Ploetzlich Lehrerin

My second class today didn't come, I just sat there waiting. Finally I decided it wasn't just normal lateness that prevails in my Gymnasium, so I went to the secretary to find out where my class was exactly. She told me the teacher wasn't here today so the class had a free period. Then I asked her where the principal was because he was my next class, only he wasn't there either and I was supposed to take over his class all by myself only I didn't know it! Oh my goodness. I wasn't sure what I should talk about or what they were working on. Needless to say I was a bit nervous and frustrated for the lack of warning.

However, class went just fine and I did a lesson all by myself which is pretty cool. I was a real teacher today! hee hee. So I'm learning lots here as well, it's not just me playing the role of a live dictionary in the corner. Good stuff.

In a few hours I'll catch a train to Nudi's!!

Vroom Vroom

I drove today! A car. Yep, that's right. I drove a car in Germany. A teacher gave me a ride home and on the way asked if I could drive a clutch. I said not really. So she pulled over to this parking lot and got out and had me take over. Oh dear. I was scared. But it was soooooo cool!!!! And much easier than the cars I've tried at home. It went really well and she said we could do it again. Wow. It was really AWESOME!!!

I'm still having issues getting my student card and visa. It looks like it could still take awhile. Dear goodness. It will just have to wait until I get back from Nudi's.

Neuer Wein Macht Gluecklich

The Weinfest (wine festival) was nice. We saw the vineyards as the train approached, walked next to some as we went through the gorgeous town to the center where the fest was. We did a lap, found a pretty beer/wine garden in the sun where we had lunch and tried a glass of red "neuer wein" (new wine, not yet completely fermented, less alcohol). We sat and enjoyed the pleasant afternoon. Very laid-back. Then we found a creperie stand and had a delicious dessert. After that we located a fun wine tent with a booming German voice coming from an older man with a traditional southern German hat singing funny songs. So we grabbed some wine neuer wein and sat down amongst the older people. Then they started dancing! It was great! This one woman was the instigator and was making her friends get up and dance around. I'm thinking they had more than just one glass of neuer wein! But boy howdy were they having a good time. Ever seen older Germans get down? Well, just come to a beer or wine festival and you will!

Today was a Wandertag (like a field trip day). All of the classes go somewhere, the funny thing is, it doesn't have to be related to school at all. The group I picked went to the Japanese garden in my city so I met them there, it took us about 20 minutes to go around, then they all wanted to go shopping in the Altstadt, so the teacher and I walked around then had a coffee. Lol. Nice. I also saw the market which was wonderful. All the fresh food! We got some Wurst (I love Rotewurst) and walked around some more. Not a bad day of work, hee hee.

And for some reason the entrance was free to the gardens today, so in the afternoon Chuck and I checked out the Gartenschau that also had dinosaurs. Not as many garden areas as I thought there would be, but it will still quite fun. I'm putting some more pics online so feel free to check them out. There's one with the dinosaur. Good stuff.

Thursday I'm going to Nudi's for a long weekend. Should be fun. I like this short work week!

Today the weather was nice as well. I'm liking it.

And God Proclaimed, Let There Be Clean Laundry!

That's right, after three weeks I was finally able to properly do two loads of laundry. I had to take it to my teacher's house a few blocks away, but still no problem. Of course, carrying it up and down the four flights to his apartment (especially wet) was fun. He has no dryer, so I had to use my drying rack and Chuck lent me one of his as well, plus there are sheets and clothes hung up across my wardrobe, bookcase and attached to my shower curtain. I tried to drape a pair of pants across my heator but it's tricky. It is under my desk and very thin and probably not the cleanest. Sadly I had to wash all my pants and we're going to a wine fest in two hours and I really need some pants! So I'm going to resort to using my hair dryer. I actually already used it a bit but then it over-heated. lol.

