And now.. the Visitor, becomes the visited!

To say that it has been a long time since I have posted on here may be an understatement! its been a hell of a final year at uni and im pretty pleased to be able to say that it is now all over!

I haven't graduated yet..  (after reading my blog, do you really think that it would go smoothly?!)   no!

I decided that a better way to spend exam week would be to be in Hospital for a few days. This meant that I missed a sports exam. I have re-taken, but Graduation is scheduled for December 2012.

I've applied and been successful for a new Job. Im now in the police force! (totally different!) and I start in November.


Im free all the way through September. Ill be dipping candles for a few weeks (im not explaining that!) but for one week, its all going on!

Im very excited to announce that 2 of my classes from when I did my year abroad are coming over to London for a week! This makes me very happy!

Its a shame that the lack of time in my life has meant that I haven'
I hope they are excited as I am! im sure that some of their excitement will be that they are going on a trip, and that they are visiting a different country etc etc..    But hopefully they will be happy for a reunion!

I don't think they realise how much I miss them, I still have all of the photos and memories posted on my bedroom wall. My desktop background is a slide show of all of my pictures from Germany. It may have been a long time ago, but Schlüchtern is still my 'Happy Place'

To been able to go and see them as much as I wanted to. Instead, im becoming a massive English 3rd wheel on their trip!

and so, for one week in September, I will be getting drunk and living it up with the students who became my friends!  what more could you want?

3 weeks back in the UK

So..   I'm Sitting at home right now. Its a Sunday and I have been home for 3 weeks. ( I think!)

Its been 3 weeks where I have literally not sat down!

Arriving home was a good feeling!  My dad picked me up from the airport after a nightmarish trip home! I got to Frankfurt and found that I was 3 KG overweight.  The weather was about 25 Degrees C and sunny.   I was already dragging a 26KG suitcase, a seriously heavy laptop bag and a hand luggage bag too (complete with Xbox :P) and I was wearing the Usual for me - a hoodie, T-shirt, jeans and I had even put my coat on as space was lacking somewhat.

I had to lose 3KG ..  FAST.    What did I do?  I dragged out another 3 Hoodies and put them on..  it was fine, for anout 6 seconds..  then, it was hell

The Heat was dreadful. I was like a fat person in a disco.   awful..  and then, things were made several times better..  because I was going through security

"hello sir, jacket off please and all electronic devices need to be in their own tray"
"thank you sir, could you remove that hoodie please?"
"and that one"
"and..  that one..."
"and the fourth one as well please"

I think even he lost count at how many questions he had.

THEN.. they asked me where I was flying to.   "home" was a particularly unhelpful answer, but after the hoodie- ordeal that was my answer.    I then answered "Manchester, via Heathrow" and they looked at my xbox.

The nice man with lots of questions decided that it needs to be scanned for explosive materials.  My response was :

"The only thing explosive about my xbox is my performance on Call of Duty"

This was not funny to the nice man with lots of questions, and no sense of humor...

Anyway. The pain was awful.. heat and heavy bags had taken their toll , but I was finally on the plane
I got to Heathrow and there was an announcement.

DELAYED!

Balls.   I was not impressed.
Then, at the scheduled time, we were all summoned to gate A1

We were nit delayed, so we were part of a cruel joke.. 

Anyway, in time, tired, 25KG lighter after serious fluid loss, I was in Manchester. I picked up my case, and went to find Dad.  I was back in the UK



Since this journey - one that only hobbits and wizards have had more epic ones- I have had weeks of being everywhere.

I have had to repair my car - this is a whole different story, and has resulted in a new car..
I have planned, prepped, sorted, run, come home from and tidied after a Scout camp for a weekend with 60 children.
I have run a stall, with the scouts at a church fete - which i have bitched and been pissy about since because me and my scouts were treated badly, (different story)
and I have continued to run scouts and beavers, as well as buy a new car - as stated before.

Its been tough.
Germany has been in my mind though. I have been Whatsapp-ing some people and still seeing the facebook statuses of the people there. Sadly, I did not make the Matinee, which was disappointing, but it means that I will go for Kaltermarkt!   Its been 3 weeks of settling in that have been spent doing all the above, as well as the usual things like tidying and also sorting all the issues that my mother had that she could not solve, like "the TV is broken" and "why does my phone not do that?"  

But maybe, it will slow down now?  I dunno..  we shall see! 

Easter, The Holidays and what that all means

Yesterday, I booked my flights home.  Though this time, it was not for a trip to Sunderland to see my Mate, or a galavant to London for a Football Game. No. This time...  its one way.

