.

Prague Castle, originally uploaded by redchook.

For the past couple of nights, I’ve been wistfully dreaming of going back to Prague. Never have I been so mesmerised by the beauty of a city, with its quintessentially European charm, and exuberantly rich history. I understand that I only experienced the “tourist” Prague, but you just get the feeling that the city has so much more to offer. It seems like the perfect place to indulge in culture, fashion, tradition and architecture. And here I thought that NYC was the only place to offer all that.

Prague is exactly the kind of city that will display a different appeal throughout the various seasons. When we went in winter, we were blessed enough to witness the gloriously white of snow enveloping parts of the city. It was as though we had walked into a movie set. That’s it. Prague is like a city specially built for a Hollywood blockbuster. The beauty almost seems unreal.

I’d love to go back in the summer, when the weather is still cool enough but less biting, when the sun will stay up to shed its light on the skyline, when the flowers at the Castle Gardens are in full bloom, and when all the castles are open for us to get lost in. Anyone?