Two weekends ago I spent a delightful afternoon having coffee, cake and talking to a family in Freiburg. The daughters had participated in an exchange at good old RMHS and met my wonderful mom - who sent me key necessities like Chai Tea, my sneakers, clothes, and SPLENDA, which I am thoroughly enjoying. Oh, and Eat, Pray, Love which makes me want to run away to Rome, the land of open and emotional people.
It was really wonderful to meet this couple who told me all about life in Freiburg, and even offered to work on my German with me once a week! What a great connection. The lent me books and movies too. They strongly recommended this big fat book about building a cathedral that I forget a name of (very flattering considering my German ability) and I have worked through 100 pages. Only 900 left to go.
Story about the book:
That other day I was reading the book in the train, and the man across me said, "That's a really long book." To which I replied, "Yes, that I am reading very slowly." That goes something like (forgive me for my buchered German). Das ist ein sehr lang Buch - Ja, und ich lese es sehr langsam. Notice the pun on the word lang! I think that is my first German play on language.
So, the moral of the story is that there are wonderful people everywhere and it is great to get to know new people in my city!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
A Cultural Note
Ever so slowly my coworkers are opening up to me, asking me about myself, and telling me about themselves. It is kind of amazing that it took me so long to find out that this colleague lives in Freiburg and that colleague's wife just had a baby.
I am glad that I will be working at my school for another year. After four years of new schools (sometimes more than 1 new school) and four years of having to figure out how to function, I am ready to see what it is like to get used to a place.
After my life has been in flux for so long, this is a chance to have a bit more normalcy in an environment where nothing is really normal.
I imagine it would take years to become habituated to all of the differences of life in Germany and Switzerland.
So far am focussing on adjusting to the following:
Married life - so far so good, although growing up with a full house still makes me jittery and uncomfortable when I am alone for too long. So I guess my major complaint is that Jan and I have somewhat conflicting schedules. If that is the biggest problem, I think we're doing well.
New language - slow going...although I do attend 9 hours of German class it is frusterating to be learning so slowly. My class moves at a snails pace. I keep saying that I will start working on my own during the classes - memorizing verbs etc., but by the time I crash into my chair after 8 hours of work, I have little motivation to do anything but try to stay awake.
I also spend my days teaching in English and speaking English with everybody I come across! This must change. I am thinking about getting a German tandem partner to meet with each week. I think that may be a summer project.
Work - As I said above, new school, new culture, new rules etc etc. I also started my other new job in Feb. Last week I taught over 40 lessons - which is lucrative, but I think that's the maximum.
Angst over my future - My dream is to go to graduate school and study psychology. How will I manage to do this? I'm not sure. I also am not sure how much I really like this teaching thing. I love the idea of teaching, and sometimes I love teaching, but dealing with teenagers wears on me.
Jan's big tests - This has been dominating our life to some degree. We've hit the two week mark. Hopefully he will pass, although even if he doesn't it is ok. He'd have another chance in the fall. It will be a tense few weeks up to the tests.
I am glad that I will be working at my school for another year. After four years of new schools (sometimes more than 1 new school) and four years of having to figure out how to function, I am ready to see what it is like to get used to a place.
After my life has been in flux for so long, this is a chance to have a bit more normalcy in an environment where nothing is really normal.
I imagine it would take years to become habituated to all of the differences of life in Germany and Switzerland.
So far am focussing on adjusting to the following:
Married life - so far so good, although growing up with a full house still makes me jittery and uncomfortable when I am alone for too long. So I guess my major complaint is that Jan and I have somewhat conflicting schedules. If that is the biggest problem, I think we're doing well.
New language - slow going...although I do attend 9 hours of German class it is frusterating to be learning so slowly. My class moves at a snails pace. I keep saying that I will start working on my own during the classes - memorizing verbs etc., but by the time I crash into my chair after 8 hours of work, I have little motivation to do anything but try to stay awake.
I also spend my days teaching in English and speaking English with everybody I come across! This must change. I am thinking about getting a German tandem partner to meet with each week. I think that may be a summer project.
