Christmas market at the International German School HCMC (IGS) in Vietnam
Interview with Head of School of the IGS
Mr. Thormann, can you tell us more about the Christmas market at your school? What’s new compared to last year?
The IGS Christmas market is a traditional German Christmas market. It’s about preserving traditions and giving students the opportunity to experience an atmosphere that later becomes the childhood memories they will have, and that we all share. So, while there are new songs in the children’s program, the school band will play and some new standards, but the overall ensemble will remain. This year there is also a glassblower, there is a carousel, cotton candy, sausages with mustard from Bautzen, Christmas duck, cookies and much more. Kathrin Schmidt, the organiser of the Christmas market, together with the preparation team, has created a great atmosphere here.
The Christmas market of the German School is now so well-known in Ho Chi Minh City that people from all city districts, sometimes even from abroad, arrive. Were the students involved in the preparations?
The students are involved at all levels: they baked cookies. The music program together with Ruben Viertel, Douglas Vale and Matthias Mayer practiced and also organized some booths. They rotate as a contact for the approximately 2000 guests visiting this year. All of the school’s teachers and property management team have been were busy preparing for days and weeks. The parents of our school have also organized a great stand with candied almonds.
What brings a German school in Vietnam to organize for the fifth time now a Christmas market on this beautiful villa campus?
We want to be part of the Vietnamese community and make a cultural contribution. Every year many guests visit our Christmas market with their children and enjoy this contribution by the German School in Vietnam. For others, the Christmas market represents a piece of home in foreign climes. Of course, the Christmas market is also part of our culture. Where else do our children experience an authentic Christmas market?
How do you see the development of the IGS in recent years?
The IGS is a German school with a bilingual program. Students from 18 nations study with us. Many of them came to us as newcomers without any knowledge of German and are studying German here or have studied in Germany before. The number of students has risen very steadily in recent years. Against the background of Vietnam’s dynamic development, the location is becoming increasingly important.
We would like to thank the over 2000 guests at the IGS Christmas market. With your visit, you have contributed to this Christmas atmosphere.
We wish you, your families and the IGS team a peaceful Christmas time.
