We leave for Bavaria today! First, I had one class in the morning with Heike. All six of the elementary teachers were in the class. The three of us who were with Heike yesterday had the opportunity to observe the other elementary teachers in action! For the rest of the morning Emily and I waited at the school and walked around Werne some. We found an ALDI near the school and looked around. I learned that ALDI was founded in Germany by brothers. We ate lunch at the school and then waited some more for our train.
Our train was leaving from Werne at 4:15. I was glad when the train finally came! We had about a 7 hour train ride to Kempten and we had to change trains a couple of times. Our train was delayed on the way to Ulm, so we got into Kempten later than we wanted because we had to wait for the next train.
A friend of Emily's host mom graciously offered his home for us to spend the night in Kempten. He was there to pick us up at the train station around 11:30pm! He was very nice man for staying out that late and helping us. One thing that holds true is that German people are nice and willing to help people.
Monday, May 12, 2014
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Day 9: April 29th, 2014
Today we were given the chance to teach for the first time in Germany. Three of us, Jennay, Emily, and I were assigned to Heike's classes. So, we observed and taught in her English classes. The reason we are with her is because next week, we will be at the elementary school in Herbern. We had five periods today. Fifth grade was in the morning for two periods. Then seventh grade for two periods, and eighth grade for one period. We did some spontaneous teaching today. During seventh grade, Heike threw me in and had me review with them some grammar sentences with past present tense. It had been a long time since I had learned this grammar, so it was very confusing at first. Plus, the students learn British English and not American English. There is a difference! I did well with it and was glad.In the eighth grade class the three of us talked about small town life in America and helped the students come up with pros and cons to living in a small town.
One thing I like about German schools is that they allow many breaks. After every two periods, the students are given a break. The times very from 25, 20, to 15. The students are allowed to go outside, eat a snack, or use the bathroom. This allows the students to take what we would call in America a "brain break". We need more of those in American schools.
After school Emily and I went with her host mom to Munster to get the German Rail Passes stamped for tomorrows train ride down to Munich. It was a short drive on the autobahn to Munster. That was my first time driving on the autobahn and it was really fun and we went fast! While we were in Munster we walked around and saw some of the churches and castles. While visiting the castle, which is part of the university, there was a small soccer game being played on the lawn out front. When leaving the castle the ball was kicked over our way. I trapped it and passed it back! I was so excited that was the first soccer ball I touched in Germany!!
We arrived home. I ate a quick bit for dinner and then headed up stairs to pack for the weekends trip to Fussen and Munich!
One thing I like about German schools is that they allow many breaks. After every two periods, the students are given a break. The times very from 25, 20, to 15. The students are allowed to go outside, eat a snack, or use the bathroom. This allows the students to take what we would call in America a "brain break". We need more of those in American schools.
After school Emily and I went with her host mom to Munster to get the German Rail Passes stamped for tomorrows train ride down to Munich. It was a short drive on the autobahn to Munster. That was my first time driving on the autobahn and it was really fun and we went fast! While we were in Munster we walked around and saw some of the churches and castles. While visiting the castle, which is part of the university, there was a small soccer game being played on the lawn out front. When leaving the castle the ball was kicked over our way. I trapped it and passed it back! I was so excited that was the first soccer ball I touched in Germany!!
We arrived home. I ate a quick bit for dinner and then headed up stairs to pack for the weekends trip to Fussen and Munich!
Day 8: April 28th, 2014
Today was the first day of student teaching! I woke up and got ready for the day. I went down to breakfast and ate with my host family. For breakfast in Germany they eat granola or cereal with yogurt or room temperature milk, toast or bread with jam or Nutella, and sometimes fruit.
To get to the Anne Frank Gymnasium we have to go to Werne. So, today Jennay's host mom drove us to school on her way to work. We did not have to start teaching today because the Dortmund News came to video tape us at school and in Werne. They wanted to put a segment in the nightly news about Americans coming to student teach in Germany. For most of the day we had people video taping us. For me that was the first time I have been video taped. It was a new experience and I enjoyed it.
