A Hidden Gem: the village of Kaufbeuren

Thanks to the Goethe Institut of Washington, DC, 16 teachers from Canada and the United States have been invited to spend two weeks in Germany learning about World War II and contemporary Germany. Thank you, Transatlantic Outreach Program, for this unique and educational opportunity.

 What a fantastic way to begin our travels in Germany! Our first full day was spent in the village of Kaufbeuren,  a small town hidden in the foothills of the Alps in Barvaria.  This small town of  about 43,000 people was undamaged during  World War II, so the buildings and setting is gorgeous. We met with high school students who are refugees from all over the world but most were from Eritrea.  We spent the morning asking questions and learning many life lessons from these strong individuals.  In the afternoon, we watched a parade that told the story of this village. More than 1000 children participated. The name of this festival is called Tanzelfest. Are visit  ended with a meeting in the Townhall hosted by the mayor and his wife. What an honor!