It was painful, pressing the 'Confirm' on the website was tough, not for financial reasons, but because pressing that 'confirm' button also confirms the end of my year abroad.  At the moment, it is almost like knowing the day I will die..  i really, don't know what to do

However, over the last few weeks, we have had Easter, and the School Holidays. So I thought I would update you on all of that shabang!

The first week of the Summer Holidays, brought about some reasonably weather. It was nice to relax and have a pint on the Balcony, with some (not too nice) Strawberries and feel very spring like.  I used this time to relax, as it had been a tough few weeks in the school, with exams and the dreaded TIMETABLE CHANGE!  (dun dun durrrrr!!)

I think that My xbox was close to going on strike afterjust the first day.
The Formula one also started , so despite the holidays, I was up at silly O'clock to watch it on TV :D

The Easter weekend came, and I had been invited to go to stay with a teacher, so that I could experience a "German Easter"

On Good Friday, we woke up to some very unwelcome weather. It had been snowing. Opening the window was a stupid idea, because as soon as you did, your nose fell off with how cold it was.
Freezing.

Anyway, we drove for about 40 mins in total through some really nice German countryside, seeing all of the surrounding Villages  until we got to a car park. We were meant to walk for 3 hours, but weather had prevented that. so instead, we walked for an hour.. to a PUB!




We had a few drinks there, and then walked back. The pub was in the middle of a field in the middle of nowhere, but I was informed that on a hot day, its heaving..  fine! but it was dead when we were there

Once we Walked Back, we went up the hill to a  restaurant, Pub, youth hostel combo that was just off the road. I expected it to be dead - good friday, up a snowy hill and off the main road..  WRONG! it was brimming with people!

There, we had something to eat and Beer..  lots and lots of beer. and then some more. We stayed overnight there and had breakfast. It was a great social night, and I got to practice the art of speaking a foreign language when hammered!  VERY acquired Skill!

When we woke up, which, after the amount of beer I had drunk, anytime was going to be too early.  Whoever had build the place needed to sort their act out because on waking up, i notice that the door (and everything else in the room) was moving..     although.. that MAY have been the beer..  I dunno.

However.. once it had stopped spinning.. this was the view...

anyway..  we gingerly got home and I was dropped off at my flat for a few hours, to get a shower and sort some clothes out. I was then picked up and was taken to this teacher house for the Saturday night and Sunday.

Saturday night was an insight. The amount of work that the Germans put into their Easter is amazing...  It is all about the children and pretty much on Par with Christmas.

First, they spend hours colouring Eggs. with Die..   its is a painstaking event that requires a woman. Nothing Sexist, but we were two blokes, and ours were..  frankly, Crap.   This teacher's Sisters' on the other hand.. well..  she must have had a slave or an egg-painting machine somewhere..  we managed to do 6 shitty ones.. she had 40.. and they were amazing!

Anyway, Easter Sunday in Germany is a very religious affiir, so whilst the Teacher took his son to church in the morning, I slept!   once back, I was on child distracting duty..  whilst the eggs that we had coloured, as well as chocolate and everything else was hidden in the garden.

I saw a car, and as a joke asked: "does the easter bunny come in the car?"
I was told, by a 5 year old, that I am totally stupid and he obviously hops..  

Burn

The kids hunted for the eggs, and checked and checked again, and after an hour..  it was time to go inside for dinner..  This was chaos.. but that good type of chaos that you love to be involved in. Children being children, who also get Presents for Easter, so they are opening them and enjoying playing with their new toys.  We had dinner, which was lovely. Then, Easter was over


A few days went by, and one of my Best friends came over. Not the Sunderland one, but the Scotland one! :D  Once again,we did all of the tourist-y things..  we went to Frankfurt, ate German food and..  drank beer!
I hadn't seen him for over 3 years, but it was amazing how easy it was to talk. Enough to discuss, and really, like we had never been apart !  Just how it should be !

Once he had gone, It was back to School. we have been back 2 weeks now, and its again, Business as Usual.

I think you are sufficiently bored! till next time! :D

Time really does only go forward....

Today, I looked in my diary at school.
I do it every day, so that I can write down what I have done with each class and what we are doing next lesson.

I love my diary, it keeps me organised, and it also helps me to remember what I have done whilst I have been here!

It usually brings good news: Things that I look forward to and things that I have thoroughly enjoyed in the months that I have now spend here.

However, today, It only brought bad news..

Its only 2 weeks until Easter.  This news is so bad, that the start of the F1 season in 10 days, was scarcely a consolation.

To understand why this is such bad news, you will need to know that my last day at work here in Germany, is the 30th May.  This means that from the start of the Easter Holidays, I only have 70 days left in Germany and, due to the holidays, only 41 days left in school, after taking away the weekends and Fridays that I don't work.


