Franklin High School Alumni Travel To Germany

Two years ago, Kate Northey, Kate Fleming, Malorie Baker and Merissa McCuen were bidding farewell to each other as they graduated from Franklin High School. They had been accepted into the colleges of their choice and plans were underway to move away from home for the first time in their lives.

Each went their own separate ways ... Fleming to Marquette, Northey and McCuen to UW-Madison, and Baker to UW-Oshkosh. But, despite the miles that separated them, their friendships remained strong, with visits to each other's colleges supplemented by frequent Facebook communications.

Last summer, the four began talking about their desire to travel and to learn more about different cultures. That was when the idea took seed. Why not find a way to travel and to learn about cultural differences at the same time?

Since Kate Northey had family in Germany, the group began to explore the possibility of living in Germany the following summer. Kate's cousin, Shana Murawski, who currently lives in Germany with her husband and two children, began talking to people in her community about their interest in having an English-speaking student live in their household for the summer. In no time at all, she had compiled a long list of interested families.

Email communications were set in motion. Each girl's skills and talents were identified and matched to the most appropriate families. Within a few months, the details were finalized. Merissa, Malorie, Kate Fleming (and an additional person from UW-Madison, Allie Janous) were matched with Germany families.

As part of their duties as an au pair, each will live in a German household, learning about German culture, language, and lifestyles. They will also help teach the children English and will help out with household tasks.

Since Kate Northey had previously spent two summers as an au pair, in Germany she explored other opportunities with her cousin. Kate was fortunate enough to be selected to be a research intern at OTR Global GmbH in Kalchreuth, Germany for the summer.

On Sunday, May 22, Kate, Kate, Malorie and Merissa will leave O'Hare airport, with their passport in hand, a pocket full of euros, and high expectations for an enlightening and exciting summer abroad.

So, until August when they return, they bid you Auf Wiedersehen.