2010 has been absolutely FANTASTIC!
I must be experiencing a high point of my exchange or something because for the past few weeks I have been feeling stupendous! It was tough having to say goodbye to my 2 week Christmas Break- but last week was just as good because of my Praktikum!
At Canisius Kolleg (the school I go to) all students in the 11th class must do a social Praktikum for ONE MONTH! the "social" means that it has to be helping society in some sort of way, for instance: Old Home, Soup Kitchen, a school, etc... Right away I decided I wanted to be somewhere with kids because I love little kids! But really, I had another intention- Little kids don't know English, which means I would be forced to use German all of the time, which means I would get a lot better at German... BRILLIANT! I'm now working in an elementary school/afterschool and it has been one of the best times I've had since being here in Germany. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! Not only have I learned a TON of german, but the kolleagues there are fantastically nice and the kids (most of them) are so sweet!
I get to wake up an hour later at 7.30 every morning (so much better than waking up at 6.30)! I shower, eat breakfast, take a bus few minutes, and then walk about 1000 meters or so through the bitter cold, until I arrive at the elementary school. When I get there I am greated by the smiling faces of the teachers in a "teachers lounge" sort of a thing (they are all women by the way- I have seen only one man teacher). We sit in a circle, talk, and drink coffee- it's a great, relaxing start to the morning. I have a really open schedule which I really like. Every day is a litle bit different. Some days I watch the kids in the play-hall, most days I help the kids with their work, or read with them. At 13.30 I walk the kids over to the afterschool where they eat, and play for the rest of the day. At the afterschool I help the kids with their homework, play with them, make a fool out of myself, and most importantly, make sure they don't kill eachother... It's really LOUD- but by just watching them I am learning so much about human interaction and things. The kids really have no idea about this world, or life in general. They believe anything you tell them, and say the first thing that comes to their minds- That intruiges me!!! They are teaching me so much.
What I really find is funny is that some of the kids don't even realize I am a foreigner. A few days ago it was my birthday- I brought in treats, they sang me the cutest birthday song ever, and they all asked me questions about my life. I told them I was an exchange student and then made them guess where I came from. They guessed: Bavaria (southern Germany-haha), Sweeden, Denmark, Turkey, and... Africa! When I told the kids I came from America... well I was bOmBaRdEd with questions.
Does it snow there?
What football team do you play for?
Is McDonalds your FAVORITE restaurant?
Can you speak American???
Do you know HANNAH MONTANA!?!?!
Other than that- I get made fun of a lot. I've been told very politely that I have a "sharp" nose. Almost every day I am described as, "the american who speaks funny." Today a little girl sat me down, started pointing at my face, and told me with a wide smile where all my blemishes were! The best part is, 5 months ago my ego would have been hurt... those remarks would have STUNG! Now that I've experienced exchange- not a CHANCE. I have been laughed at SO-SO-SO much- haha who cares? Embarassement is... normal! I can now say that yes- I do have a HUGE nose. my face is abnormally long and thin, my left ear is about 2 centimeters higher than my right, my back slouches, my toro is strangely long, my neck- even longer... and yes- Sometimes I wake up in the morning to be greeted with a lovely pimple on my face... Mmm the joy of being a teenager.
Well- thats basically what I do. I love it so much. I feel so accomplished when I help a kid read, teach the difference between an odd and an even number (harder than it sounds), or simply play with them. My praktikum is GREAT!!! It's so nice to be able to speak now. I don't have to worry too much about the language. Sure, I make Grammatik mistakes, and don't know how to say certain words... but it's not so tiring like it used to be. I wouldn't say I'm fluent just yet- but I'm getting pretty darn close.
Other than fun with elementary students, I had my BIRTHDAY on the 8th which was last friday!!! It was really fun! I was woken up really early to taken townstairs to 17 glowing candles. The family sang for me, and I openedup my presents (which I had picked out the day before with my host mom). We ate a quick breakfast together and I was off to work. Like I said, at the elementary school I had a little celebration. The teachers gave me a gift card which was sooo nice!!! They also gave me a half day. That night, I decided to have a couple of close friends over to my place. I transformed my basement into the PERFECT american party basement like one sees in the movies. We all made our own pizzas, chilled, listened to musik, and celebrated! it definately was my favorite birthday yet! My host parents were so cool!!! They insisted that all 5 of my friends stay the night because of weather :) On Saturday I went out to a goodbye get-together for Kate. She is flying home next weekend! It was weird to say goodbye, but it felt like it was the right time for it to happen!
Life is Germany is... so amazing. I can't imagine life any different. It fits. It scares me when I think about coming home. What will I do at James Madison Memorial High School? WHO will I be able to relate with? When I came to Germany, I had to start over completely new, learn a new LANGUAGE, go through tons of anxiety... Crying, Laughing, and CRYING again. I am laughed at daily, and held back by something I never ever in a million years had to worry about-language. I have been through SO many awkward moments it is not even funny!!! I have had to put myself out there, make a fool out of myself, do things I am afraid of. I feel like in these last 4.5 months I have learned... SO MUCH!
When I go back to Madison, Wisconsin. Life will be... normal.
In Berlin...
I finally feel free and independant.
I love my life here and I finally feel confident in myself.
...I feel like Berlin is my home.
The only thing that is missing is my family, and friends.
CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THESE NEXT 6 MONTHS HAVE IN STORE FOR ME!!!!
I must be experiencing a high point of my exchange or something because for the past few weeks I have been feeling stupendous! It was tough having to say goodbye to my 2 week Christmas Break- but last week was just as good because of my Praktikum!