It got me thinking.  I have spent a long time here, doing a job I really enjoy in a country I will never forget, in a town that will always be special to me and with people that I hope I will never lose contact with.

This kinda makes this the most relevant blog post for anyone who is planning  year abroad.

I can remember March last year. I was in Sunderland, going to lectures and trying my best to get as much information as I could about this year abroad.
I can remember even more prominently, June onwards, when I really had to plan this trip. I was stressed out and at one point, simply declared that I wasn't going to do it, specifically using the Facebook status

"This trip to Germany can fuck off now"

As im sure you can guess. I feel pretty stupid for putting that right now.

I began to realise, that Germany has been good to me, and not just from an educational point of view.
Linguistically , it has been amazing. My German has come on 10 fold and I really enjoy speaking German in Germany. Knowing that I rely on it forces me to speak it, because there are times that you simply don't have the option to speak English and THAT is how you learn

In terms of Experience; It really has provided.  I have lived by myself now for a fair few months.  It is great at times. Peace, quite and the ability to have thing how you want, when you want and what you want is great. It gives some freedom in the sense that there is no one here to moan If I don't tidy up, forget to turn the light off, or  don't put my mug in the wash.  I have learned to manage without an Oven, and with only basic cooking utensils and managing a budget for food and I have very much learnt to manage money for my rent.
The negative side to this , is that living alone is precisely that. Alone.   The silence is, at times, unbearable and I really feel for my best mate at home who can, at times be relentlessly pestered by me - apologies mate!
but i suppose it brings out the creativity in you! its amazing how exciting German grammar can be when you are bored!

Aside from that, this year has pretty much set my future in stone.   I now cannot wait to be a teacher, and the experience I have gained will be invaluable when applying for my PGCE.   I love this job.  yes, i moan at times about the early mornings and suchlike... but I think ill find, that its what 'working' is all about!!

And then, there is the..    well...  its kinda..     basically,
Its everything I have seen, Everything I have done, Everything I have heard, Everything I have tasted, Everything I have felt and Everything I have said..   Germany has really provided this year, and im sure that the last 70 days will keep on giving it.  Nothing will rival this, and it have been made all the more special when I think that I was about to give up on it a few weeks before I came here.

Above all, the people here that I have met, whether teacher, Student, fellow Fremdsprachenassistent or just that man that says hello to me every single morning - they have made it for me..

Im not going to say my thank-yous yet. I do still have a few weeks left, but looking through that diary today has really been a hit home.

If you are a Language student, im sure that you can see how fantastic a year abroad can be.  The last few posts I put on here will be the ones for you guys..  as well as the usual antics! :P

faschings.. its weird!

Faschings..   Its a celebration that happens every year in Germany. It is to say goodbye to the cold dark winter (and take it from me.. it was very dark and stupidly cold at times) and to welcome in the Spring.

If someone told you that, without knowing what goes in during 'Faschings' im sure there are many ways you could think of to celebrate this period in the year.
I first though, of maybe a dinner with the family, a firework display or even..a day of work!

The last one was about the closest I got.We did get a day off school (some people even got 2!)  and why did we get monday off school..

so that we could all go an be part of a parade! (if you didn't get that... you must be feeling pretty stupid!)

Yes. Faschings happens ever year here (fitting, as so does spring)  The Germans welcome Spring with parades, loud music, dancing, sweets , days off work, and of course..  Beer!!

There are some rules, that all those going must (and it is a must) abide by.

1) be horrendously drunk.. if you are not drunk.. you will suffer the same issue as I did (which I will clear up later)
2) though you may be drunk..  drink more..  because this will clearly make things better
3) yell  "HELAU" to everyone you see.. no matter what they may be doing
4) dance in the middle of the road
5) find the most stupid costume you can.. something that you wouldn't be seen dead in..  and wear it

Yes.. you have to do these things..  and , for someone who had never heard of it before January (bad really!)  It was completely bizarre.

I live :
- 20 minutes from Fulda
- 60 minutes from Frankfurt
- 90 minutes from Mainz (the biggest Faschings in Germany)

Where..  with all of these places did I decide to go.. I hear you ask

Steinau -_-

Yes.. Steinau..  located just 10 minutes away from my town. I went to Steinau.. and encountered many  of my students in states that  I would never usually see them in..     (that is a nice way of saying that they were drunk!)

I encountered English students dressed as Pirates, Mexicans, police officers and everything in between..  in the UK.. this would be way to over the top..

