Wegen Des Wetters...

Schlüchtern in the Snow

I have been told since before I got here, that Germany gets snow.
The UK gets snow... in some places quite a lot.

Here in Hessen, The snow is Very unpredictable. IM pretty sure that the weather has been right every time in that they forecast it. But wrong in the amount that comes down.

Last week, It began to snow on Saturday night. It was about 11PM, and I was just getting ready to go to bed when I noticed it. I wasn't fussed really Im kinda used to what we have in the UK, where it soon melts, and even if it did come down a fair bit, I knew that when I woke up, it was going to be Sunday, so there would be no point in going anywhere anyway.

well, for some unknown reason, I woke up at about 4:30 am. It takes effort for me to look out the window, as the only window I really have is in the roof and no where near the Bed.
I looked out the window. It reminded me that it had snowed (you know that stage where you are awake but your eyes don't work?   well.. that!)

It was about 3 minutes later , after I had got back into bed, that I decided to have another look. My eyes were working, and they could CLEARLY see that we had had about 3 inches.  Possible the third most snow I have ever seen, after Sunderland in first year Uni in second, but being *slightly* beaten by the time I was in Finland in December.

There was a lot and for the first time in a while, I was excited by the snow. So excited that I decided , whilst sober!, to go outside and draw boobs in the snow..

I am an Adult by the way....

This is , obviously, a Very adult thing to do. What would have been more adult, would have been to rub it out...

The tree in Schlüchtern

after the excitement, I went back to bed
between 4:30am and 12PM, it must have snowed more. The boobs were not gone, but emphasized...., and my little town was in a completely different light.. It was covered in snow!

I don't do mornings, I barely do the daytime and only really come into my own during the evening, so (despite my previous adventure outside) I was not getting up, getting dressed straight away, and going to build a snowman!  NO!

I had a cuppa, worked out hoe cold it was, and then decided to go out.  Germany made this decision for me.
If this was the UK, I would not be going out to take pictures. I would be staying in, hugging the radiator, hands firmly around the Xbox controller and a constant supply of Tea!

It was, however, very nice. The snow was deep in places, looked great on what it had landed on and made everything look nice and wintery.

Trees across the road from my flat

The Small garden near my flat

It was nice and there is some still here too! Though I will admit that I am slightly worried, as I have a flight to catch in a few weeks, with more forecast!
But it has been cold for the last few weeks now..  you can feel it at night when you have to put the radiator up a few clicks.  It is also proven when you leave your window open over night and wake up to this!

an Icicle on my window

Germany deals well though.  Everyone has to have winter tires by law, so there there are fewer crashes . The snowploughs are out as soon as the snow hits the floor, gritting and, well.. ploughing and there is a mini tractor that does the same for the paths too..  so no one is caught out!
the trains all still ran, and there were no more delays or cancellations at Frankfurt airport than usual, apart form to the airports that couldn't cope! (I am checking, yes!)   basically they cope..  and (in another area) beat the UK. I have seen messages on Facebook and twitter about it.. here - the school was open, and I have been told that when they got 8 inches 3 years ago, it stayed open too! No lie in for me, but a serious achievement!

The little Tractor :D

That is all about the Snow for now. More about Germany and the run up to Christmas. Well, it is Christmas market time and there is currently one in Schlüchtern. It isn't very big, so I have decided to miss it for now, Just because I am off to one in Bayern tomorrow! So 2 new experiences there (see previous blog!)   I'll be taking the camera and getting some snaps!
The Lights are also going up in Schlüchtern. It looks nice! nothing too major..

Christmas Lights in Schlüchtern

It is also the time when the staff room at work begins to smell of homemade Christmas Biscuits and Cake. I was even given some , very generously, by some Members of staff, which were awesome!
I have managed to get some in Tegut to take home with me soon.. I just hope I don't eat them!

Also, last Wednesday, I went to Fulda with 150 other students and Staff from work to see a performance in English!  it was good! there were a few acting points, but considering what they had done with the few props and things that they has it was good.    The new head of English asked me if I understood everything as a joke, to which my reply was "there are a few words I don't understand!"      ...  I guess you had to be there! Even still. Some of the students that I teacher were there from class 9.  Everyone else there was yr 11,12 and 13. They said that they understood everything, so Im proud of you class 9!

