Before we leave for Munich

Last week we had our final meeting before our departure at Chef Klaus's Bier Stube in Frankfort, IL. It was a great opportunity to become familiar with a typical German menu, try some German food, discuss restaurant etiquette and norms, but most importantly, to "break bread together," as Greg Goode called it, and get to know each other in a less formal setting. We were all giddy with excitement about our trip.

Heather and Julie briefed us on the history, culture, political, and economic background of Munich and Bavaria. We learned about it's founding in 1158 by Heinrich de Löwe (Henry the Lion), the role of the Benedictine monks, and Munich's importance in the salt trade along the Isar river. We then learned about how the city developed under the Wittelsbach dynasty. We'll see their footprint when we touch down in the city.

We also learned that the current mayor, Dieter Reiter, has been in office since 2014. His predecessor, Christian Ude, had held the office for 20 years. Both men are members of the SPD, a social democratic party, embedded in the otherwise conservative Bavarian state. Heather and Julie briefed us on the development of industry in Munich since 1945 (the Wirtschaftswunder) and gave us a sense of the type of companies that are in and around Munich.

We depart a week from today, on Friday, May 29th. The students will post pictures and descriptions of each day's activities. Please follow us on this adventure!