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!

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