Conversation Partner

Since I last wrote preparations for the Christmas season here in Germany have begun. Stores and shops have put up Christmas decorations and put out their Christmas items. I forgot how early Germany puts out Christmas decorations...I thought the U.S. was bad, but here in Germany they don't have Thanksgiving to celebrate, so Christmas decorations are seen in early November and are at full force by mid-November. But next week the Christmas markets begin, so I'm getting ready for Christmas :)

Anyway, on to the main topic of this post: my new conversation partner. I have been in contact with the German-American Institute (Deutsch-amerikanisches Institut, DAI) in Nuremberg. This institute is for people who are interested in the English language and American culture. They focus on bringing Americans and Germans together. Here is a link to the DAI website, if you want more information.

A few weeks ago I received an e-mail from a woman from the DAI. She asked if I would be interested in having a partnership with a young German woman who was interested in improving her English. She said this would also be an opportunity for me to improve my German. I instantly responded positively and was soon in contact with my conversation partner!

My conversation partner and I have met three times so far. We have decided to meet once a week. We usually speak German half the time and English the other half. I've really enjoyed it so far, and I think she enjoys it as well. She is really nice, friendly, and honest. I'm not only learning and practicing my German but I'm learning about how the German culture really is and I'm helping someone else practice her English and become aware of what American culture is really like. I think this kind of experience is definitely a reason for why I'm here: to meet Germans and help them understand who Americans really are and, at the same time, to become more aware of who Germans really are. I'm not here just to teach English to German students a dozen hours a week. Grant it, I do this exchange of culture and language often with other Germans at my school and in the community, but this weekly conversation partnership (and I think the beginning of a friendship) started from scratch. We had no other reason to come in contact with each other, except for the fact that we both wanted to learn more about each other's language and culture and share our own. I think this is great because it shows how willing and interested people are in meeting complete strangers and sharing their life with them for no other reason besides that. It's a good feeling.

In terms of school experiences, I went to a presentation this week with the other teachers on violence in video games and their effects on kids who play them. It was quite interesting. The woman who did the presentation showed us actual clips of some of the video games. I recognized some of the games, and I remembered some of my friends from high school playing one of them and how disgusted I was then at how violent and mindless it was. The presentation was also presented to the students' parents. Hopefully it opened their eyes to some of the things some of their kids may be viewing, especially if they were previously unaware of the games' contents.

I also wanted to mention a lesson that I did this past Friday. I talked with a group of 12th graders about American culture. I asked them to tell me what came to their minds when they thought about American culture. Here are some of their answers: big cars, the war in Iraq, mobile homes, fast food, basketball, American football, movies, music, guns. I was surprised by some of these but most of them I wasn't. One answer that really stuck out in my mind was big cars. I explained to the students that yes, many people do have big cars in the U.S. but not everyone, including myself. It was interesting to hear the students' perspectives of America, and I was glad that I was able to give them some of the truths about American culture.

Hiking, castles, and cathedrals

I want to give an update about some of the places I have been recently and share some photos. I realized that I have mostly just been writing and not sharing photos. So enjoy!

First, about three weeks ago I went to visit my former host family in Regensburg. I love this city because it has a university, so it has lots of young people and things for young people to do, but it also has many historical places to visit. After having lunch and visiting a bit with my host family, my host mom and brother took me to the town of Kallmünz. This town has a large castle ("Burg", in German). It is at the top of a large hill, so we climbed the hill and walked inside what is left of this old castle. The two photos above are some of the castle's remnants. It was a beautiful day!

Over our fall break, I had the opportunity to go with another teacher to the Fränkische Schweiz, which is an area near Nuremberg that has very beautiful countryside, places to hike, old castles to visit, etc. We went there by car, so we saw quite a bit of colorful landscape-- green, browns, yellows, and oranges. We were lucky that the weather was nice too. We went hiking up a large hill to an old castle, well what was left of it, and we took a tour in a cave! Click here if you want to know more about the Fränkische Schweiz. Unfortunately, I left my camera at home, so I have no photos to share...But I really enjoyed doing a little bit of hiking and being in the sunshine!

Then yesterday, I went to the city of Bamberg. I went with a few other Fulbright teaching assistants and another friend from the U.S. We met a TA that lives in Bamberg, and he showed us around. Bamberg is a very Catholic city, so we saw three of it's well-known Catholic churches. It was a pretty city with many colorful buildings with wood framing. Unfortunately, the weather was quite terrible-- lots of rain and gray skies. And because it's November, it isn't very pretty outside to begin with. But we made the best of our time by walking around the city, despite the rain, and eating and drinking at a few restaurants including lunch at a cheap, but tasty, Mexican restaurant with tap water that was free!