Anyway, here are some more snowy pics for you to enjoy!  
catch you soon!

From the Balcony

Getting Dark.. Whats left today

In a few, unrelated matters....

This may turn out to be quiet annoying for some people, if it does - well tough... :P

This month has been Great. It is now the last weekend in November and in total, I have racked up nearly 90 nights under German Stars - in fact Monday will be my 3rd complete month here..   

The fact that is is November, means a few things right now.

1) This is all going WAY too quickly!  Christmas is , annoyingly,  the half way point of this.  Im pretty shocked at how quickly the time is going, and and how Christmas symbolizes that , although 4 months is a long time - Don't really have all that Much time left!

2) This is pretty important. In fact, apart from only about 3 other things in my life (and food and sleep come below this)  This is the final F1 weekend of the season.

From this moment onward, my weekends are empty, bare and spent looking forward to March 17th , when it all starts again!
Some people do not understand how I can be so obsessed with the F1, and how I plan weekends around it. Well - I argue the same for football, or whatever you guys like. I don't know what it is , but whatever it is - I love it!

Im posting this now, before the qualifying on the Saturday, because this season can go 2 ways. One guy I want to win, and the other I would rather see his car bogged-down in a gravel trap.
if it goes that way, you'll hear from me again, and if it doesn't - Then I wish you all a happy Christmas - for all until 2015!

Im also excited about march for another reason - It is under wraps a bit at the moment - Once confirmed, THEN I will reveal all! :D

3) Germany is preparing for Christmas.

These are some comparisons to the way that Germany prepares for Xmas, against the UK  

There are some lessons for the UK here...  which include..

- The coke advert DOES NOT meant the start of Christmas, nor should seeing it make the top 10 on twitter..  Its an advert - every other advert annoys you!

Clearly, I am a pro a Photoshop

- Christmas songs - If it is not Christmas, don't play them - Germany is saving my sanity in that respect

- Christmas lights - your house is not meant to attract the attention of other planets it, therefore, does not need to have enough bulbs to keep a large block of flats lit up for 3 years.  a few, tasteful lights will be fine - even then, you do not need to put the up in October

- Though, yes, this is a busy period in the shops - you do not need to queue outside of the shop, nor when you are in the shop, must you act like a TOTAL tit!   There is no pushing, no fighting and you can breathe. Nor do you go into a shop with 400 customers and only 3 members of staff on duty..

These are just a few things...   UK - this is how Christmas should be ... 'Tis the season to be Jolly!!  NOT Jolly pissed off!!

A generic Christmas Market Picture

As part of the Christmas preparations, I have been asked to go to a Christmas Market in Bayern (Bavaria) on December 9th.  Im looking forward to it - and if you are some of the (Very) few people I but Christmas presents for - it could be that you end up with something very German and bought from this market. Even still - you will be able to spot the tourist at 20 paces - because it will be me , with my camera asking completely stupid questions.


The other thing about this time of year is that is is now the 24/11/12.
This means that in 28 days.. I go home.
Im not desperate to , far from it. In fact I think that i could easily spend Christmas in Germany, given how nice everyone is.
However, there are some things that I am beginning to , not miss as such, but would love to be re-acquainted with again.
some things are a bit sad
- Irn Bru, My xbox and a TV that talks to me in English would be lovely! but there are the other things too.

I miss this stuff!

Family are in short supply in Germany.  They annoy me at times, but they are almost contracted to do that - but no one understands you better than your family. 
Also, My dads sense of humor is desperately needed.  I usually refer to his thoughts as "dads 'professional' opinion" He always has one - and the way he conveys is is fantastic. my dad also is the type of bloke that doesn't need to SAY anything..  the face usually says it all!