Thank you Val!! I got your package yesterday. I confess, I sorta opened it. Um, hee hee. Last night we went to the bar/cafe at the top of the Rathaus (the 21st floor) and went out on the balcony and dropped two of the Halloween parachuters off. It was great!! Unfortuntately we couldn't find them when we went back down so we will just have to trust some good German to recycle them for us. But they died for a good cause. You would have been proud. : D

Yesterday it was actually warm. And sunny. I sat outside in my sweater and studied without a coat! Bliss.

German bureaucracy is throwing me through more hoops. I can't get an appointment with the Auslaenderbehoerdersamt until mid-October, and that means no visa until then. Most Fulbrighters already have theirs, I'm not sure why it's taking me forever. But at least they are going to make an exception and give me my student id card before then so I can use the trains. While I really appreciate my kind and generous teachers taking me to and from school, I'm there much longer than I need to be every day. And sitting in the teachers lounge for an extra four hours a day is getting just a tad old. However, soon I will have the sacred Studentenausweis that will allow free usable of the expensive public transportation.

And thanks as well to Mom, Auntie, Meegan and Mary. I keep getting your letters and it really makes my day. I hope Henry is doing better, he's such a sweetie.

Well, I guess it's time to go back to drying my pants, maybe my blowdryer has recovered and is ready for another round!

Beautiful Freedom

Hi guys! I got my bike today!! It's great. It is pink and white (how very appropriate). I am quite elated. I'll be off to the city after lunch to get a bike lock among other errands. What a happy day.

Now the fun story of how I got it. The teacher apparently didn't forget me, it was a misunderstanding. That happens sometimes when speaking a foreign language. Lol. But she took me with today after school and gave me the bike. Then we only had a few minutes to get to the Bahnhof (train station) before it left for my town. So she drove and I biked behind because her car is a bit small for a bike. i.e. it's a German car. hee hee. But I had to haul and I still couldn't keep up! Imagine: Kate in her work clothes and work shoes with her backpack on, pedalling like a madwoman after a German in a car. Yep, that was me. And I forgot to roll up my pant legs as well. lol. What a foreigner!

When we got to the Bahnhof I was so out of breath and my body was loudly reminding me that it's been awhile since it's done that. Yikes. She was like, "oh, did I drive too quickly?" and I answered, "of" breathe "course" breathe "not" breathe. I don't think she believed me. lol. Then I got to carry my bike on the train, then off the train, and down the stairs and back up the stairs of the station. Lol. That was fun. And when I left the station I forgot if I'm supposed to ride/drive on the street or if I'm allowed to go on the sidewalk. I'll have to ask. I did try a bit on the road. Kinda scary. I had to turn left and this bus was coming up behind me and whew! I've missed such fun!

I also taught my principal's English class today, without much preparation. He didn't really tell me what to do so I just went for it. Then he critiqued. Wow. A bit stressful but also quite helpful. It's time to jump in with both feet! I guess that is what I'm here for, so ok. It's something new and challenging.

Must go eat now. Hope you all are well. The weather today is better. (although this morning it was just above freezing. no over-exaggerating).

Oh, yesterday we were at the Uni and were there for hours only to find out that no, I still cannot get my visa or my student id card and the times I can come back are of course when I'm working. lol. German bureaucracy. It's a unique creature. Fickle. Green. A bit slimy. A poly sci teacher offered to help me, though, so maybe that will work.

Hope you're all well! : )

Bikeless Me

The teacher who was supposed to lend me her bike for the year forgot to take me home yesterday to pick it up. So I left her a note and she talked to me today, saying she'd take me home after 6th period. I waited. And waited. She forgot me again. Lol. Maybe Thursday will be the lucky day! Still, it's quite nice of her to lend it to me. Just amusing.

Instead, another teacher took me home and showed me where the bus stops were and which lines to take to the university. That was most helpful because German bus schedules always beat me. They are some tricky buggers.

I broke down yesterday and bought a new shower curtain. The one that came with the apartment was quite icky. Smelly and suspiciously mold-friendly. I had to hide against the wall anytime it would move towards me in the shower and decided I just couldn't go on that way. Never mind the smell!