We were free to go home after the news team left. A group of us decided to walk into Werne to see the center of town. We walked around for a little bit. We meet up with Jennay's host mom. She took us around to several churches in Werne and then drove us back to Herbern. I ended up coming with Emily to help her work on travel plans for our coming trip to Munich. Afterwards, Emily's host mom took us to see Westerwinkle castle which is a little outside of Herbern. It was a small, but pretty castle. The land around it wad very well kept and beautiful.
When I go home I ate dinner with my family. We talked for awhile about random topics. The dad has many questions for me and likes to practice his English on me. He is good! It was a very interesting first day in Werne, but I already love it!
To get to the Anne Frank Gymnasium we have to go to Werne. So, today Jennay's host mom drove us to school on her way to work. We did not have to start teaching today because the Dortmund News came to video tape us at school and in Werne. They wanted to put a segment in the nightly news about Americans coming to student teach in Germany. For most of the day we had people video taping us. For me that was the first time I have been video taped. It was a new experience and I enjoyed it.
We were free to go home after the news team left. A group of us decided to walk into Werne to see the center of town. We walked around for a little bit. We meet up with Jennay's host mom. She took us around to several churches in Werne and then drove us back to Herbern. I ended up coming with Emily to help her work on travel plans for our coming trip to Munich. Afterwards, Emily's host mom took us to see Westerwinkle castle which is a little outside of Herbern. It was a small, but pretty castle. The land around it wad very well kept and beautiful.
When I go home I ate dinner with my family. We talked for awhile about random topics. The dad has many questions for me and likes to practice his English on me. He is good! It was a very interesting first day in Werne, but I already love it!
Day 7: April 27th, 2014
Most of the day was spent traveling to Werne where we will be student teaching. We had to take an ICE train to Dortmund. From there we would take a smaller train to Werne. The important thing to remember when riding trains anywhere is that they will leave you! It was a scary and exhilarating experience getting on the train. There were 11 of us who needed to get on with all of our luggage. So we had approximately 3 minutes to load all the luggage and get everyone on the train. They started to blow the whistle and we still had two people not on the train. We cut it close, but made it on!
As we approached Werne, I started to become nervous because I was about to meet my host family for the first time. I am very shy when I first meet people. When I got off of the train my host mom, dad, sister, and sister were there to pick me up. They were very welcoming. They leave outside of Werne in a town called Herbern, so we had about a 15 minute drive. On the drive they asked me many questions about my trip and where I come from. When we arrived at the house, they gave me a tour and showed me where I would be sleeping. That evening, we had a family dinner at the table and talked some more. This is a new experience for me (living with a host family), so it will take some getting used to. Tomorrow is our first day of teaching!
As we approached Werne, I started to become nervous because I was about to meet my host family for the first time. I am very shy when I first meet people. When I got off of the train my host mom, dad, sister, and sister were there to pick me up. They were very welcoming. They leave outside of Werne in a town called Herbern, so we had about a 15 minute drive. On the drive they asked me many questions about my trip and where I come from. When we arrived at the house, they gave me a tour and showed me where I would be sleeping. That evening, we had a family dinner at the table and talked some more. This is a new experience for me (living with a host family), so it will take some getting used to. Tomorrow is our first day of teaching!
Day 6: April 26th, 2014
First day of the trip I got to sleep in. Emily and I decided not to go to the concentration camp outside of Berlin with the rest of the people. We stayed behind so we could see some more around Berlin. While the others were at the concentration camp, Emily and I decided to go back to the Tiergarten. We walked through the park and saw the Liberty Statue and Bellevue (Presidents House). Then we went to a small lake and rented a row boat for 30 minutes. That was my first time in a row boat. The technique to rowing was hard at first, but after 15 minutes I had a good grasp of it!
Later we meet the others back near the train station for Tiergarten. There we grabbed a bite to eat at a nice little restaurant near by. The restaurant was playing Micheal Jackson music; it was great! There was a flea market taking place across the street, so several of us went to look at all the items they had to offer.
In the evening we had a dinner party for our last night in Berlin. As a group we bought Dr. McGee a gift for graciously showing us around Berlin and making it a great experience. I am sad that we are leaving Berlin tomorrow, but ready for the next part of an already amazing trip!