Pretty houses along the Regnitz River.

The cathedral in Bamberg

American Holidays

So I know it's been a few weeks since I last wrote....I failed again to keep this blog regularly updated. But I won't waste time with excuses.

I'll go directly to this blog's main subject: Holidays. I offered to give presentations on Halloween and Thanksgiving at my school. Being the week before the Halloween weekend and Bavaria's fall break, many teachers asked me to give my presentations on Halloween and Thanksgiving. I spent quite a bit of time on deciding how to present these holidays in a way that was fun and interesting to the students. Naturally, in order to get the students' attention for Halloween, we did a little bit of trick or treating in the classrooms. I also let them have a little fun with deciding what they wanted to dress up as for Halloween and draw a picture of their costume. Most students had fun with this. I had a lot of witches, gangsters, devils, zombies, and one Wurst (sausage)! It was also interesting to see how I had to often adapt each presentation to each class according to their interest in and knowledge of Halloween, their English proficiencies, and how they reacted to everything. I'm learning more and more how to quickly adapt my prepared lesson to the students, which can be difficult for me sometimes. I am the kind of person who wants everything to go as planned, but this often doesn't occur in teaching, and I'm learning to deal with that more and more. I'm finding that adaptation can often be fun too!

For example, for my Thanksgiving presentation/lesson, I prepared a lesson that was mostly just informational. For one of the teachers, I did this Thanksgiving lesson for three of her classes. After seeing my presentation in her two 10th year classes, she wanted to know if we could adapt it a bit for her 9th year class because they were more talkative and energetic. So we decided to have the students do a role-play. The situation for the role-play was a group of Pilgrims deciding what to do after they lost many of their community members and had little food. Should they go back to Europe or stay in America? I think the students overall reacted to this role-play positively. They came up with some good ideas beyond what we had provided them. There was laughter and energy in the classroom, and it was good to see the students use their English while having a little bit of fun.

Well, that's all I have time for tonight. Since I'm on fall break this week, I should have more time to write about some of my recent travels and post some photos.

Differences

I am a little behind again on keeping this blog updated, but I'll hopefully do better this week! I was thinking the other day about the fact that I have been in Germany already for a month and a half! It seems crazy when I think about it. As I realized a few years ago in college, time goes by so quickly, especially the older one gets! So I'm trying to experience what I can while I'm here. For example, I have taken up invitations to have dinner with my colleagues and visit their homes and families, and I visited my former host family in Regensburg, Germany. I think I learn the most about Germans and their lives the most in these more personal situations. I also find out how similar their lives are to my own. They often have the same values, mind sets, outlooks, etc. Even though sometimes I uncomfortably notice and feel that I am definitely a foreigner here, I try to also remember how much I have in common with Germans.

And while I'm on the subject of differences, I would like to make a short list of some of the differences I have noticed in German schools compared to American schoools. However, before I make this list, I want to point out that, of course, not all American schools are the same and not all German schools are exactly the same. Therefore, these differences come only from what I know in general about German and American schools and what I have experienced.

1. German students do not have the same classes everyday, nor do they have classes at the same time everyday. For example, they may start school at 8 am on Mondays and 8:40 am on Wednesdays. Sometimes they finish the school day at 1 pm and other days at 3 pm. But in the U.S., normally, K-12 students go to school during the same hours everyday.

2. In Germany, teachers do not have their own classrooms; they change rooms for every class they teach. They also normally do not teach just one subject, even teachers who teach at the secondary level. Also, similar to the students, they do not have the same classes to teach everyday. Some days they are finished teaching at 11:30 am, and on other days, they are finished at 4 pm. American teachers, like the students, are at school everyday during the same hours. They also normally have their own classrooms where they stay the whole school day.

3. I also see many differences in the classroom itself. For example, when students raise their hands to ask a question or answer a question, they normally only raise their pointer finger. They do not raise all of their fingers, like in the U.S., but usually only their pointer finger.

4. In the younger grades, in order to begin class, the students stand up while the teacher greets them. The students then greet the teacher and subsequently sit down or sit down after the teacher has told them they can. I had to greet the students in this manner a few times here in Germany, but it always felt a little odd to me. I felt as if I was teaching in a school from the early 1900s. I think perhaps this ritual used to be done in american schools, but perhaps a long time ago. I might have to look that up!

I think I could write much more, but this will have to do for today. I hope to write again later in the week!