So I went to Karstadt and found the curtains. There was this lovely daisy sunshine yellow one that would brighten my shower and my mornings, but alas, the price tag read 40 Euros. Sadness all around. I put it back on the shelf. Then I found a bunch of 5 Euro curtains. Almost too good to be true. Until I saw what was on them. Was it some corny old lady pattern? No. Perhaps some funky fabric or odd shape? No again. Oh no, they were raunchy shower curtains. That's right, highly inappropriate curtains! Who on earth thought of those and put them in a regular houseware store? I suddenly found myself greatly torn. No way could I afford the happy piece of fabric I wanted, so I shuffled through the offensive curtains and found one that was only mildly embarrassing. I was too tired to hit more stores and refused to give in to the awesome evil that is mold. Therefore I caved and got the clear (ew) plastic shower curtain with hooks on the outside, for your clothes or whatever else you might find the need to hang on your shower curtain (I don't get it).

At school I ended up taking over for a period because my teacher was late so I just started class. When she arrived she asked me to continue because she needed to take care of some things. It's like baptism by fire. It went fairly well. They class was 12th grade which means about 17/18 year olds. I feel more confident with the smaller kids, but it's good to get a chance to try my hand at all ages. It was pretty exciting. I talked to fast, though. I know, I know. Big surprise.

Thank you everyone who is sending me letters, I appreciate them more than you know! I'm off to the bar with the teachers. Somehow that sounds so wrong....... : D

Political Instability

Ok, so it's not really "unstable" here, but wow the elections are exciting this time!! At first we thought it would be boring because the Germans get their results right away, so Chuck and I didn't really see the point in the Wahlparty other than to be with friends and enjoy a fun meal. But then the fun started!

The CDU was supposed to get more votes, but the SPD and CDU got almost the same percent, and not enough to build a coalition with just one of the smaller parties. Last night it was CDU at around 35% and SPD 35%, FDP 10%, Gruene 8% and Linke 8%. But the SPD refuses to work with the Gruene, and they feel the same. SPD wants to work with the FDP, but on t.v. the leader just laughed at Schroeder and said no way. They had a talk show thing on with all the leaders of the parties and it was so funny! Schroeder was so sure he would still lead the country but it just doesn't seem possible. So right now the whole country is waiting to see what kind of coalition will be built in order for the country to have a "stable government" as they kept saying over and over. My guess is CDU, FDP and Gruene.

Therefore, while you may find out what people voted right away, that does in no way mean you know who will run the country! What fun.

I'm taking the train to work to day for the first time. I just need to figure out how to get from the train station to my school. Therefore I'm taking an earily train. But it's great because instead of leaving before 7, I get to go about 10. Very nice! At least today. Monday looks like it will be my later day to start. : D

They turned my heat on last night. Thank goodness. It was about 3C, so quite chilly.

At the end of October my state has two weeks vacation (each state has different times off) and Chuck and I decided to hit the south of France for a few days. Crazy, isn't it? If it weren't for cheap flights we could never afford it, but it's unbelieveable how cheaply you can fly for on certain airlines if you are flexible! We're going to Montpellier.

Miss you all! : )

Autumn

Fall arrived today. Time to pull out the sweaters, scarves and light jackets. Luckily I have a fuzzy soft jacket Shanna gave me that is perfect for this weather! The sun shone all day so it was nice as well.

I should be studying, but there was cleaning to do and then I needed to run errands in the city and I stopped in a cozy cafe to have a piece of sinfully delicious chocolate cake (doesn't even compare to what we have at home!) and was joined by an older German couple. People will just sit at your table if there's no free tables. I like it. So we got to talking and they know a teacher at my school and invited me over for sometime in the future. Quite nice.

Soon I'm off to Chuck's to have dinner with him and his Mitbewohners (roommates). They are having sushi. I admit I'm not a big fan of fish, especially when uncooked, but that is part of being here and meeting people, saying yes to invitations.

At six in the evening the bells always ring like mad. I love it.