Well the parade was great. It basically consists of local groups of ... things..   who have mobbed local farmers for the use of a tractor and trailer..  they then proceed to choose a theme, and decorate the trailer as such.   They then attach speakers and play VERY cheesy music through it whilst driving through the center of some town whilst lobbing sweets and various other things at small and unsuspecting children - probably dressed as a gorilla or something.

Although strange.. it is in fact a really good time, and for families it must be great. It is however odd..  watching children dressed as  an Argos catalogue or whatever scurrying along the floor picking up sweets - especially when I bet any amount of money that for the rest of the year, the parents tell their kids off for it!!   I took plenty of pics too...











Ill add pics soon..  please check back!!  :D














After all of this..  one of the colleagues that I was with decided that it was time for what he referred to as "kaltentanz"  ( he was already sloshed..  so he could have meant anything)    we were then frogmarched  (awkward word?  being in Germany??   im gonna use it..)   to a square in front of the main castle in Steinau.

This square is usually..  a really nice place to be.. especially when the sun is out and there are very few people. there is a lovely castle, its very quiet and you can take your time time appreciate the lovely and historical surrounding of the place where the brothers Grimm (as in the load of stories) were born and grew up.

This time.. I arrived to what could only be called "alcohol-related devastation"

There was a whole Shrewdness (that's the collective noun usually used for Apes) of individuals of all ages who were hammered.. and were, upon my arrival.. going GANGNAM STYLE...
my life has taken me in some odd directions..   but this was well up there...

As I said before.. I was reasonably sober.  I had drunk..  but was still in the frame of mind to think logically.. and walk in a straight line - as well as be able to tell what imbeciles everyone else looked.

I really wanted to have a drink.. but I had been (and still was at the time) full of cold. Through many reasons.. my body does not react well to having a cold (and one of those reasons is not that I am a bloke!., well ok it is.. but not the main reason..)  

I decided that it was time to take stock of the situation.

I was in Steinau, dressed as a robber, in the middle of Hessen, Germany. I was with about 1000 other german people who were very drunk, attempting to do Gangnam style with varying amounts of success, shivering so much that the British thought I was trying to send Morse code and It was beginning to go dark. I had also just had an encounter with a gorilla that was slightly too close for comfort.

I decided, that due to the lack of a coffee stand, It was time to go. Had there had been coffee.. i would have stayed.. but the cold was pretty dire at this point.. and Beer was not going to help that.. no matter how much I had.  I had kinda hoped to stay longer.. but not in that frame of mind..

So .. I boarded the next train home (still dressed as a robber!)  and went back to the Flat

I will celebrate Faschings properly at some point.. it is now on my bucket list..   but this year was not the year..  

more to come soon!

long time, lots to tell!

So first, I guess I have to apologies that I haven't posed for a while. I have been busy, and it has taken a while to find the time to post anything!

Once again, we have snow!  That is all im saying on that..   cause im sure its as boring for you ho hear about as it is for me to have here!

I was in Sunderland last week for a multitude of reasons ! Great weekend , so cheers mate! and thanks for your help!

Work has been the usual. It was very easy to come back after Christmas, settling into the routine like it was only a weekend that I was away for, and although we have now started the second "Halb Jahr" or half year, my timetable is unchanged, so I don't have to learn new names or have to introduce myself again!

The other weekend, I was in Gelnhausen. Its only a 20 minute ride on the train away, but its a nice sized town with some good things to see

Church Lit up at night

Main square

Gelnhausen was a good day trip. not to tiring and nice to see the other Language Assistants. we had some nice food and managed to catch up after the Christmas Holidays.  and not too expensive either!!  there was, of course also the token beer! :D

Few weeks later, I went for a night out in a suburb of Frankfurt called Groß-Gerau.  Interesting night!  very different to a night in Schlüchtern.  They gave you cards and everything was paid for on that, afterwards, you paid at the door when you left!! DANGEROUS!! luckily, it only came to 15 Euros.

I have also planned to go to Mainz for the festival Season. There will be a post on that soon, which is why this is so short!

so, I will be posting in the next week or so!

Finally.. I have come back!

Christmas this year was very interesting..      I spent plenty of time away from home, seeing my mates, my dad and stepmum and the rest of the family too..     so all was good!!

I am now back in Germany.. and - apart from everyone wishing me a "Happy New Year!" , its pretty much like I have never really been away!  The town's Christmas Decorations are gone, the sales are over and the only real sign that it is (near) Christmas is that there is a slight dusting of snow on the floor right now.

This makes me realise that I was actually really comfortable here.. I put that partially down to the people of the school and local area.. but it was really nice to come back and slip in as if nothing had happened.