Later we meet the others back near the train station for Tiergarten. There we grabbed a bite to eat at a nice little restaurant near by. The restaurant was playing Micheal Jackson music; it was great! There was a flea market taking place across the street, so several of us went to look at all the items they had to offer.
In the evening we had a dinner party for our last night in Berlin. As a group we bought Dr. McGee a gift for graciously showing us around Berlin and making it a great experience. I am sad that we are leaving Berlin tomorrow, but ready for the next part of an already amazing trip!
Day 5: April 25th, 2014
Today we had a tour planned in the morning with a lady who lives in Berlin. Her name is Elaine, she is a friend of Dr. McGee. She showed us several different sights on the East side of Berlin.
List of sights:
1. Brandenburg Gate: It has become a great symbol of unification in Germany
2. Tiergarten: This garden is right out side of the Brandenburg Gate. The Gate used to be used as the main entrance into the city. The garden outside was the Kings hunting grounds. During WWII the garden or park was used to supply the people with fire wood and later used as a vegetable garden.
3. The Holocaust Memorial: This was a very interesting memorial. It was just a bunch of big stone rectangular prisms that you could walk in and out of, sort of like a maze. It is hard to describe the feelings I got as I walked through the memorial. At times I felt like I was experiencing what all the people in The Holocaust had experienced. It was dark, scary, and cold in the middle because the prisms were very tall. I felt trapped and alone.
4. Check Point Charlie: The famous spot where U.S. forces patrolled the boarder between the East and West Berlin
5. Famous Opera House
6. A memorial students had build outside of the university for the books that were burned by Nazi students.
After lunch we did a lot more sight seeing. We went to the East Side Gallery which was incredible. The paintings on the wall were outstanding. Each one had a story to tell. We went to an area that showed the land between the walls. It was very interesting to see the design. Lastly, we did some more shopping before heading back to the hotel for the evening.
List of sights:
1. Brandenburg Gate: It has become a great symbol of unification in Germany
2. Tiergarten: This garden is right out side of the Brandenburg Gate. The Gate used to be used as the main entrance into the city. The garden outside was the Kings hunting grounds. During WWII the garden or park was used to supply the people with fire wood and later used as a vegetable garden.
3. The Holocaust Memorial: This was a very interesting memorial. It was just a bunch of big stone rectangular prisms that you could walk in and out of, sort of like a maze. It is hard to describe the feelings I got as I walked through the memorial. At times I felt like I was experiencing what all the people in The Holocaust had experienced. It was dark, scary, and cold in the middle because the prisms were very tall. I felt trapped and alone.
4. Check Point Charlie: The famous spot where U.S. forces patrolled the boarder between the East and West Berlin
5. Famous Opera House
6. A memorial students had build outside of the university for the books that were burned by Nazi students.
After lunch we did a lot more sight seeing. We went to the East Side Gallery which was incredible. The paintings on the wall were outstanding. Each one had a story to tell. We went to an area that showed the land between the walls. It was very interesting to see the design. Lastly, we did some more shopping before heading back to the hotel for the evening.
Day 4: April 24th, 2014
Sorry for not keeping my blog updated. I have been very busy in Germany these past couple weeks. On April 24th, we had another busy schedule planned. After eating breakfast, the group took a train to a town outside of Berlin called Potsdam. In Potsdam we did a six hour bike tour of the town. A lady named Dorris was our guide for the day. We rode around the countryside and through down town Potsdam. This was an excellent way to see the whole town in one day. We calculated it we rode around on our bikes for 12 miles! During the tour she showed us famous palaces and castles, the house where the famous Potsdam conference was held, special landmarks related to when the Berlin Wall was standing. The town was very beautiful. I enjoyed riding through the town and seeing all the amazing things Potsdam had.
We returned our bikes back at the train station. A group of us decided to go back to Berlin. We were going to visit the East Side Gallery where part of the Berlin Wall was still standing, but we thought it was going to rain so decided to wait till another day. Instead, we visited the Berlin Dome and took the tram back to our hotel.
We returned our bikes back at the train station. A group of us decided to go back to Berlin. We were going to visit the East Side Gallery where part of the Berlin Wall was still standing, but we thought it was going to rain so decided to wait till another day. Instead, we visited the Berlin Dome and took the tram back to our hotel.
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