Germans 2, Kate 0

I went back to the video store b/c the woman said I COULD have a card, and the next day I went back again (didn't have my rental contract with me the first time) and the man was there again and said no way. He is the boss and I am not allowed a card. Big fat jerk!!! But he said Kate could get one, since she's from England. So we had to go get her passport and rental contract before he would give us one. Sheesh.

But in the end I got to rent the videos I wanted (thank you Kate!) and I even got to do a load of laundry at her place, which only took 8 hours! And we made the filling to mince meat pies, an English traditional Christmas treat. Name sounds weird, but it's actually quite fruity and yummy.

We got a dusting of snow last night, nothing much at all. Now the sun is out and it looks nice out, other than very cold.

5 more days!!!!!!!!

Irish Pub

Last night we went to the Irish Pub for Quiz Night and we WON again, for the third week in a row! So much fun. : ) Good thing Chuck comes along b/c that boy is super smart.

Tonight it's karoake. I think I should just go to bed, but what fun would that be?

Today at school my 7th grade class somehow went from different school rules to sex ed and the kids just wouldn't let it drop. They are MUCH more open about things here. I managed not to turn red and retain my composure and discuss with them. The teacher found it highly amusing. lol. My last class were little jerks and behaved terribly, so I will talk to the principal (it's his class) and see if he still wants me to come. I hope not. There are other classes that would actually enjoy my being there. Grrr.

Ren said that she and Ashley both has video rental cards from the one I went to. So they gave them to an Englander and a Canadian, but not me. I'm trying again tomorrow darn it!

Car Accident

It was a bit of a rough day. First off I had 5 lessons in a row, and it all seemed well planned out if not slightly stressful. After 4th hour I went to my 5th hour and when I got there, there were more kids than there should have been and one of the student teachers was already there. I got all confused and a few students came up to me, saying, "Ms. Austin, you were supposed to be in our last hour." Um, no? Fifth hour, right? No. They don't have classes at the same time everyday, so it gets confusing. I really DID miss class! Crap!!!

Thankfully, they have a plan that the kids have to go to the secretary at ten past if no teacher shows up. So another teacher took my hour. But I should have known! I should have checked the sub plan, but I already had it written down! The worst part? It was my PRINCIPAL'S class, that he asked me TWO WEEKS ago to take over! Oh dear. I mean, I had it all planned out and everything. I felt soooo bad. And then everyone knew, as well. Wow, reject me.

Then on the way home, the Autobahn had a huge back up so we exited to take back roads and then Thomas hit someone! It was so scary. The car was turning right onto the street in front of us and we didn't see the sign giving him the right of way and he didn't slow down and we couldn't stop in time and we smashed into him. Thank God everyone was ok, just really shaken and tense and worried. Thomas's car is ok, needs a light replaced and some scratches fixed, but the other car was seriously messed up in the front end. They didn't know what to do b/c Thomas and Claudia had never caused an accident. Wow was it stressful. Finally we got details taken care of and Claudia drove us home. Then I went to Kate's to try and relax a bit.

Yikes, what a day! But tonight is dance and Stammtisch. I think I need to go to bed early. Hope everyone is well. : )

Discrimination

An odd feeling, I must admit. Usually, as an American, people might dislike you and your politics, but it's unusal that you actually get told you are not allowed to do something because of where you're from!

What happened, you ask? Well, I was on a mission to rent a DVD. Sounds easy enough, but first you have to find a place, and here most of them are automated machines with no people and I couldn't figure out how to get a card. So we finally found a real place. Kate and I grabbed a DVD we both wanted to see, and I took it up to the counter. The man looked at me all funny, then asked what I wanted with the case. Um, to rent it? He frowned, then said I should have the little card thing with the number on it, NOT the case. Oops. Ok fine. So we got the number thing, brought it back and I asked if I could get a membership card. Sure. Can I see your personal id? Um, license or passport? Passport. Then he started flipping through it to find my visa. At first he didn't see it b/c I have several in there. Then he said I was only allowed to stay through the middle of July. Right. Good job, you can read! Actually, I was quite nice to him.

So then he says I can't have a card. What?! Whyever not? Because I am not German, and not allowed permanent residence. I was confused. But I'm here legally, I did it in Tuebingen with no problem, and I'm American for crying out loud! His response was that I might steal them and take them home. At which point I said, with what DVD player? They are different regions! Plus they would have my passport info, so they could track me down. Finally I gave up the argument and asked if there were any other places in town that might grant me the honor of a card. He said probably not, b/c they owned all the other places in town except the automats. (and obviously I have not figured those out!).

Kate and I put the number thingy back, thanked the stubborn man, and left. Then all the way home I griped about them refusing me a card. I've not had something like that happen before. Very interesting. And annoying. I really wanted to see that movie!!!

Ahh, life as a foreigner!

Another Day, Another Broken Washing Machine

So the washer is broken again. That makes three times in the last three months. Good thing I can do most of my laundry in my sink! I will have to ask Thomas if I can do jeans at his place soon. Dear goodness. lol.

It's been a bit warmer lately, above freezing, so that the lots of rain doesn't freeze or turn into pretty snow. If Chuck hadn't left my umbrella in the Irish Pub then it would be even better. Actually, I didn't like that umbrella and it was already falling apart so he did me a favor. Guess I'll have to get my bum into the Stadt tomorrow and kauf (buy) a new one.

Today I stayed for seventh hour after all of my teaching was done (I did a lesson on food in America because my students were really interested! lol, talk about fun!) and stayed for a Spanish class. It was pretty exciting. Learning Spanish in German. Always wanted to try that! I think I'll go again tomorrow and see. I don't have a book so it makes it difficult to catch up at the moment, and I'm still trying to finish up my class for KU. Didn't realize semester ends so soon! Yikes.

Chuck and I have to bake brownies tonight for a teacher b/c he let me out of class last Monday when I was dead tired from the late arrival after Scotland. lol. He was easier bribed. : D A few chewy, chocolately American brownies and they fall at my feet! Bwa ha ha! Just kidding. Sort of.

Not too much new. I'm teaching a bit more and taking over more and more classes which is fun. Last Friday I went in even though I don't normally (and man was it hard after a late night of Salsa dancing! hee hee. I took the other TAs out with me and they are learning to love Salsa as well.) and had a sixth grade class and had them make Christmas cards. Great fun. I even gave them the choice of Happy Christmas (B.E.=British English) or Merry Christmas (A.E.).

This weekend we shaved Chuck's goatee, and then got his hair cut and dyed fire red. Which was quite entertaining b/c apparently guys don't do red in Germany. It is usually a sign that one is gay. So the stylist asked us several times if we were sure. "You mean red tips?" "No, the whole thing." "Maybe blond or perhaps black?" "No, red. The whole thing." "You mean, you want red? The whole thing???" "Um, yes. Red. The whole thing." They all found it amusing and played a joke on the boss, saying they'd messed up his hair and he pretended to be upset. But then she really did mess it up and it was patchy and she had to redo it and it's still patchy. LOL! And then last night we met some colleages for dinner and they did NOT approve of the red. Wow. You'd think we painted something obscene on his head until of a little red dye. Lighten up people!

17 days until I am back at home. I can barely believe it. But I am ueber excited!

Miss you all and can't wait!!!! : )