Work - As I said above, new school, new culture, new rules etc etc. I also started my other new job in Feb. Last week I taught over 40 lessons - which is lucrative, but I think that's the maximum.
Angst over my future - My dream is to go to graduate school and study psychology. How will I manage to do this? I'm not sure. I also am not sure how much I really like this teaching thing. I love the idea of teaching, and sometimes I love teaching, but dealing with teenagers wears on me.
Jan's big tests - This has been dominating our life to some degree. We've hit the two week mark. Hopefully he will pass, although even if he doesn't it is ok. He'd have another chance in the fall. It will be a tense few weeks up to the tests.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Teaching Adults
I have now been teaching adult English courses at a language school for a little over a month.
What a luxury!!!!!!!!!! These people are motivated, want to learn, and are also a lot of fun. The teaching is easy because it is done from scripted materials. It is like teaching heaven.
Now I am sure it would get boring if this is all the teaching I did, but it sure does give me some perspective on dealing with my hormonal, angsty, and difficult adolescents.
I can actually teach effectively! People appreciate me! They tell me I am a good teacher! They thank me effusively. They tell me I am attractive and that they love it when I laugh. They ask if they are allowed to give me presents when I help them out with editing. (I received two entrances tickets to a nearby bath today and another woman wants to buy me an electronic dictionary)
What an ego boost.
I love it.
What a luxury!!!!!!!!!! These people are motivated, want to learn, and are also a lot of fun. The teaching is easy because it is done from scripted materials. It is like teaching heaven.
Now I am sure it would get boring if this is all the teaching I did, but it sure does give me some perspective on dealing with my hormonal, angsty, and difficult adolescents.
I can actually teach effectively! People appreciate me! They tell me I am a good teacher! They thank me effusively. They tell me I am attractive and that they love it when I laugh. They ask if they are allowed to give me presents when I help them out with editing. (I received two entrances tickets to a nearby bath today and another woman wants to buy me an electronic dictionary)
What an ego boost.
I love it.
Meeting the Neighbors
Getting to know people here seems to be a slow moving process, but after 8 months I finally met my neighbors.
I was walking home from the train and I saw an old man waving at me. I said hi, and he asked me if I lived next door (pointing). I said I did, and he told me he had been wondering about me. He knew that I moved in but had not seen me for 8 months. We kept talking (in broken English) and he told me that he had been in an American prisoner of war camp near Marseille from 1945 - 1947. That is where he learned English. It was quite impressive to see how much he remembered with basically no practice over the years. I filled in words from him now and then, but he had the basics.
His wife came out to say hi also. And we had a funny conversation. She asked me my name, I said Sarah. Then she said, no no, your last name. I replied, and she didn´t understand, so we agreed that they would just call me Sarah. Older Germans call each other by last name unless they are close friends. My downstairs neighbor calls me Frau blah blah and it always seems so strange to me.
The couple said that I had a wonderful husband and that I am lucky. (which is true) and invited us over for cake in the garden in spring.
I´m looking forward to it.
I was walking home from the train and I saw an old man waving at me. I said hi, and he asked me if I lived next door (pointing). I said I did, and he told me he had been wondering about me. He knew that I moved in but had not seen me for 8 months. We kept talking (in broken English) and he told me that he had been in an American prisoner of war camp near Marseille from 1945 - 1947. That is where he learned English. It was quite impressive to see how much he remembered with basically no practice over the years. I filled in words from him now and then, but he had the basics.
His wife came out to say hi also. And we had a funny conversation. She asked me my name, I said Sarah. Then she said, no no, your last name. I replied, and she didn´t understand, so we agreed that they would just call me Sarah. Older Germans call each other by last name unless they are close friends. My downstairs neighbor calls me Frau blah blah and it always seems so strange to me.
The couple said that I had a wonderful husband and that I am lucky. (which is true) and invited us over for cake in the garden in spring.
I´m looking forward to it.
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