Happy to be Here

I just wanted to say how much I love Germany and love being able to be here. So while I get way lonely or miss the sun or wish I were in a home instead of a small room with concrete walls, I am still so grateful to be here. I hope everyone else is having a wonderful day. I miss you all!

Oh yeah, and the latin scene last night was pretty good. I was quite happy.

Figuring Things Out

Today I had more time to myself at school and fewer classes, I think mostly because people just didn't think to ask me to come, and after the last two very full days, I was no longer so adamant about asking to go. I do need to read three books soon, though.

I also went with the principal to one of his English classes (principals are required to teach as well here) and I took over the entire hour talking about American schools. Then he gave me all their workbooks to correct two homework assignments. I felt like such a teacher! hee hee.

I asked the principal if I could have Fridays off because they mentioned that at orientation and it's quite normal since we only have to work 12 hours a week and I'm commuting, but he made it quite clear that he didn't think it was a good idea. Darn it! So not only do I have to work every day for maybe 3 hours, but I felt like such a jerk for asking. But everyone else seems to have Fridays off and their teachers thought it was normal. Hmmm.

This afternoon I went around town trying to find the last of my art supplies, and I got everything but the Graphitstift 9B. Apparently every artsy store in the town is out! Oh well. Yeah, my art class last night went well, except I didn't understand all the artsy terms, and I think the teacher was losing patience with my blatant lack of ability. She eventually asked if she could help and took my pencil and started doing it for me. Oops. Hey, it IS a beginner course!!

While I was shopping for specific pencils and chocolate (got a craving for Rittersport, I hadn't had any yet!) I found some nice pink Hausschuhe ganz billig because my floor here is always so dirty that my socks turn black. Or my feet. Ew. No matter how often I sweep. Same thing happened in Tuebingen. Why is it so dirty here?

Speaking of dirt, the washer in my building is broken. I really need to do laundry and had signed up for tomorrow. We have ONE washer and dryer for over 200 people and it is broken. I gave in and washed socks and other necessaries in the sink and they are hanging in the middle of my room because there is nowhere else to put them. Sadly I forgot I'd invited Chuck for dinner and I can't hide my laundry. Lol.

Did I mention I got a bike? Or at least will have one soon. A teacher is giving it to me next week and I can already smell the freedom!

And when I shopped today I found the street with Mueller. It made me feel at home. Now I have a good grocery store, a Mueller, Post, Bank, H&M and C&A. Ahhhh. It just feels more homey.

That's enough of a book for today. Hope you all are well!

Artsy Me

Today I felt like such an artiste! I had to get supplies for my art class that starts tomorrow so I ran around town going to different stores. It was quite fun. And I keep getting mistaken for being French, which I find quite cool because it means they can't tell I'm American. Very nice.

I got Mom's package today. Juhu! The sweater makes me look really German which I LOVE, and I definitely needed the kitchen stuff. And now I have a mini Zeus. What could be better? It made my day.

School was pretty good today. A couple classes got a bit excited about my being there (which hadn't really happened before). I think I'm going to really enjoy the 6th/7th grades.

Still looking for a bike. I put up a note on the teachers' board. It is really full so I hope someone sees it. And doesn't laugh too hard at my attempt of begging for a bike in German.

Mom - are you keeping up with Gilmore because you haven't written me to tell me!!

I splurged today while buying art supplies and got a yellow rubber duckie holder for my shower soap. It may sound trivial, but it is quite the duck, let me assure you! Very much worth all the excitement. : )

Locked in a Monastery

That is how I spent the last several days (though it felt like much more). Locked in a monastery, though it was quite beautiful, in the middle of nowhere. We had gorgeous weather the first few days, sun and warmth and it was so green and lush out there, and add to that the backdrop of a lovely church and monastery.

However, there wasn't even a place to buy soap nearby, the closest town being almost 3 km away and only accessible by foot. So some people had to give up and be smelly. In the evenings they locked us in and sold alcohol so you can only imagine what kind of evenings followed.

