LAST YEAR, WHILE on the elevator to the third floor, Ethan Schiller excitedly mentioned a scholarship program he was applying to, which would send him on a three-week trip to Germany.

I didn’t really think anything of it at the time, but I was not surprised when, a few months later, I found myself scrolling through hundreds of Facebook pictures of him posing outrageously in Germany.

From June 23 to July 18, Schiller and other students from all over America visited Germany and lived with host families thanks to scholarships funded by the American Association of Teachers of German in partnership with a German association, Padagogischer Austauschdienst.

Schiller's host siblings, Patrick (left, 15) and Sina (right, 12), in a tussle. Photo Courtesy by Ethan Schiller (click to enlarge)

A market in Nuremberg, called the "Hauptmarkt", which literally translates as "chief market". Photo Courtesy by Ethan Schiller (click to enlarge)

One of four identical bridges in Nuremberg. "This was my favorite place," Schiller said of the bridge. Photo Courtesy by Ethan Schiller (click to enlarge)

“For most of it, I was in Nuremberg, which is in Bavaria; that’s in the south of Germany, and for a week I was in Berlin,” recalled Schiller, now a senior.

Last year, classmate Katie Buzard went on the trip, and, having heard good things about it, Schiller decided to apply.

The process began with the National German Exam that teacher Paul Weilmuenster requires all Uni German students take.

“If you do good enough, meaning 90th percentile or higher or 94/100 on the test or higher, then you get to go to an interview; mine was in Peoria,” Schiller said. “If you impress them on the interview, which apparently I did, you get to write a little series of essays and win the trip.”

While in Germany, Schiller’s days were filled by going to school, traveling in nearby cities, and spending time with his host family.

“They were really funny," Schiiler said of his hosts. "My dad was an ex-bodybuilder and Taekwondo master turned paper salesman, who lived pretty much lived a sedentary lifestyle and watched TV for a good six hours a day, even at work. He hated his job; I thought it was really funny. The mom was a personal fitness trainer, so she always made sure we always ate really healthy."

Schiller also had a sister and a brother: Sina, 12, and Patrick, 15. He spent most of his time with Patrick, visiting the neighborhood pingpong table to meet up with friends and play friendly matches.

On school days, Schiller and the rest of the American students accompanied their host siblings, sitting in on both normal classes as well as special classes set up for the American students.

“We never had afternoon classes, but what happened is we would go for the first two periods, which were with the Americans with our chaperones talking about what we did before,” Schiller told me.

Taught in both English and German, these classes also helped touch base with the other students, who were all living with separate host families.

“The next two periods were all the American kids getting in a seminar from a German teacher, teaching German history or government. Then the next two periods would be each of us going alone with our host sibling into their [normal] classes, and that was really fun because their classes are chaos,” Schiller said as he shook his head and laughed.

On occasion, the American students attended day trips, to destinations such as Munich and Regensburg. The longest excursion, a weeklong stay in Berlin, was a particular highlight for Schiller, where sightseeing the Berlin Cathedral was an overwhelming experience. A home of many dead kings, the detail and workmanship is incredible, he said.

"People say there are prettier and better churches, but I cannot imagine it. It was so intricate. The ceiling was huge and there is a stain-glass hole on the top of the ceiling with a giant white dove staring you down. It was so fantastic, I had to sit down and close my eyes because I couldn’t deal with it; it was so crazy!”

Having studied German for four years, it did not take long for Schiller to settle in with native speakers, an experience he thinks was “incredibly cool.”

“The first three days were tough, but I could do it,” he said. “After that something kind of clicked … and it was really fun because toward the end I could have phone conversations with my host brother’s friends in German. It was just like, fluency!”

With his newly discovered fluency in a second language, Schiller's desire to go back is great.

"I would definitely consider living there, maybe not for my whole life, but for a while," he said, nodding in affirmation.

Schiller is also considering a college exchange program and hopes to return to Nuremberg to see friends during his gap year. With so many new connections made, returning to Germany is not a far off goal.

“It certainly changed me,” Schiller said seriously. “I don’t know how, but it certainly did. It’s so beautiful there, nothing’s really a big deal … it really was a once-in-a-lifetime experience."