My flight is on the 20th December.  This is to Manchester from Frankfurt, and it was pretty cheap because I took my dads advice and booked early.
When I booked it - I was going to book for the Friday, but chose not to.   
This was because of something I saw on the website I used to book them. I thought that it was so fantastic, that I was going to take their advice and run with it

"please note - some flights on 21/12/12 may not fly, due to the supposed 'end of the world'"

It was a Joke, the website was clearly taking the mick, but I thought that it was brilliant!
So I booked my flights earlier.

Anyway, having explained a few things, I may as well let you know what I have been up to.

Yesterday, I went to Frankfurt and met up with the 'Hessen Mannschaft' which are the other language assistants that are based in Hessen. we had a few drinks, a good laugh and it was great fun!   more to the point, I didn't miss my stop, after - Once again - falling asleep on the train.
Again though, I payed for a ticket and it wasn't checked. I have considered not paying -but that is tempting fate! I have also been invited to go to a performance of "A Christmas Carol" in Fulda!
So - im off to go and see a performance of "A Christmas Carol" in Fulda. looking forward to it actually. Its another chance for me to feel cultured!

Ill check in again sometime soon..   I think December is going to be busy!

Looking ahead, by looking backwards

Exactly this time last month, I was at work, helping children to dip candles, having the prospect of moving to a new country in 3 days weighing me down for the entire shift.

They say that "a lot can happen in a month". Personally, I do not need any more proof that this saying is true.

I personally believe that I haven't been this happy for a fair time - and that's not to say I haven't been happy, just not this happy!  (:D smiley face to prove the point...)

Though it hasn't been long since I last updated my Blog, I thought I would update it today anyway!

Last week at school was brilliant! I think it was because I have found my feet, know where everything is , I have visited all of my classes now and I am beginning to have friends that I don't think I will ever lose contact with.

Monday was the same old - I have 2 lessons on a Monday - and one of them is with the teacher I stayed with for the few days, so it is always good! The other is with the 9th Grade - who are MENTAL - but in a good way!

Tuesday, my busiest day is always good - there is one lesson particularly that I look forward to, for no other reason but there is one lesson that is always a learning experience!  its mental - and the other staff that I am friendly always laugh (both hysterically and awkwardly) when I tell them about it - but I think it is great - because it is always different! (both meanings of the word!)
Wednesdays are good to - I have my own class that i teach - they don't know it yet but we are watching the Simpsons in English next week!

I enjoy Thursdays because I teach the FCE class - who tend to be very good, but lack confidence! - so i bribe them to talk with sweets!
This Thursday in particular enjoyed too - I went to a colleagues' house for a bit of a social night - we had a few beers, played some games and had a great chat!!   I had a brilliant night - and it was a great chance to learn more about the school and the systems in Germany!

Friday, I do nothing usually. Its my day off, so I normally use it to prepare for the week ahead , because then I have the weekend free! I went to get my bank card and PIN though this week - and since then keep repeating my pin under my breath so I don't forget it when I got o change it! (cause I will!)

Then, Yesterday...   Yesterday!
Its the start of the Oktoberfest season here - so everything turn Bayerisch for the period - EVERYTHING!
typical Bayerisch music, typical Bayerisch food and of course, Typical Bayerisch Beer!*

*German beer is deceptive - the bottle may say 5%, yes - but its a German 5% - which can be anything up to 3x the strength of the UK 5%, depending on which beer you buy!

I was in Fulda during the day with 2 other FSAs - we had a nice day just walking around - and I appreciated the time to speak English! - After that, I met up with 4 other of the Younger Colleagues from school, for a night that was described as "a few drinks"

well - first - they taught me about German beer - not that I am complaining - it was really interesting, and now i know what I will be ordering , and can sample some of the other wears here - instead of "eine Flasche Becks, bitte!"  I started with a bottle of becks and one of the members of staff looked at me , apused and shook his head.  He said "Eugh, you're definitely English aren't you!"(in a jokey way)  and then declared it was his round...



OH..  Dear...

It was the size of my Face and it could, on hot days, be used as a swimming pool!

and to give you the full picture...

This was that member of staff!

For someone who doesn't drink much this was an adventure...and remember the point about percentages..  this was a , quote from the bar lady:- "Timid"  12% - by German standards!   FAIL!