The three weeks of Christmas flew by in one respect, and dragged in another.  I was really happy to be going home for so many reasons. The break was great and the lie ins were awesome! I managed to see most of the family and even travel to London to see (one of my two) best mate(s) for new years Eve!  it was the first time for a few years that I didn't work for it !  so I could also afford the odd drink!

The Christmas period was typical. ..  the usual stuff that every family tends to do (and some things that other families just don't do..  especially this year...)   and it as the same in that we got all excited for something that is the same every time!!

It was the first Christmas that I noticed the change since turning 18..and not being a kid anymore.

Christmas eve was spent in the Indian - very sophisticated- with Prosecco and curry!

the run up to me coming back to Germany was slightly rocky..  I had other things on that were unavoidable and due to this, I didn't actually manage to pack properly.. and - I would say that the two things I forgot were some of the most important .. like...  towels.. and my bed sheets..  dammit!!

The day that I was flying came and I was waiting at the door like a dog for my dad to pick me up..  it was definitly time to get back to what has now become normality with some great colleges and some great friends now too!  I enjoyed seeing everyone.. but the time to go back was the right time!!

I am now here till may.. I may have the odd adventure here and there.. but only the one planned so far.. ..    I cant see it being difficult to stay here for a solid 5 months..

sorry that this entry is a tad on the "mopey Christmas" side and very little to do with my "adventures in germany"  but , I thought it was time for an update.. and to let you all know that I am enjoying this year abroad so much, that I was actually desperate to come back !!

cheers!

There is no place like it... Home

Home.  There are lots of different definitions of it, but I usually use the on that is "Wherever you feel at home",

I have a few places that I consider Home. Sunderland is my second Home.   I have made some amazing mares there.
but the other one is that place I grew up in.  Where my parents are.  and , In less than 75 hours. That is exactly where I will be!

I had a small taste of it last weekend, I flew to Sunderland to see one of the two people I call my "Best Mates" . The weekend was one I will never forget for a lot of reasons. But one of the main reasons was the sheer Horror that I had with Public Transport.

Being clever, I decided to choose the cheapest. This was with KLM and it was from Frankfurt to Newcastle with a change of flight in Amsterdam.
As a lot of people will tell you , I plan everything down to the last second. It will be followed to this plan, and If it goes astray, then, the world may aswell end.
I knew that this was especially important here, because of the change over in Amsterdam, which I had less than an hour for.

The way there was not too bad.  Big Shout out the the "best mate" I was visiting who told me to sit at the back of the plane.   Cheers mare !  We were swapped onto a rear- engined plane...  it was awful! But , in true mate style..  he found this Hilarious!

My 'Window' is hidden.. its behind the engine... -_-

I got to Amsterdam with the constant ring of D# in my ears..  Then, I had to go for it .
- Check in to next flight
- Passport control
- Security Check
- the 7km (well, that is what it always feels like!) walk to gate D24

sorted! got to the flight in time, and made it to Sunderland.

Typical LADS weekend really:
- Beer, Steak, Football, Half of Batman  (inside joke!)  and buying DVDs that are on the 2 for £10 at HMV
(although, that can be baffling at times, too..  )   (another inside joke!)

I Enjoyed the weekend. Seeing my mate, and being back 'home' was night. I did speak German to people and I forgot that the cars come from the other Direction.. but apart from that..   fine!

It was on the way back.

Dear god.
I think I lost about 10 years off my like due to this trip.

Set off from Newcastle, Slightly late (don't know how, only about 4 planes go there) and Arrived in Amsterdam late too.  Had 50 mins to get to my next flight...

GO!

- Check-in was terrible.. machine was very slow and  took about 5 attempts -_-
- Passport control: some advice - if there are well over 500 people queuing to have their passoort checked..  maybe it worth opening a second line??     just a thought
- Security.... well..   do I have to say anything??   I chose the one queue where no matter how much they checked..  that guy still sets the scanner off..    annoying..

then..  Gate..

E89     ..  I was like Basil Fawlty!
"Well, that is just perfect!"

Off I went..       and got to the plane late..  the plane held 100 poeple..  I had 99 of them starting at me..and then an announcement..
"Sorry ladies and gentlemen, we are going to be delayed slightly, as we have a passenger from Newcastle who's bag needs to be loaded on"

THAT WAS ME!

got to Frankfurt late, Schedule was Ballsed and I really needed to get home.  I was pleased with KLM. None of the delays were their fault, I was late in and they waited for one passenger.   I would recommend then to anyone!
I got on the train from the Airport to the main station, I got the platform and could have Waved goodbye to the driver.   SHIT..  missed it..

Double Shit...  Last train of the night...
triple shit..  what the hell do I do now...

see...  no train....    :/

I was a minute too late.

