In the middle of the day we had the opportunity to travel to Stuttgart and to see the Schiffer's daughter Daniela, who we have also known for many years. I remember Daniela as the Principal Flute in the JBO, and I also remember hosting her in our home for Christmas - about ten years ago - when she had traveled to the USA for an internship in the Detroit area. Daniela now works for the Bosch Company here in Germany.
We concluded our day with a wonderful BBQ sponsored by the Musikschule and the Host Families. It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces as students from D99 shared their weekend adventures with one another over a terrific meal. Ceremonial gifts were exchanged between the two bands, and afterward several pick-up games of Ultimate broke out on the lawn.
I'd like to close today's post by acknowledging Father's Day in America. (The Germans celebrate Father's Day in May.) First, as a father who himself is missing his own children today, separated by the Atlantic Ocean, I extend my personal thanks to the D99 Band Dads who have entrusted our faculty with their children on this tour. Secondly, I would like to acknowledge my own father (who I suspect will read this post) and thank him for being my dad. My father (pictured above in a small boat with me in 1972) was himself a teacher. And in 1980 he allowed me to tag-along on a student tour he planned to England and France. In fact, that's me gazing at the Eiffel Tower as a 7th grader in 1980. I suspect it was on that trip that I caught the educator travel-bug, so I think it is fitting to be back in Europe again, now a second time to Paris, with my own students and with a chance to wish him "Happy Father's Day!"