Altdorf and Nuremberg

Here are the photos I promised of Altdorf. I slipped in one of Nuremberg. I took these photos over the past two days, which have been sunny and in the 60s. This is far better than the weather we had last week, which was in the 40s and 50s with rain and cloudy skies. The first photo below is of Nuremberg. It is a photo of the Pegnitz River which flows through the city.

The two photos below are of Altdorf. The photo of the church is the historical Protestant church in town. The other photo is part of what is called the "Marktplatz" (marketplace) in town. In the Marktplatz, there are restaurants, shops, bakeries, etc. It's mostly where I go to do errands or go out to eat. In the background of the photo is one of the town's historical city towers that was part of the old city wall.

School Days

I want to give more details on my experiences in the school so far, since in my last post I gave only a short account of what I have experienced.

My colleagues, particularly the other teachers who teach English, have been very welcoming. I am able to talk to those that I have become acquainted with on a first name basis, and many have told me to address them with "du" (the "you" in German, which signifies that the speaker is on a personal level with his or her addressee). This makes me feel more comfortable and accepted than if I used the formal "Sie" when addressing my colleagues. I sit with other colleagues in the teachers' lounge (Lehrerzimmer), and they include me in their conversations and outings (such as the teacher field trip we are going on tomorrow ).

Fortunately, the students, for the most part, are interested and excited to have me at their school. They want to know where I live in the U.S., whether I speak German too, etc. I even met a student who told me that he knows someone from the Cincinnati area! I have already had two opportunities to lead English conversation groups with some of the older students. We talked about our interests, places we would like to travel, and American high schools. I showed them my high school yearbook, which I think was fun for both them and myself. It is rewarding to know that students take an interest in my culture, and I think they appreciate me taking an interest in their lives and opinions. My passion for learning other languages and helping others learn foreign languages is heightened when I know the students have an interest in my home language and culture. Seeing students raise their hands eagerly to answer questions during one of my lessons and their smiles of interest when I'm introduced to their class makes this experience rewarding.

Although these last few weeks have been tiring sometimes and overwhelming, I have learned a great deal. Going back and forth from speaking German and English; planning lessons; walking the halls that are jammed pack with students; learning how to communicate with colleagues; learning the rules and customs of the school, etc. is all together exhausting. But I look forward to the new things I will learn and experience each day. And I know it all will become easier. So for now I just have to make sure I get plenty of sleep so I'm ready for the next day's adventures!

A New Beginning

I have taken entirely too long to update my blog! My apologies! What can I say? I have been traveling, meeting people, settling into my new apartment, and teaching. My first four weeks here have had their ups and downs, but mostly they have been fantastic! So here goes a concise version of the most important aspects of my time here so far.

Altdorf: This great town that I live in has about 15,000 people. My apartment is only about a 5-minute walk from the school. I have a large bedroom, a kitchen, and a bathroom all to myself. Altdorf itself has a nice town center with authentic Bavarian restaurants, as well as Italian and Greek cuisine, privately-owned shops, bakeries, butchers, etc. There are some historical sites also. So I'm happy with my home. I will try to remember to post some photos of Altdorf in the coming week.

Traveling: Kenny and I traveled quite a bit the first two weeks here. We stayed in Altdorf some, but we also managed to visit some places in Austria, including my grandmother's family that still lives there. This was my second visit to see these relatives. Our time there was unforgettable. They were very hospitable and took us to visit some beautiful places nearby. The photo above is of Kenny and I in front of a church in Mondsee, Austria. My relatives took us to see it. This church was actually in the movie Sound of Music! Speaking with my relatives was sometimes difficult because of their dialect and their inability to speak English, but it was a nice challenge, and it was a good way to start speaking German again! Kenny and I also visited Oberammergau in southern Germany and Munich. Unfortunately last Monday, the 13th, Kenny had to return to the U.S. But e-mail and Skype are coming in handy :)

Orientation in Cologne (Köln): For three days before I began teaching, I attended an orientation for American and other English-speaking teaching assistants here in Germany. This orientation was a way to give us tips on teaching, information about living in Germany, and the opportunity to meet one another and make contacts for our time in Germany. The Fulbright Kommission in Germany and the Pädagogischer Austauschdienst (the agency that is responsible for organizing our teaching assignments in Germany) organized the event.

TEACHING: And of course the reason that I'm here. I have been at my school the past two weeks now. I have observed various classes at different age levels, and I have taught a little bit as well. My colleagues are extremely welcoming and helpful. I don't think I could ask for a better place to teach. I am teaching at a Gymnasium, which has grades 5th through 13th. The students begin learning English right away in the 5th grade. I have to say I am very impressed with how well the students (particularly the students in the higher grades) can speak English. I am an advocate for learning a foreign language at a young age and learning it throughout one's schooling. I think it is the best way to become fluent or achieve a high level of proficiency in a language.

