My Hiking Adventure in Hancock, New Hampshire

On October 21st at 10 AM, I had the opportunity to go hiking in Hancock, New Hampshire. It was a beautiful experience, and I really enjoyed spending time surrounded by nature.

We started our hike in the morning and began walking up the mountain through the forest. The path was sometimes steep and challenging, but we kept going. Along the way, we saw beautiful trees, plants and amazing natural landscapes. The fresh air and peaceful atmosphere made the hike even more enjoyable.

As we continued climbing higher, the views became more and more impressive. After a while, we finally reached a point where we could enjoy an incredible view over New Hampshire. We could see endless forests, mountains and the beautiful landscape stretching far into the distance. The view was breathtaking and made all the effort worthwhile.

One of my favourite parts was simply being surrounded by nature and enjoying the peaceful environment. It was a great opportunity to escape everyday life and experience something different.

Overall, the hike in Hancock was an unforgettable experience. I especially enjoyed climbing the mountain, discovering the beautiful nature and seeing the amazing view over New Hampshire. I would definitely recommend this hike to anyone who loves outdoor adventures!

Our Trip to Portsmouth

Today was our third full day on the student exchange and we had a trip to the town of Portsmouth. Our group was picked up at eight in the morning from of ConVal High School in a school bus. During our three hour bus ride we got to chat and share experiences from the past two days, while we also got to see a lot of New Hampshires landscape around the highways. 

 Before we arrived at our destination we took a short detour up to Cape Neddick in Maine. We got a good look at the Atlantic Ocean as well as Nubble Lighthouse, which was built over 145 years ago and is definitely worth a visit. After taking some pictures and taking in the beautiful view we got back into the school bus and continued our journey down south to Portsmouth again. 

We arrived there at 11 o'clock and took a short walk to Southern Pier at Prescott Park from where our boat tour started. We sailed on a replica gundalow which was built accordingly to the originals. These firstly appeared in the mid 1600's, were used until the 19th century and shipped cargo across Piscataqua River that separates Maine from New Hampshire. On the boat
we got the learn a bunch of interesting stuff about environmental conditions, food chains in the river and navigation on the water. 

After our two hour tour we got to stroll around downtown Portsmouth for a bit. We got some gigantic sandwiches along with some of the best fries I've ever had.  Also I had my first ever Pumpkin Spice Latte and I do have to admit that I kind of get all the hype. Eventually we ran out of time and had to return to the school bus to arrive at ConVal in time.

On our way home we looked at all the pictures we had taken over the day and played some games before we parted ways when we were picked up by our hosts at the highschool. The two hours on the way back home went by really quick since we were all quite exhausted from a rushed day but I've got to say that it was totally worth it.  

- Leonhard Petrisch

My First Day at an US-American High School

19.10.26

Yesterday was a really exciting day with lots of new experiences!

We woke up pretty early in the morning, got ready and drove to the American high school. When we arrived, some teachers welcomed us in the theater. We played a funny game together, which was a really nice way to start the day.

After that, we got a school tour, and I was honestly surprised by how big the school was! It was even bigger than I expected, and it almost felt like a maze because so many hallways looked exactly the same. I was pretty sure I would get lost at some point!

Later, we attended a few classes, which was really interesting because we got to see what a normal school day in America looks like. It was cool to experience something different from our school back home.

After school, my host and I went to one of her friends’ houses, where we baked something together. Later, we went to watch the sunset and had a little picnic. That was definitely my favorite part of the day! The view was so beautiful, and I really enjoyed spending time together.

Afterwards, we drove home, and I cooked something for dinner. Then we got ready for bed and went to sleep because we were pretty tired after such a long day.

Overall, it was such a fun day, and I’m really excited for all the experiences that are still waiting for us!

                                                                                            Laura

First full Day in America!

Today was our first day, and it was a family day, so everyone spent the day doing different things. I had a few plans with my host brother, including grocery shopping, playing mini golf, and going to Nashua, but the day also included several unplanned stops.

My host brother and I started the morning by getting coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts. After that, we went grocery shopping. Once we were done, we went home for a little while before spontaneously deciding to meet one of my friends at Bagel Mill. We stayed there for some time, talked, and ate bagels.

After Bagel Mill, we drove to a mini-golf place. On the way there, we drove over a hill, and I looked out the window at the view of the area around us. We did not stop, but it was still nice to see more of the surroundings while we were driving. At the mini-golf place, we played for a while before leaving for Nashua.

In Nashua, we went to a thrift store and then stopped at a bookstore. I spent some time looking around in both places before we drove back home. Later, we drove to another friend’s house and picked her up. She came back to our house for a while, and we talked for a bit before driving her home again.

On the way back, we stopped at another host family’s house for a short time before returning home for dinner. By the end of the day, we had spent quite a lot of time in the car and had gone to many different places. It was a busy start to the exchange, but it also helped me see more of the area and get used to everything.   

~ Lena ~

Arrival Day: From Salzburg to Peterborough

Our journey began at 8:00 a.m,, when we all met at Salzburg Airport, full of excitement. After checking in, making our way through security, and finding our gate, we boarded the plane and took off for Frankfurt at 10:30. The short flight gave me time to talk with classmates I rarely talk to.

When we landed in Frankfurt, we had a little time to spare, so we grabbed sandwiches and something to drink before heading to our next gate. After a 1 hour delay, we finally boarded the plane to Boston.

The 8 hour flight went by faster than I expected. The plane food was surprisingly good, with options like goulash and pasta. I spent the time watching YouTube, chatting with my friends, and even annoying a few of them.

After landing, we collected our luggage and made our way out of the Airport, where my host dad was waiting for me. He and the driver picked us up in a school bus, which was a fun experience since we had seen them in so many movies. As we left, we got a beautiful view of downtown Boston at sunset from the bus, and we fooled around for the rest of the drive.

At the school, I finally met my host family. We spent the rest of the day talking and getting to know each other. I was tired after such a long day, but I was very content with my host family. They greeted me so warmly, gave me some American snacks as a welcome gift, and were fun to talk to. Spending my first few hours in Peterborough, NH made me realize that we are going to have an incredible experience.

- Constantin Riegler

17.10.2026

Pure excitement in the air!

 

Tomorrow is going to be THE day! Another group of highly motivated travellers is taking off to New Hampshire to explore a wonderful part of the world and to make new friends on the other side of the planet! 

Have a safe trip! 

Fritz Baier