After a month of merry-making and an evening potluck in the IMC, the time came for the Germans to depart and for us to say goodbye, for now. That was my first experience of having a guest for a long period of time. No matter how enjoyable it is, it's almost always a relief to have your own space to yourself again. As the last kid left at home, I could go back to being the only one at home.
First, of course, we had to get them to the airport. Everyone met up on Broadway at the site of the former Ground Round, near the corner of Broadway and Bridge Road. Here is what that looked like:
Pia, Claudia and Andrea in front of traffic on Broadway and a Chevy Vega.
I remember there were a lot tears that day. It was hard to see what the appeal of visiting Madison in April was for 16 year old Germans. I certainly thought we had the better end of the travel deal. Of course, it was and is hard to put yourself in the shoes of another teenager. Probably it was a relief to be away from the pressures of being an older teen in 80s Germany. What was expected of them after they graduated in June? More school? Work? A trade?
One thing of incidental interest is that behind our German friends, you can see Broadway and the traffic that was common then, even on a Saturday morning. That's because the Southtown to I90/94 section of the Beltline would not happen until 1989, seven years after this photo.
Anyway, after our German friends left, since there was no internet or email, some of us began writing letters and sending them via airmail. I remember being very pleased when I would receive a letter back from Funda.
We also began to look more forward to our trip to Mainz, Berlin and to the day trips to come. Here's another photo from German departure day.
Michael and Rudiger (foreground). Behind them, from left to right: Dennis Bergren, Sabina, Mike Niemann, Mike Grzenia.
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