Frankfurt, Kollegenausflug and the week ahead!

The Last week has been interesting.  Though I haven't really done much, at the same time, I kind of have!

Last week, I managed to Squeeze in more lessons that usual, just to help out a Colleague who couldn't make it into school.  I didn't mind, in fact, I really enjoyed it! :D

I have also got a lot of lessons to do for next week. I have booked myself to teach the full lesson for most of my lessons, which I am really looking forward to! :D  The lesson is the same for everyone, but it can be made easier or more difficult...

and it revolves around The Simpsons! :D


The main reason for updating this today, was to talk about Friday really.

Friday, was our Staff trip.

Now, this is not what I expected to be honest.  

We went to a place called Glauberg (to start) where we were dropped off on what can only be described as a back road and we walked for what I would say was about a mile and a half to a shack at the top of a hill. Nice views though!

View From Glauberg Hills

Frankfurt Skyline form Glauberg Hills

Here, we were served Brotchen (which are like sandwiches, but without a top on!) and drinks, ranging from water to apple juice to beer!!  (typical German!).  We then continued to hike for a further mile and a half to a museum, which was about Celts  (Woo!)

We had a guided tour..
to paint a picture..

1)I was tired..  having had a stressful week with home stuff, I fell asleep at 2 the morning before, and was awake at 6
2) I had just walked 3 miles, not amazingly far, but after 12 hours sleep over the last 4 days..  pretty tough
3)i was walking and listening and talking German. Some people struggle to understand, that the mental capacity to Listen, translate, understand, formulate response, translate and speak all so that the conversation doesn't lose flow is OK in bursts, but after 4 hours of it....  its tiring..   (hopefully fellow FSAs will know what I mean here!)

so .. the guided tour....

She spoke with a general speed of about 25 words per second, and similar to Faust, by the time I had translated the first sentence, she has then gone on to say around about 4 more so I understood some of it...

Big shout out to the teacher though, (and it did make me laugh) who then asked for a summary of the tour...    He is an English teacher, and must have been able to read my facial expression like a treat!

The View from the Museum Cafe

After this, we went to a town (I suppose you can call it) Called Budigen and had a coffee , then went to a Restaurant for a Meal.

Budigen 'town' center

Very nice restaurant!

I enjoyed this part...  we had a nice meal and I sat with the younger staff , enjoyed a few beers and talked about nothing sensible.  Which was nice!

On Saturday, I went to Frankfurt , and met up with another FSA.  He was pretty desperate to do something called the Ebbelwie Express , (translated as Apple-wine Express). This is an old tram, that costs EUR7.50 . With this , you get a ride of about an hour round trip, a bottle of apple wine and a packet of mini pretzels.

Not bad really!

Well, it can't exactly be called a sight-seeing tour. The tram (obviously) has to follow the tram lines, which in Frankfurt are more for practicality that tourism. There is one good view though...

The View from the Tram

What I can say it is, is a fairly relaxing hour on a tram that isn't very discreet (it looks like a circus on wheels!), that plays very loud, garish and stereo typically German Music. Nevertheless, it was enjoyable.

The Tram!

Apple wine, by the way, tastes very similar to a not-too-dry Cornish Cider.  The leaflet actually says "This Cider is now a world famous Wine" ..   Well..   Okay then!

We also went back to my Little corner of England in Germany (in the form of the Irish pub) and had a pint.
After the Pint, I clearly had some Dutch Courage and decided to go up the Bloody great tower.
The Lift travels at 20kph  and once you are up there..  its pretty windy..  but Frankfurt at night...

Frankfurt at night from the Main Tower 

 So a good weekend then really...   And the F1 topped it off.. a Second for Massa was great..  Ignoring the Winner and the non-finishing Ferrari.. :P


This next part, it to satisfy The University of Sunderland - as part of my 'reflective Diaries'

its not tough to live tough here
the language is fast
the Germans like beer
hate Lufthansa strikes
they have an unhealthy obsession with fizzy water
and their shops are weird

Oh, and all that Cultural awareness we did before we came??  total and utter Bull...   probably would have been better to teach us something useful??  

If that isn't reflective..

Just for you , Jo! :D


So.. Im not sure when I will next update this..  so - Stay safe all,
Turrah!