I, being smart, went to the pub!  It had Wifi and I could form a plan!
Wifi was broke..  luckily the pump wasn't - I could have drunk it dry.   partially for missing the train, partially for doing that thing that Mr Bean does  on "Mr Bean's Holiday" when he did the same.

Well, I had no choice, I was stuck..  I was going to spend the night there, but how and where?
there were 3 options

1- the 24hr Mcdonalds
2- sit in the station and listen to music
3- find a hostel.

I went with number 3. Reluctantly. After being in the pub it was now 1 am and the first train was at 5:26 am. But I was tired, slightly fed up, and it had begun to rain.
I found one, and got my head down for a few hours kip.  Caught my first train, and managed to do a day of work too..     How.. I dunno..  well.. I do..  I had Irn Bru from the UK!


But anyway. Though my ell with public transport makes me want to walk home, My flight is at a good time, I will be on the first train I can be after work so I definitely don't miss the flight, and the flight is a direct Lufthansa flight.   So - hopefully, no issues!


I cant wait to go home. There are some aspects that I can wait for - and not always the ones that are always there, but I need a break, and I need to say hello to the Family.  It has been the same amount of time as it would have been at University, but taking in all that I have, from the sights, sounds and smells of Germany, to the Culture, Language and routine. I am tired.   I am pleased that I had a visitor halfway through, cause It broke it up and Im always happy to see a good mate :)

I feel weird about it. Im looking forward to it (my suitcase is already packed) but I know that I could stay here If I needed to, easily. I guess after the tough weekend of transport before, and the taste of the UK.. I am pretty ready to head back to the family.

So. I hope this week goes fast, I hope that I can get home and Enjoy a beer with my dad and see my brothers again.  I have a small trip planned for Xmas, but the plans need to be finalized there.

I don't know when this will next be updated.. but If I don't see you, or write another one...  then Have a good Christmas.. and all the best, for 2013

2013 is set to bring a lot. F1, more Germany, the start of my final Uni year and some other stuff that I am very excited about too.  It is gonna be hard at times..   but - if its easy, where is the point?

till next time!

Its the start of a 365 page book.. When you write it, make it a good one...

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

A week of Expereinces

Before I Start, I would like to say Hello to the lovely students of mine that read this !!   HI! :D
Anyway...
Nearly a week an a half ago days ago, on Thursday 1st November, I was on my was to Frankfurt Airport to pick up a friend who was arriving from England.  I got their pretty much as his flight took off, so I had a fair while to wait whilst I was waiting for him to arrive.

His flight was on the board.. but the 2 hour flight from Heathrow seemed to be taking a long time!

I had a few beers, a coffee, a sandwich and still had about an hour left to wait. But then, at that moment - it got much more exciting, with the arrival of a coach load of Police.

Yes, a coach dropped them off. blue lights, sirens and a whole heap of noise. But they got off calmly, more like a load of pensioners at Llandudno and then walked into the terminal.

They walked in  line, to a part of the terminal, turned around and then one police officer (with 3 start on his shoulder) Shouted "ladies and gentlemen, please leave the building immediately"  (but in German first)

there was a pause.. people who were waiting for friends, loved ones or colleges just ..stared...  and questioned..  I half expected a man to appear from nowhere with the phrase "yeah, right!"

The policeman rolled his eyes, and with the look of a guy about to give up yelled (in very clear English)
"There could be a bomb, get out!"

The Cordon

People understood that!  but this is Germany.. there was no running, screaming or tripping over, no crying children that had been separated from their mother - NO. Everyone, as if they were now walking to the shops shrugged their shoulders and began to walk silently away from the cordoned off area. The shops along the side of the airport started to roll their shutters down and we were out of the 'effected area' within seconds.

There was of course the odd person who argued the case, but the police soon taught them the meaning of the words "bomb scare" and soon 'assisted' them into the safe area!

We stood, watched and waited...  no news was coming through, no radio communications from the police, just about 400 sets of eyes watching to see what was going to happen

What  did happen?

A thumb up...

The airport was open again..   and that was it ..   after 15 minutes of a scene that would only be in the 'deleted scenes' of an action movie, everything was back to normal in seconds.

This happened twice. The second time, was conveniently as my friend was coming through the arrival gate:

"Welcome to Germany: We have a Bomb scare"

Anyway, I picked him up, we headed to the trains, and to be fair - it was like the last time we had seen each other was yesterday...

There was a race on (so I thought) to catch the last train from Frankfurt to Schlüchtern - as I was not willing to spend a night in a shitty hotel in Frankfurt..  anyway, it turns out that we had enough time to get a Mcdonalds! Win!