At Canisius Kolleg (the school I go to) all students in the 11th class must do a social Praktikum for ONE MONTH! the "social" means that it has to be helping society in some sort of way, for instance: Old Home, Soup Kitchen, a school, etc... Right away I decided I wanted to be somewhere with kids because I love little kids! But really, I had another intention- Little kids don't know English, which means I would be forced to use German all of the time, which means I would get a lot better at German... BRILLIANT! I'm now working in an elementary school/afterschool and it has been one of the best times I've had since being here in Germany. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! Not only have I learned a TON of german, but the kolleagues there are fantastically nice and the kids (most of them) are so sweet!
I get to wake up an hour later at 7.30 every morning (so much better than waking up at 6.30)! I shower, eat breakfast, take a bus few minutes, and then walk about 1000 meters or so through the bitter cold, until I arrive at the elementary school. When I get there I am greated by the smiling faces of the teachers in a "teachers lounge" sort of a thing (they are all women by the way- I have seen only one man teacher). We sit in a circle, talk, and drink coffee- it's a great, relaxing start to the morning. I have a really open schedule which I really like. Every day is a litle bit different. Some days I watch the kids in the play-hall, most days I help the kids with their work, or read with them. At 13.30 I walk the kids over to the afterschool where they eat, and play for the rest of the day. At the afterschool I help the kids with their homework, play with them, make a fool out of myself, and most importantly, make sure they don't kill eachother... It's really LOUD- but by just watching them I am learning so much about human interaction and things. The kids really have no idea about this world, or life in general. They believe anything you tell them, and say the first thing that comes to their minds- That intruiges me!!! They are teaching me so much.
What I really find is funny is that some of the kids don't even realize I am a foreigner. A few days ago it was my birthday- I brought in treats, they sang me the cutest birthday song ever, and they all asked me questions about my life. I told them I was an exchange student and then made them guess where I came from. They guessed: Bavaria (southern Germany-haha), Sweeden, Denmark, Turkey, and... Africa! When I told the kids I came from America... well I was bOmBaRdEd with questions.
Does it snow there?
What football team do you play for?
Is McDonalds your FAVORITE restaurant?
Can you speak American???
Do you know HANNAH MONTANA!?!?!
Other than that- I get made fun of a lot. I've been told very politely that I have a "sharp" nose. Almost every day I am described as, "the american who speaks funny." Today a little girl sat me down, started pointing at my face, and told me with a wide smile where all my blemishes were! The best part is, 5 months ago my ego would have been hurt... those remarks would have STUNG! Now that I've experienced exchange- not a CHANCE. I have been laughed at SO-SO-SO much- haha who cares? Embarassement is... normal! I can now say that yes- I do have a HUGE nose. my face is abnormally long and thin, my left ear is about 2 centimeters higher than my right, my back slouches, my toro is strangely long, my neck- even longer... and yes- Sometimes I wake up in the morning to be greeted with a lovely pimple on my face... Mmm the joy of being a teenager.
Well- thats basically what I do. I love it so much. I feel so accomplished when I help a kid read, teach the difference between an odd and an even number (harder than it sounds), or simply play with them. My praktikum is GREAT!!! It's so nice to be able to speak now. I don't have to worry too much about the language. Sure, I make Grammatik mistakes, and don't know how to say certain words... but it's not so tiring like it used to be. I wouldn't say I'm fluent just yet- but I'm getting pretty darn close.
Other than fun with elementary students, I had my BIRTHDAY on the 8th which was last friday!!! It was really fun! I was woken up really early to taken townstairs to 17 glowing candles. The family sang for me, and I openedup my presents (which I had picked out the day before with my host mom). We ate a quick breakfast together and I was off to work. Like I said, at the elementary school I had a little celebration. The teachers gave me a gift card which was sooo nice!!! They also gave me a half day. That night, I decided to have a couple of close friends over to my place. I transformed my basement into the PERFECT american party basement like one sees in the movies. We all made our own pizzas, chilled, listened to musik, and celebrated! it definately was my favorite birthday yet! My host parents were so cool!!! They insisted that all 5 of my friends stay the night because of weather :) On Saturday I went out to a goodbye get-together for Kate. She is flying home next weekend! It was weird to say goodbye, but it felt like it was the right time for it to happen!
Life is Germany is... so amazing. I can't imagine life any different. It fits. It scares me when I think about coming home. What will I do at James Madison Memorial High School? WHO will I be able to relate with? When I came to Germany, I had to start over completely new, learn a new LANGUAGE, go through tons of anxiety... Crying, Laughing, and CRYING again. I am laughed at daily, and held back by something I never ever in a million years had to worry about-language. I have been through SO many awkward moments it is not even funny!!! I have had to put myself out there, make a fool out of myself, do things I am afraid of. I feel like in these last 4.5 months I have learned... SO MUCH!
When I go back to Madison, Wisconsin. Life will be... normal.
In Berlin...
I finally feel free and independant.
I love my life here and I finally feel confident in myself.
...I feel like Berlin is my home.
The only thing that is missing is my family, and friends.
CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THESE NEXT 6 MONTHS HAVE IN STORE FOR ME!!!!
hahah i love your little code :)
and those questions!!! hahaha tell them your best friends with miley.
miss you!!!!
Jealous of the SNOW
And jealous of you getting to be with little kids
"I love little kids!" Me too! :) Haha.
Oh you remind me so much of my own thoughts... you're having a way better experience than I did in regards to language and culture. But the thoughts are still the same.
Happy belated birthday!