AJ Graduates!

AJ - receives his diploma and gives his trademark pose!

AJ is a proud graduate of the Class of 2015!!! We are so excited for him and that he has successfully completed high school. Now we look forward to Bowling Green State University, the honors program and an intended study of Middle School Education.

Everyone who knows AJ thinks this is a perfect fit for him.  He really enjoys kids and they REALLY like him. He's been assistant coaching middle school volleyball for the past three years and it has been a great experience. We are very excited to see what the future holds for him.

Stefanie, Rachel, AJ, Missy & Steve

Graduation is a big celebration here. First there is a formal graduation ceremony at the Prinzregenttheatre, a fancy theatre here in Munich. That is followed by drinks and hors d'oeuvres. And yes the teens all have a glass of wine or a beer in their hands.  It was a beautiful afternoon sitting out in the garden with friends and enjoying our graduates.

Steve, Kay, Stefanie, AJ, Missy, Rachel, Granny & Grandpa Teddy

Stefanie, AJ & Rachel

Granny, AJ & Grandpa Teddy

AJ & Grandma

We had a dinner planned with 8 of AJ's friends at the Sofitel Hotel in Munich but not until the evening.  After graduation since there wasn't enough time to go back home we hung out at the hotel and had a little private party for AJ.  Presents and cake and a little indoor Bocce. 

Our dinner party was great fun! Each family had their own table but in between courses the kids and adults could mingle and chat. A perfect way to celebrate.

JC, Josh, Luka, Patrick, Jack
AJ, Maxi, Julian, Riley & Alex

Luka & AJ

Granny, Steve & Grandma

Traditionally after dinner the kids and their parents then go to the P1 (P eins) club in the Haus der Kunst. This is a chic club in a cool art museum. The Haus der Kunst was built by Hitler to house the art that he approved but since it was one of the few buildngs not destroyed in Munich it was used as the Allies headquarters after the war. Hitler cleverly built it on the edge of the English Garden and covered it in camouflage to hide it which is why it survived. The P1 club was also the officers club after the war.  The party there was of course fun although we started to feel like we were crashing the kids party after awhile so we didn't stay too late. AJ on the other hand, like all of his friends, closed the place down.  They all take the FIRST train of the next day home. Such a different world than the one we came from.

AJ has had a great three years here at the Munich International School. He's done well academically, he's made lots of new friends, he's learned about traveling the world, he was captain of the varsity volleyball team, played basketball at the jv and varsity levels, tried jumping in track and even gave rugby a try coming away with an all star nod this year. We are so fortunate that our kids have this opportunity to try so many different things and see what life is like in a culture different than the one they grew up in.