Friday (so exactly a week ago) we went to Frankfurt.  This was odd..   Not for any other reason, but that for all the touristy things I had been doing not 6 weeks ago, I was now the tour guide to a bloke who had never set foot in Germany...

We did the typical...
Main Tower

Town Hall

The boat ride was not running, annoying - because if you have read my previous blogs, you will know how much I liked it!

Shopped a tad

Food

Sightseeing.

The Daytime Main Tower View - Richtung: Hauptbahnhof

It was a good day - the only slight issue was the weather.  But - as people from the UK, we could manage a bit of crappy weather! It was howevera goo day.With another citizen of the UK being won over by Germany. I was pleased that my freind felt this way!

Throughout the previous week however, My little hometown was being destroyed by Pikeys, turning up with their funfairs and sweet-selling stalls, causing road closures and keeping the shops open late. But, at the same time.. they were creating one of the biggest events in Schlüchtern's Year

Kaltermarkt.

Basically, the cold market - and I wouldn't call it a market, but the chance to eat every possible food going, get hammered and then throw it up on the fair!

Still. It turns Schlüchtern into a nice place, with all the lights, sounds and smells of a typical market!

Kaltermarkt in the dark

Kaltermarkt

The Fair at Kaltermarkt

Me and my Friend went on the Saturday. 

Well, it was pretty good!  When I say "pretty good" , I mean i liked it - but im conscious that for those who go every year, its just the same thing.. over and over again...

Well, my friend speaks no German - he can say a few words, but only because I forced him to! so we were sampling the wears of the market, everything from the food, to the beer to to chocolate! We met up with 2 colleges  and had a chat etc etc  and it was all very enjoyable!

I am an Air rifle instructor. I earned this title about a year and a half ago. So I am now pretty well practiced.

There was, at the fair, an air rifle stand, and of course, I wanted a go.

I had 61 shots over the weekend..  I hit all of them... accept 1.  I was gutted! (and still am, as my mate will tell you!)  But, never the less - I won some Fish (they are stuffed ones, not real ones!)  At the bottom is a video of me hitting 15 of the targets...

Me on the rifle range!

Fireworks

So much so that we ended up going on Sunday too! Sunday had a slight difference, however - which was the firework display! 

The kaltermarkt was handy..  especially because we could go at any time. This meant that we could watch the Formula 1 too! :D 

Anyway, all too soon, Monday came around, and it was the day when I had to take my friend back to the airport...

It took the usual amount of time and I saw him off (more to make sure he had gone! :P) and got home at the ripe old time of 3PM, where I bumped into some of the teachers from the school

I ended up in the Handball tent.. downing pints of beer...  

and that..  is what I remember of Kaltermarkt..

Anyway, a week past at work, as per..   On tuesday, I inadvertently managed to accept an invitation to a 'class meeting'.  Again, Germans know the meaning of a "meeting"

We has steak. Argentinian, to be exact  and it was big enough to hang off the plate!  Cooked to perfection "englisch"style (or Medium rare to english folk) it was awesome. The chips and everything were bliss!
I had:
A steak that hung off the plate
A huge pile of chips
Salad
2 Beers

Total:  €16.80...
BOOM!   Germans can do steak too,it seems!


Now, though Friday's steak adventure was great, and Saturday was a (well needed, though I say so myself) rest. Sunday was a day of peculiarity.

Sunday was 11\11\12 - or Remembrance Day in the UK

As a Scout, I have spent the last 15 years getting up early, ironing my trousers and my shirt, and heading out to church.
This was not the case.
Germans do have a day of remembered, but its in March, as is not on the scale that it is in the UK.

I had to remember the time difference, so actually  my 2 minutes were going to happen at 12 which was the first odd thing. But the second was when I actually did the silence.

I had the TV off..   But I could here:

- Next doors TV

- a car alarm

- people talking walking the dog

- Police sirens

- a man on the phone

- someone coming up the stairs

Though I am fully aware that it is not the day Germany has set aside for this event, It was very strange, realising that a whole country, frozen for 2 minutes of reflection, with people pulling over in cars, people standing up from a seated position, and hundreds of war veterans from every generation were standing, paused in thought, whereas the other - went about its business ..

I don't really know my true feelings .. I guess that Germany's view on the whole period is different to the UK's.. but I cant get my head around it...  and .. somehow   don't think I ever will..

On a different note: My time here.

- I am beginning to 'gear up' for the wind down to Christmas. Though it pains me to say that word in November!