I admit that sometimes I feel almost intimidated by the students' abilities in English because I didn't begin learning a foreign language until 8th grade. And even after learning German in high school and college, I am still not quite fluent. My German skills get better all the time here, but I still realize how much higher these students are in their language skills compared to myself when I was their age.

So far the students seem to be interested in my presence at their school, and I have had the chance to speak with them in English and in German. I will continue to update my teaching experiences hopefully in a few days. But this update will have to do for now!

Leaving on a jet plane

I should have written more on this blog before leaving, but other things had to come first this past week: packing my suitcases, spending time with friends and family, and just taking in life and slowing down a little.

I leave Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky's airport tomorrow a little after 4 pm. I will arrive in Germany at 10 am (4 am EST) on Tuesday. Because of all the numerous emotions that have been washing over me this past week, I felt almost emotionless today. It was as if I couldn't sort all of them out at once, so they just became nothing. Although, as I was packing tonight, I felt a huge wave of anxiety crash into me that I had to quickly step away from before it consumed me. I could feel panic rising as I looked at my bed that had papers, books, bags, etc. scattered around it and my desk that was full of paper. Things to remember and to do overtook my brain. But I also felt excitement, and I reminded myself that going to a foreign country and living there for an extended amount of time has been a dream for me.

My night will come to a close with this post and a quick scan over my list of things to do tomorrow. These next ten months will be full of great opportunities, and I can't wait to take them and make the most of them!

Impending Departure

As the summer is coming to a close and my time before I leave for Germany is less than two weeks, I find myself with a mixture of emotions and thoughts. This, I presume, is pretty normal for anyone in my situation. Many co-workers and friends have been asking me if I'm ready to leave, how I feel about it, etc. Mostly I tell them I am excited but also nervous. And a little more stressed out than before with the two or three To-Do lists I have scattered around my wooden desk and the reminders of things to do that are constantly rolling around in my head, coming to the forefront of my thoughts a few times a day.

But I confidently tell everyone that everything will be fine and this experience will be amazing. The new life I begin in Germany will be a huge adjustment, but I think I'm ready for it. I studied abroad in Regensburg, Germany for three months my junior year in college and I loved it; I didn't want to come home, and I have felt a great desire to return ever since. Thankfully, my first week and a half in Germany will be mostly spent traveling with my boyfriend, which includes visiting distant relatives that still live in Austria. So hopefully my initial travels will help with my adjustment before I have to start teaching.

Sometimes I feel this time in Germany is just one way I am putting off finding a "real" job with a "real" salary. But I hope this experience will make me more marketable, therefore,helping me find a solid job in the American workforce. I anticipate my communication skills to strengthen and also my skills in negotiating and learning to work with people from other cultures, who have differences in lifestyles and ideas about the work environment. I'm hoping for the best!

Introduction

When I tell people that I received a Fulbright Grant to teach English in Germany, I tend to get questions about what the Grant really is...Fulbright grants are provided by the U.S. Department of State. The Fulbright Program includes a number of different grants and was founded in 1946. My grant is for an English Teaching Assistantship. The Program was named after Senator J. William Fulbright. Senator Fulbright said this about the Fulbright Program: "Fostering leadership, learning and empathy between cultures was and remains the purpose of the international scholarship program." To find more info on the Fulbright Program click here.

Through this grant, I'm going to be living in Altdorf, Germany, a smaller town a little outside of the city Nuremberg (Nürnberg). Altdorf is in southern Germany and in the state of Bavaria (Bayern). The photo above is Nürnberg's cathedral. I took this photo when I was studying in Germany in 2008.

This opportunity is, as cliché as it sounds, truly a dream come true for me. I have a passion for other cultures and foreign languages. That is why I am very excited to be teaching German students English and deepening my knowledge of the German people and their language.

This blog is for my own records, but it is more importantly for my friends and family to keep updated on my time in Germany, and I'll be hopefully presenting it to students and faculty of my former high school and college when I return to the United States next July. I am still working on some the blog's layout,etc. so it is a work in progress.

Right now I'm home in West Harrison, Indiana. I've been juggling a few part-time jobs this summer and visiting with my friends and family, and, of course, preparing for Germany. Now I only have three weeks until I leave for Germany on August 30th. Now down to business with packing and saying goodbyes...