From Ocer to Germany: An Unforgettable Adventure
Updated: Sep 19
In late 2024, Ocer Campion Jesuit College entered into a partnership agreement with Tolkewitz School, located in Saxony, Germany. From the start, the partnership was aimed at bringing together faculty, students, and staff from the two institutions to work on joint projects that would support sustainable development, with environmental sustainability being a special focus. The partnership would also involve exchange programmes to enable both institutions to learn from each other’s experiences.
To that effect, in August 2026, an Ocerian team of four students (Blessing Syncaire, Adong Martha Angel, Acen Esther, and Kica Evans Eugene), together with two teachers (Mr. Afeku Ferdinand and Mr. Atyang George), left Uganda for Germany. Below, Blessing Syncaire narrates her experience of the adventure. In her view,
the experience was the first of its kind…
Amid the clouds, the excitement, and nostalgia, a journey of nature lovers begins—one like never before. For a club driven by care for the environment, an opportunity to touch the sky opened itself up. It was an unforgettable adventure, the first of its kind; a golden ticket to a whole new world, a world of new faces, new foods, new cultures and lifestyles.
At Entebbe International Airport, evident were calm whispers of excitement, tears of separation, and joy. As I waited to board my plane, the calm breeze from the lake and the sounds of planes landing and taking off sent chills down my spine. The anticipation of entering a plane and soaring into the sky stirred a thrilling excitement within me. As I entered the plane, what was once a dream became a reality. Butterflies fluttered in my tummy, but before I knew it, I was above the clouds, competing with the birds in the air.
The view from the plane up in the sky was amazing. After hours in the sky, we finally landed in Berlin, Germany. We were welcomed by our hosts, who took us to rest at Bad Schandau Hostel. They engaged us in several games, including tennis and UNO. We also had bonfires, which I enjoyed very much, as we sang together, danced together, and shared memorable stories. Indeed, the more we played together, the more we bonded and got to know each other better.
The sojourn made us feel at home, especially when we were taken home by our host families. My family lived in a cozy apartment on the top floor of their building. The warm, welcoming atmosphere of the home set me ablaze. I was overjoyed by every single thing.
What unforgettable, funny times I had! The more fun we had, the more memories we made, and the faster time ran out. A smile clicks on my face when I remember the incredible cooking moments we had together, preparing German foods such as wraps, kebab, salami, dürüm, and sausages. I can still feel the aroma that filled the air and imagine the smiles on everyone’s faces as we sang and danced while cooking—wow!
I cannot forget the vibrant barbecue parties when friends and family gathered and ate together. Vivid in my memory are the entertaining picnics in which we played games and ate so much. What a holiday break it was! In every respect, the stay made us feel that we belonged. We made new friends, attended classes, cycled along the Elbe, and learned new words such as ‘danke’, which means ‘thank you’!
Wonderful was our experience, and had we stayed longer, there was a whole lot more magic and exploration waiting for us. But before we knew it, time had betrayed us; we had to say goodbye. The agony in everyone’s heart was real, and the pain of bidding farewell brought everyone to tears. But it was time.
As the plane took off from Berlin, Germany, memories of the whole experience came flooding back. No sooner had we taken off than the whole experience felt nostalgic. The nostalgia notwithstanding, the thought of coming back home to our families and friends warmed our hearts. It put a smile on each one’s face.
Today, as I remember the experience, one unmistakable fact stands out: to me, this was an adventure like none before it … it was the first of its kind. I hope my friends feel the same way, too.
