Photo by Clay Schuldt The German delegation from New Ulm’s Sister Cities— Ulm and Neu-Ulm, Germany — arrived Thursday and will spend Oktoberfest weekend in New Ulm. A special informal meeting was held for the delegation at city hall Friday.

NEW ULM – A delegation of Germans from New Ulm’s sister cities Ulm and Neu-Ulm arrived Thursday to visit New Ulm.

The purpose of the visit was for the two German cities to get to know their sister city in the United States which have welcomed many students through the Hans Joohs Exchange program.

The delegation included First Mayor of Ulm, Germany Martin Bendel and Lord Mayor Katrin Albsteiger of Neu-Ulm. Members of Ulm city council and members of the service clubs that host Hans Joohs students in Germany were also part of the delegation.

During the opening reception, Bendel and Albsteiger expressed interest in getting to know the New Ulm community.

Albsteiger said her goal in visiting New Ulm was to get to know the town, the people and see how it works.

As the leader of Neu-Ulm she is interested in seeing how New Ulm government runs on a municipal level. From Germany, she said we can see how the United States’ federal government is structured, but it is different to see it on a city level.

Ulm First Mayor Bendel said he was interested in getting to know New Ulm because of the Hans Joohs Exchange program. Ulm sends many young people to New Ulm through the program. He believed it was important for city official to know what those students can expect.

There is also a desire to remain connected to the city that share common ancestors.

Albsteiger shared a story she read in a book about New Ulm. She said in the early days of New Ulm, settlers were entering the river valley and a woman asked where the town was located. She was informed the space group of houses was the town and she was worried.

Albsteiger said this was not far removed from Neu-Ulm. Around the same time New Ulm was founded, Neu-Ulm was also a smaller community. She imaged someone in 1854 looked across the Danube River at the village of Neu-Ulm with concern for the future. Over a century and half-later the two cities were both flourishing.

The German visit coincides with New Ulm’s Oktoberfest celebration. Bendel and Albsteiger have expressed interest in taking part in the festivities.

Though she has only been in New Ulm one night, Albsteiger noticed some Oktoberfest apparel on the locals and was surprised to see the similarities with German Oktoberfest.

“Sometimes I think you are more German than us,” she said.

Over the next few days, the delegation will tour New Ulm and experience the community during Oktoberfest. This includes tapping the Oktoberfest keg Friday night and participating in the German-American Day parade Saturday morning. A special Sister Cities Banquet will be held on Sunday.

Mayor Kathleen Backer said New Ulm has a saying, “Germans have more fun.” She expects the German delegation to prove the saying true.