There were 123 of us Fulbrighters, a bit more than the 80 positions they claimed to offer. Then there were another 50 kids from the UK at our orientation as well. Apparently they do several of these, and there are about 1000 language assistants, I think all English speaking, in Germany. Crazy. Then there are also other languages as well. I guess the Germans really want to get their languages right. Very admirable.

The classes were ok, though I felt it was too long and we could have shortened it. We did have to plan our own lesson with a group and present it then be critiqued on it.

I met some interesting folks that it will be fun to keep in touch with and go visit this year. And there are seven of us here in K-Town (four from Great Britain, one from Canada, and us two Americans, though I've only really talked to Chuck. He's quite cool and it's great because he lives two blocks from me in this totally posh apartment that is so gorgeous.

I have work bright and early tomorrow and I'm hoping to ask if I can have Fridays off and just work four days a week. My art class starts on Wednesday and I'm very excited.

I also hear that a cafe very nearby has Salsa dancing on Thursdays. I am so checking that out! How perfect would that be?

Hi My Name's Kate

Day Two of school and I went to six classes today with three different teachers. They have about 13 English teachers at my school, so it will take me a week or two (once I get back) to go around with them and see which classes I want to help. And what teachers. There were two today that I really liked, a couple that I wouldn't be heartbroken if I didn't go back....hee hee. The teachers didn't use me much, but it's still early. Mostly I stood in front, introduced myself, said where I'm from, then waited for questions. One teacher just put me in her chair and had me take over for the hour since it was a sort of free period. It was definitely close to pulling teeth because there weren't many questions. Overall a good day, though.

Tonight I'm meeting some teachers in a bar in the Altstadt. Should be interesting.

I had a craving for Doener tonight (yummy Turkish dish that they shave off of a rotating spittle thing) and the server was really nice, he gave me a free yogurt/salty whatnot drink with my sandwich. I hesistated a bit before trying it, but out of politeness I had to oblige. It was actually pretty good!

I suppose I ought to study before I go out tonight, I've been a bit behind in my homework. Oops. It's just so exciting here!

D for Dumb

Ok so I'm a bit of a moron. As I was packing for Koeln for tomorrow morning it occured to me that that was too much clothes for the number of days. So I counted again, then looked at my calendar and papers. I'm supposed to go on Wednesday, not Tuesday. I had my dates confused. So then I had to call my teacher back and confess I'm a bit dazed and confused. But it's all good now. Man do I feel silly.

What's my sign?

My first day of school went well. A bit slow, but that's ok. We had a teachers' meeting and I met lots of people whose names I couldn't pronounce let alone remember. I only went to one class, class 12, with a teacher and when I get back from Koeln (I leave tomorrow) I will go around with the different English teachers (there are six) and figure out who I want to work with and what age groups and such. Then we'll make me a plan of sorts. I'm excited. What's really great is that school is normally done at 1 pm here. : D

Teachers also have their own bathrooms because they think the students are too dirty! How funny is that? I feel so privileged.

On a totally different note, I think I must have some flashing neon light somewhere on me that I've missed because I keep getting asked out. Over and over by random strangers. One even bothered to follow me in his car and get out. Needless to say I told him a big fat no way buddy. There was a really cute one today, but sadly he didn't try to hit on me. Oh well. I did end up having a very pleasant conversation with a guy from Cameroon in the park this evening. He even had on long white robe thingies that were quite foreign and interesting.

The Hausmeister just got here and is fixing my shower head. All right! Maybe tomorrow morning showering will be less of a challenging game and more like simply taking a shower. Not that it didn't make life more interesting...

Hope you're all having a great week!

Volksfest

Hallo Alle! Wie geht's euch? I'm currently sitting in front of my wonderfully large windows "lufting". (i.e. letting fresh air in since Germany has yet to see the benefits of central air systems. That's right folks, it may be snowing outside, but you're still going to open your windows for some substantial amount of time each day.)

