In 2016, our Theme Weeks took residents to Ireland, France, and Italy with a final stop in Germany where guests were greeted with a robust Willkommen!
Throughout the week, residents enjoyed a number of activities inspired by Germany’s rich culture and heritage. They learned about German composers, cars and the top 40 German inventions. They read Grimm’s Fairy Tales to visiting children, and they even participated in beer stein races and learned about the history of beer.
The week of German-inspired activities culminated in a wonderful Oktoberfest celebration where residents raised their steins to a year filled with events from “Around the World”. Dressed in their best German attire, with suspenders and lederhosen even making an appearance at some campuses, residents and staff enjoyed polka music and plenty of dancing!
After working up an appetite, residents were treated to what they’d been waiting for all week – an authentic German meal specially prepared by campus chefs! Everything you could imaging came from the kitchens that night: Potato and Beer Soup, Pork Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms, Bratwurst with Sauerkraut, Wiener Schnitzel, Potato Dumplings, Red Cabbage with Apple, and that’s not all! The meal was topped off with decadent desserts such as Apple Strudel, Bavarian Cream with Raspberry Coulis, Black Forest Cream Cheese Cake, and of course, the most famed of all German desserts, German Chocolate Cake!
At the end of the evening, residents reminisced about all the fun they had participating in this year’s Theme Weeks. They all agreed that they can’t wait for next year!
Take a look at #GermanyThemeWeek and #WillkommenToGermany on Twitter to see some of our event photos and videos!