I left Australia, six months ago, for a world that was almost completely unknown to me. Unknown and unexpected. But that was okay, because I was ready for a challenge and I awaited and anticipated the magnificent things I was about to experience. I wasn't terribly confident in my speaking skills, but I thought I would be okay. When we first arrived, most of the Stipis were keen to practice German on each other, which was a good start for all of us. We were all still getting to know each other, and just beginning on the rollercoaster learning-curve that we were about to ride.

Stacey and I were happily chatting away on the plane to Düsseldorf, when a German lady sitting next to us asked us whereabouts in Germany we came from. That was actually pretty funny, because we were still speaking "Germish" at that stage. (das heißt--für die, die mich überhaupt nicht verstanden haben--eine Mischung von German und English, wenn man ein deutsches Wort vergessen hat.) We were really flattered, but did eventually have to tell her the truth. We had a good long talk to her, and it was great, because she was the first "real" German person we'd talked to.

When we arrived and met our families, the confidence did diminish a bit. The Stipis were overcome with the fact that we wouldn't see each other for a few weeks, and that we had finally met our families and it was all very exciting and confusing. In the car on the way home, my host mother was telling me all sorts of stories about the history of the area, and recent events, and a bit of German culture, which I'm sure was all amazingly interesting. Only I didn't get much of it. I would just nod and say "ja," and weird her out with my undying confusion about being on the other side of the road. "Oh, das ist ja komisch! Wissen Sie, dass wir auf der anderen Seite der Straße fahren?!" ... "Ja, ich weiß es schon."

The hardest people to speak to were young people. The Hochdeutsch that we had learned at school was all very prim and proper, with all its word-endings and clear pronunciation. It's like "BBC English" for Germans. That's just not how teenagers speak. I did get strange looks when I said, in the slowest of voices, "Hallo, wie geht es dir? Was hast du am Wochenende gemacht?" I soon learned that I should be saying "He, wat gehtenn ab? Wat haste mal'm Wochnend g'macht?" It was at first quite hard to understand, but by the end I got the hang of it. Being at school with hundreds of people who spoke like that will do it to you. I did scare my German teacher when I got back, and quickly had to unlearn all my bad habits. I still have a compulsion to speak slackly, but I have to suppress it, for fear of bad marks.

I also learned many new and useful words from the Jugendsprache, which I can't repeat to you… But anyway, I got the shock of my life in German school, because swearing (from teachers as well as students) seemed to be regarded as a completely normal and wholesome activity. The Year 8 Music assignment (which I was involved in…eh hem) featured certain words which I won't elaborate on, but which would probably get you expelled over here. The teacher just smiled and praised our witty lyrics. Even the English teacher was effing this and effing that without even batting an eyelid.

It is amazing that there should be such a difference between our cultures, when so much seems the same, or really similar. The stereotype we are given of Germans is ten feet tall, long legs and Lederhosen, beer and bosoms. But that simply isn't true. Germans are so surprisingly like us, that you could almost think you hadn't left Australia at all. Almost. The only main "barrier" is language. But even that barrier is beginning to fade away. Almost all Germans can speak quite good English, and many people can speak German. Even for those who don't, there are opportunities like SBS, and subtitles. The world is being made available to us through modern technology. People want to know about other societies, and it is becoming accessible to us in many new ways.

Through language, we can gain a greater understanding of each other's cultures, and learn things we never imagined. My trip away allowed me to gain an enormous insight into the German culture and way of life. With GASS, we went to many historically significant places, and learned so much about Germany. Most Stipis went with their families to places which were important to them. All these doors were opened with language. GASS and SAGSE encourage people to learn about German language and culture. It is an indescribably beneficial experience, which I will remember for the rest of my life. The friendships made with other Stipis, but most importantly with German kids, have expanded my thinking and my appreciation of others. I thank GASS and SAGSE for everything they have done for me and for all the GASSies, and hope that their work will continue for years to come.

I don't think my speech on language would be complete without talking about accents. Or even talking with an accent. I'll tell you a story:

In dee Weenoagtsfeyen, san meeni Goasdfamilia und ee noak Esderaik kfoan. Wissdes, wenn i doakti nua, dat die Juugensbrok shweer zu verstiihn wua, hoadi keeni Rikt. Zueasht, wuusti goar ned woad die ferruegti Freiu zu mia ksoagd hoat, ois sa fon die oandri Seeti des Suupprmoagts sea veiaget schreeti, und i konnti mi nuur sea huuflik enshuuldign, un meeni Goasdbruuda froagn, woad zum Tiefel ia Problim woa. Noak oaba nua eeni Woaki, fuulti mi so sika mitdi Oagzent, doat i mitim selbi reda konnti, wee Sa jitz huura kuunna. Dee Oagzent is etwoad, den i in dee Shuuli goar net lirna kuunti, oaba dee Zeet in Duutschloand un Esderaik hoad mia dee bisti Shonsi gigeba, um meeni Sprok-kintniss zu erweeta. I bian so froah, doat i dee Zeet erliabt hoab.

In den Weihnachtsferien, sind meine Gastfamilie und ich nach Österreich gefahren. Wissen Sie es, wenn ich dachte, dass die Jugendsprache schwer zu verstehen war, hatte ich keinen Recht. Zuerst, wusste ich gar nicht was die verrückte Frau zu mir gesagt hat, als sie von der anderen Seite des Supermarkts sehr verärgert schreite, und ich konnte mich nur sehr höflich entschuldigen, und meinen Gastbruder fragen, was zum Teufel ihr Problem war. Nach aber nur einer Woche, fühlte ich mich so sicher mit dem Akzent, dass ich mit ihm selbe reden konnte, wie Sie jetzt hören können. Der Akzent ist etwas, den ich in der Schule gar nicht lernen könnte, aber die Zeit in Deutschland und Österreich hat mir die beste Chance gegeben, um meine Sprachkenntnisse zu erweitern. Ich bin so froh, dass ich die Zeit erlebt habe.

In the Christmas holidays, my Host Family and I went to Austria. If I thought that the young people's language was hard to understand, I didn't have a clue! At first I didn't understand a word that the crazy woman had shouted at me from the other end of the supermarket, and I just had to excuse myself politely and ask my host brother why she had a bee in her bonnet. But after a week, I felt so sure with the accent, that I could even speak with it myself, as you can hear now. This accent is something what I couldn't have learnt in school, but the time in Germany and Austria gave me the best opportunity to expand my speaking skills. I am so happy that I had the chance to experience this!

Thank you for indulging me that little bit of fun. I think that brings my speech to an end. I thank you again for listening, and hope you enjoy the rest of your night.