This weekend there's been a sort of community festival in town, and last night I finally checked it out. Probably because until last night I couldn't keep myself upright after the hour of 8. It was great! It was spread out through the Altstadt (old city center, where it's cobblestone and not many cars and all sorts of shops and cafes, what you think of when you think of Europe in movies or pictures). There were several bands in different areas and all sorts of food. It's been so long since I enjoyed a proper Rotewurst and wow, echt lecker!! (really yummy) What's so exciting about these kind of events is that such a crowd comes out. The night air was still fairly warm and the streets were filled with people enjoying the festivities. It doesn't really compare to ones I've seen in the U.S.

Yesterday I was smart enough to go grocery shopping. I remember so many times during my last trip that I forgot that everything was closed on Sundays and many a Sunday were spent eating pasta. Pasta with butter, pasta with olive oil.....lol.

Megan-actually no, I'm still working on the recycling situation. It is bothering me because you know how hard I try to be a "good German" and I am definitely not out to get on Recyclemanns bad side!

I'd really like to stop lufting now...it's getting quite chilly in here. But then I wouldn't be a good German if I gave up so easily!

What's that smell?

As I waited in line the other day to speak to the Hausmeister and Landlord, other students were also waiting b/c they are only there M-F from 3-5. It was quite interesting b/c there were some kids from far far away. Then in walks this nice African boy in a pleasant blue shirt and a pretty blue skirt. I must say, he wore it well.

He took his place in line behind me, but a safe distance back, until more people showed up. He was quite close at this point, when it suddenly hit me, oh dear goodness, what is that smell? Now I realize by this time I was no flower bed myself, but wow. However, life in Germany is just like that. I remember so many smelly moments from my last time here..... : D

I'm also still working on sleeping through the night. Since that didn't happen again, I spent the lovely hours between 1 and 4 this morning listening to a guy practice his guitar somewhere in the building. I can hear it faintly from my room, especially when I crack my window. I'm glad I'm not the only one not sleeping.

As for the trash/recycling, it wasn't fully explained to me and there are still questions. Although I have a wonderful view of all the recycling bins from my windows, I'm not sure what all they are. They're not even labeled. Come on now folks, lots of foreigners and no labels? It's not like we're German and pre-programmed to magically find a way and means to recycle everything. We need help, prodding, pretty pictures and nice big letters.

There are constantly airplanes flying over. Welcome to life next to an airbase. At the airport I saw some American military guys and almost asked them to give me a ride but then felt a bit guilty about it and decided not to. I'd still like to go see the base sometime, however, and not just listen to their aircraft. Why must they fly over so often?

Day Two

I'm here. And doing well. Very tired, jet-lagged and the such, but good. Sam, you're correct, I did end up sitting by a stunningly attractive German boy on the way over, sadly we didn't talk til the end, but he did indeed help me through the airport. It was quite enjoyable. : D

My room is good. Small, three huge windows, a bathroom all to myself (I'm pretending that the mold I've found does not exist until I have the means and energy to tackle it-Megan, thought you'd appreciate that!), the "kitchen" is half a sink, half a fridge, and two burners. No oven. And it's as you walk in, so I stand in front of the door to cook. But I love it all.

Herr Neukirch, a teacher I'll be working with, has been amazing. He's been helping me with everything, especially sticky German bureaucracy.

My room is in a large private student housing complex, with tons of foreigners though I've not met many people yet, just a nice Chinese boy that I can't pronounce the name of.

I do have net, got it today, highly unexpectedly and welcomed with open arms and a blessing on the guy who set it up and lent me the cable. May he live a happy and wealthy life, kind and generous soul. : )

It is so gorgeous here. The buildings are beautiful, the weather has even been good, everyone has been nice and helpful....ahh, I really missed being here. On the other hand I'm terribly homesick (I think a lot of it has to do with lack of sleep) but I miss you all more than you know and yes, I realize it's only been two days, but let's not get hung up on details.

I'll say goodnight before this turns into a book. Oh! Monday I start work, Tuesday I head up to Koeln (Cologne) for my week of orientation. Just to let you know what's coming up.

You guys take care and I love and miss you lots. Big hugs to all.

: D