The other great thing was that these members of staff did not teach English, so I had to go the whole night Speaking German - and as EVERY person learning a language will know  - its always "better"  (NOT)  when you have had a few ...  

Finally - we ended up in a nightclub in Schlüchtern. - yes, there is a nightclub here..

If you can define it as that - its a basement club with about 2 lights that flash alternately, and the DJ is one of the bar staff that has nothing to do - quite good though, you can order a pint and a song!

We were the only people really dancing. and we only really danced to the English songs so DJ barlady was playing to our liking!!  awesome!

One thing that hit me though is that - not a single person seemed drunk- which was nice!  sure - everyone had  had a bevvy or two - but nothing like the collapsing sacks of shit you get in the English night clubs - no vomit to slip in , nothing!


So the last week has been great - and if the last few weeks set the tone for the entire trip - I really will have a great year this year!

got to head off now though - im off to top my week off with a daily dose for Formula 1!

Typical Tourism!

Moin Moin!

Well, I thought I would update you all since the last few days have been pretty busy!

Well, Friday I was invited on a school trip with the 7th Grade to Frankfurt Zoo!   It is the second oldest Zoo in Germany and has a serious breeding program for rare and endangered animals.

There are some odd things about it..     1st - it is right slap bang in the middle of the city center. it is really odd looking at a rare frog or flamingo and finding that the ICE train to Berlin is flying past next to you! the second is that - there are very few fences!  some animals obviously need it - bird etc - but for most, they just have a moat between you and them - weird!!

The animals all seem happy though and they interact with the guests really well, like these little guys...

The monkey chasing a finger

The new Baby seal playing against the window

The zoo was a really good day - German children are the most difficult to understand because they talk fast, and with loads of colloquial words in their language too...it meant that I could really get to know the class - and everyday German!!     it ended up with the German kids telling me the words in German, and then me telling them in English!!
apart from that - it gave me the chance to see Frankfurt - and it is BIG.

But that was Friday - Saturday i got up and decided to go to Fulda on a day trip.  Armed with my camera I left at 9:30 and was there for 10 - I had a look around, took 3 pics and was on the train back to Frankfurt by 13:30.   I had decided to go and scope the place out - having enjoyed it on Friday - and it is HUGE!

I walked down the main shopping street - which if you don't know what you are looking for and where it is can take you about 3 days anyway! or a full calendar month for ladies!
I found (but didn't do this time) a skyscraper with a viewing platform at 200 Storys - so , one for the future.

Frankfurt has the label of being a very financial and ugly city, but it is very much a city of two halves..
I went see the Rathaus - which is really nice - it is like walking from a massive modern city into a typical German town. all around one square, umpa band, leather trousers..you know the drill..  the Rathaus is impressive anyhow...

Rathaus Frankfurt

The Rathaus is in a square, near to loads of churches and a cathedral.  Its actually a really great place and there are loads of resteurants around it with outdoor seating too!

German Band, Leather Trouders!

Having eaten an Ice cream and loved the Umpa band, I headed towards a shopping center that had a viewing gallery...   didn't want shopping, just wanted this...

Frankfurt Skyline

 Its pretty Special..
So it pretty much has everything.

The highlight of the day for me came at about 5:30PM, when i bit the bullet and went on the boat trip.

EUR 6 for 50 mins,  EUR 8 for 100mins..  cheap as chips!
the 100 mins wasn't running, due to the time of day, but the 50 mins I has were brilliant!

It gives you an opportunity to see the city from the river, and get pictures like this...

The Frankfurt Skyline and a Setting Sun

 yeah, im pretty impressed with that photo!
these were also boats like these (left)  they are like dinghies but they have an umbrella, a small motor and a BBQ in the middle - you can rent them!

I want one!!  :D





on the way home I bumped into an Irish bad - I 'Fell' inside and had a nice chat with an Irish bloke Called Anthony - cheers for the Pint, mate!

So - that was my weekend!!  awesome!!

today I have spend chilling, and eating eggy soldiers !
Bliss!!

anyway...

In a bit, Beef!