Arrival and First Impressions
After a twelve-hour flight, we arrived in San Francisco, full of excitement. Some of us stayed with friendly host families, while others and our teachers lived in a cool Airbnb. On the way there, we already saw some of California’s beautiful nature and architecture.
The biggest challenge at first was getting used to the 9-hour time difference – but our curiosity and excitement helped us forget the jet lag quickly.
A Visit to One of the World’s Top Universities: Stanford University
Our first day started with a real highlight: visiting Stanford University. We had the honor to talk to Martin Hellman – the famous cryptography expert and Turing Award winner who helped invent secure internet communication.
After that, we listened to an inspiring presentation by Sonali Rammohan from Stanford Seed, a program that supports entrepreneurs in Africa and Asia.
Later, we explored the huge Stanford campus with Mostafa Akbari, a founder who now runs a start-up in San Francisco. We visited the Hoover Tower, Memorial Church, and the famous Palm Drive.
We ended the day at the Stanford Shopping Mall – a favorite local place with lots of shops.
School Life at Gunn High School
On the second day, we experienced everyday life at an American high school – Gunn High School in Palo Alto. We presented our own projects in the BEAM class and got great feedback from American students.
We also visited beginner and advanced German classes and talked with students there.
A special moment was the “Principles of Business” class. We worked in teams with American students to develop fun product ideas – like a burger holder that lets you keep your hands free for gaming!
At the end of our school day, we watched the school’s baseball team play – and saw how important sports are at American schools.
We were really impressed by the school, the different system, and the many opportunities students have, like their own swimming pool, baseball and basketball fields.
Experiencing Technology and Innovation
The third day was all about Silicon Valley’s tech world. Our first stop was Intuitive Surgical, a company that makes the Da Vinci robot system for surgeries. We even got to try the robots ourselves – very cool!
Next, we visited Google’s campus and explored the beautiful area with Google bikes.
We ended the day in the massive Westfield Valley Fair Mall, with over 200 stores and 65 restaurants – super impressive!
History and a City Tour with the Former Mayor
Another highlight was the city tour of Palo Alto with Pat Burt, the former mayor. He told us exciting facts about the city and how it became the center of global tech and innovation – home to companies like Apple, Google, Meta (Facebook), and Tesla.
After the tour, we had brunch with members of Neighbors Abroad – the organization that made this trip possible – and with host families. We shared cultural experiences and had great conversations.
In the afternoon, we visited a big second-hand shop and were surprised how common and easy sustainable shopping is in the US.
That evening, we went to a basketball game between Stanford and the University of California – the energy and cheering in the full stadium was unforgettable. We were happy that Stanford won!
Nature Wonders and the Coast
The next morning, we visited the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and saw the giant redwood trees – really amazing!
Later, we went to the beach town of Santa Cruz and had fun at the lively boardwalk and amusement park by the ocean.
We then drove along the famous Highway 1 to San Francisco – a breathtaking drive with ocean views and cliffs. Of course, we also stopped at the Golden Gate Bridge – even though it was covered in fog, it was still super impressive.
Final Day: Entrepreneurship and Studying in the USA
Time flew by, and soon it was our last program day. We visited Santa Clara University, one of California’s oldest universities.
At breakfast, we met interesting people like venture capitalist Morgan Slain, BEAM founder Cristina Flores, Professor Birgit Koopman-Holm, and a student. We asked many questions about starting a business, student life in the USA, and more.
Later, we presented our own projects and got great feedback. Finally, Professor Koopman-Holm gave us a campus tour and shared more stories about the university’s history.
A Week Full of Inspiration and New Ideas
This week in California was a unique and unforgettable experience. We learned so much about entrepreneurship, tech, and education in the US – and got to know the American lifestyle and culture.
We especially liked that we could also do our own explorations during the trip. It helped us grow both academically and personally. This exchange showed us how powerful and exciting international experiences can be – a week full of inspiration, new ideas, and lasting connections!