I see statuses on Facebook and Twitter about Christmas songs and the Coke advert and Im kinda glad that Germany's attitude isn't so materialistic, so we don't have a toys'R'us advert every 2 minutes, or the next cheap wifey offering me some shite that Iceland are selling..

What I am realising, is that 80 days ago today, I was spending my last night in an English bed, and that since then I have managed to survive pretty well.

I am in (as near as) full time work here, I have a flat and friends, and most of all,I am doing the job that I want to do in the future.

It has made me realise, that I am absolutely pig sick, of being a student.

Every year, just by signing on to the uni, I spend near enough 4K, and then there is grants and loans as well.  Its not hard work, but at times, it can appear pointless work.
I constantly have to battle with exams and stuff, when here I know that my German has improved, a damn sight faster that it would have done if I have spend the 3 months at uni. Its not free..  But it wont land me in student debt!

Ill be honest, getting back to Sunderland will be bitter-sweet. I like Sunderland  don't get me wrong, but I enjoy working too much to go back to studying. At least it will be my last year before I actually start my full course on teacher stuff. I hope, that by doing the teaching course, I can find some enthusiasm to carry on.

Though oddly, being here has made me realise that I really do waste time in the UK. German can* be learned from a textbook.  What that also means is that , as long as I have the textbook, I can probably use the time in front of the TV to revise grammar.. It takes minutes..   Writing out is a different matter.. but , you don't have to write it out all the time!

*can - one has the ability to - im not commenting on quality,mind

 I am fully aware that I "wont get these years back" and all that Jazz... and I am not going to let all enthusiasm die because I have decided Im fed up of it all...  I just think that when I get back to Sunderland, I need to find a new attitude to it all, especially as it is the final year.

So.. this entry is a mixed basket of Eggs...

nevertheless, Christmas is less than 7 weeks away for me!  Im sure its going to be great fun flying home on the 20th December!  but we shall see!!


below is my Kaltermartk Rifle video....    Enjoy!

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!

GERMANY :D

Well,  I am here- Germany!    Today was a tough day though

Today I have managed to
- Brave terminal 5
- Brave (and I mean brave) the German Passport control
- get from one side of Frankfurt airport to the other for the trains
- get on the right train
-get off at the right stop and
- find my way to the hotel!

I'm pretty chuffed with myself!

Going back to the point about the German passport control:
I went to Berlin a couple of years ago - and i remember the guy on the passport check was really scary - he said nothing, he just looked at you, opened your passport , judged you by your photo, then put it on the desk, and swished his head as if to say "ill let you in.. for now... !"

Clearly , it had a long term effect on me - cause I was sweating like a politician in a room with Jeremy Paxman.

Well when i got there - (my mind may have been playing tricks on me) but the guy looked EXACTLY the same!     he took my passport, looked at it, and swooshed his head!!   my responce was a (quite loud) PHEW!

at that moment - i was stopped and asked to show my passport , but this time to a nice man in a police uniform and a SERIOUS pistol!

luckily, he let me pass too!

so yeah - BRAVED it!

Anyway - after the train i have arrived in Cologne, or Köln, to those in the know!   I was greeted by the pretty serious cathedral!  which is a fair thing!

So yeah - iv only been here about 7 hours now - but i like it !!     i have a lot to do for the next few days, but it should all be sorted!!

free morning tomorrow - then a course to go to!!  Im off to get a daylight pic of the above

turrah all!

Ready for the Off!

Luckily, and in the interest of my own sanity; a lot has happened recently that is for the better! (small dance!)

I now have my accommodation sorted - its very similar to uni accommodation, but I have a Balcony! :P   

so I have a place to stay, a job, contact with colleges.  transport to and from my course all SORTED!     

I will admit that i'm a happy lad!

But now - im ready for the off - not in the sense of "I have everything sorted, so I can physically go"  

more

"I want to go now , please!"

I mean , don't get me wrong; I still have some jitters - I keep doing strange things - just 20 minutes ago I put butter in my coffee instead of milk (long story...!)   and I have very odd airport related dreams too!  (nothing sinister though, I assure you all!)  

But I am packed!!  I have 2 days of work to contend with, so it had to be done whenever I had the time - which was now!   It was tough- i found that , though I don't have many - I appear to have a worrying attachment to my clothes !  I didn't want to leave any of them at home!!     but, despite this (slightly odd) issue - I managed to pack it with 1.5kg spare!!   British Airways will love me!   this includes the NEW stuff I bought the other day!     I am impressed!!  


So -2 days of work , my brothers GCSE results, a trip to Whitchutch and a Lord of the Rings style adventure to Heathrow waits - I may be desperate to go - but I have a long time to wait yet! :/

Talk soon!!   hopefully , the night before I depart!