Well. This is the last blog post that I'll be writing in Germany. I'm so excited about that. And I could cry in a second also. And I'm happy. And I'm nervous. It's the truest example of bittersweet that I've come to know so far in my life.
As I leave Germany, I leave with an incredibly grateful heart to my sister, Talya. She's the reason I was able to come here in the first place. She also made it possible for me to go to Italy and England. I've come to know my sister more over the past year and discover the incredible qualities that reside in that fun-loving, always positive heart of hers. She's utterly gracious, optimistic, funny. She has a personality that's the definition of infectious. She's dependable. She's always there for anyone that needs her. She's practical. She's a dreamer. She's smart. She's constantly coming up with new schemes and business ideas. She's a hard worker. She loves anything with marzipan. She's my sister.
My niece and nephews aren't bad either ;). Granted, they could act a little badly when they wanted to, and we had our bad days, but I wouldn't trade my time with my babies for the world. I don't know the next time I'll be able to spend a whole year with them again, so it's been amazing getting to take them to and from school in a foreign country, something I never would have dreamed I'd be doing several years ago. I've also learned and gotten to practice some of my German with them. The more I learned at school, the more I was able to speak with them and understand. Them being so young, sometimes I'd ask a question and they wouldn't understand a word or something, but when I translated it (if I could) into German, they got it. That's what being bilingual does to you! It's really been a huge pleasure and honor to get to babysit them so much over the past year, and watch them grow into total individuals. They'll always be more like my siblings than niece and nephews, and therefore I will always be up for taking on all three at the same time and, as a result, getting a few bruises in the process. :)
My time here has been incredible not only with my sister and her beautiful kids, but also with my new friends from my language classes. I met people from literally all over the world at my language classes. I learned how to have discussions with people from different economic, political, and religious backgrounds than me. I also learned a whole other language with these people, that instantly gave us all a bond because German isn't so easy to learn. Sometimes the verb goes at the end of the sentence, and when we learned that we were all like "what?!" It blew our minds. Learning a language together bonds people.
I met some pretty incredible people at school though. People from places that I would love to get to travel to someday. People with beautiful hearts and senses of humor that made me laugh so hard I sometimes disturbed the library :/ Getting to know some many people from different countries really taught me that we're all pretty much the same after all. Yeah, we may come from different parts of the world and speak different languages, but most of us love to laugh, dance, lay out in the sunshine, travel, get to know new people, do touristy things. I'm so happy and grateful that I get to say that I've made life-long friendships with people from Brasil to China.
I also got involved in a church, ICF (International Christian Fellowship). I went there a couple times, when I didn't know any German, but even then I knew I wanted to be a part of it. Then I heard about the opening of a new location, which was much closer to us. The more I went there, the more I understood the services and developed some friendships with believers that will always have special places in my heart. The people at ICF are some of the most amazing people I've gotten to know, and I had an absolutely blast getting to help on Sundays as a part of the "Welcome Team." I was so afraid when I first came here that I wouldn't find a church family or small group or anything, but I did much faster than I would have ever dreamed. I'm utterly, utterly thankful for the lead pastor, the leaders, and others that I got to know and who made ICF like a second home for me.
Now that my year abroad is over, it's time to start back to my life in the States and go to "university." :) I'm so excited to start studying and to begin my college experiences, but I plan on making Europe my summer home. <3
Friday, June 14, 2013
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
First time helping at a German elementary school.
With the end of the school year nearing, my niece and nephew's elementary ("grundschule") school is having a little end of the year festival in a couple days so all the students have been making crafts and things to sell. They needed some people to be there to help the kids if necessary, so, as I don't exactly have a jam-packed schedule during the day and practicing my German is always good for me, I happily agreed after my niece asked if I'd like to help out.
So I get to the school this morning and seated next to my niece, at her table with her adorable little friends. I then get offered by one of her super sweet teachers "eine Tasse Kaffee" ("a cup of coffee"), which was pretty hot by the way, and happily take it. The teachers went through the lists of students who were signed up for different crafts and so some stayed in the classroom, and some went to others.
The most entertaining part of the whole day comes now. One of the teachers who stayed in the classroom to help the students gets everyone to stand up and we literally did different stretches and yoga for a solid five minutes. SO FUNNY. We had to "greet the sun" by lifting up our hands above our head, and to "greet the moon" by putting our arms into a huge circle. We then had to "greet the grass" by bending over with our legs spread out and stay for several seconds. I thought she was kidding at the beginning until I asked one of the little girls if they did that often and she said that yes, most days they did. The coolest elementary school if you ask me.
The next step was for them to go through the directions for all the crafts, which significantly increased, at least my vague, knowledge of German craft vocabulary.
Then when everyone had figured out what they wanted to make (they had bookmarks, sun visors, greeting cards, and other things available to make), the girls at my table got working on their bookmarks and greeting cards. I enjoyed so much just to get to have a little conversation with them. They were absolutely precious and really funny.
Then after about an hour and a half of intense craft making, it was time for a break to go outside to play, have a snack, bathroom break, etc.
So after eating my peanut butter and honey roll I brought, I quickly got engaged in a very intense game of tag. SO FUN. At first it was a just about 3-6 kids playing and then the next thing I know, about a dozen or so more boys and girls start crowding around me, obviously wanting to participate. One of the funnest rounds of tag I've played. But then it became not so fun when some of the kids were complaining that it wasn't fair because I was so much older and faster than the others. That is, I was faster than SOME of them.
So after that we went back inside and onto another room for crafts. Before we took our seats, a 9 or so year old boy asked me if I was new at the school, like as a student. I laughed a little and told him I was the aunt of one, but definitely not a student. Later on I told one of the girls that I was going to university soon, and her eyes got HUGE. I was like a grandma to these kids.
We then made paper machet-type coverings for what would be colored flower vases. A little gooey and kind of disgusting consistency, but I enjoyed getting my hands dirty and actually doing something.
I then helped to clean up, talked a little more with some of the kids, and the subject of my age came up yet ANOTHER time, and then I read a little of book that's probably the a 3rd grade or so reading level, but hey! It's the practice of reading in a foreign language that counts.
So, a very fun first day of volunteering at my niece and nephew's even more precious to me elementary school and I can't wait for tomorrow! :) <3
So I get to the school this morning and seated next to my niece, at her table with her adorable little friends. I then get offered by one of her super sweet teachers "eine Tasse Kaffee" ("a cup of coffee"), which was pretty hot by the way, and happily take it. The teachers went through the lists of students who were signed up for different crafts and so some stayed in the classroom, and some went to others.
The most entertaining part of the whole day comes now. One of the teachers who stayed in the classroom to help the students gets everyone to stand up and we literally did different stretches and yoga for a solid five minutes. SO FUNNY. We had to "greet the sun" by lifting up our hands above our head, and to "greet the moon" by putting our arms into a huge circle. We then had to "greet the grass" by bending over with our legs spread out and stay for several seconds. I thought she was kidding at the beginning until I asked one of the little girls if they did that often and she said that yes, most days they did. The coolest elementary school if you ask me.
The next step was for them to go through the directions for all the crafts, which significantly increased, at least my vague, knowledge of German craft vocabulary.
Then when everyone had figured out what they wanted to make (they had bookmarks, sun visors, greeting cards, and other things available to make), the girls at my table got working on their bookmarks and greeting cards. I enjoyed so much just to get to have a little conversation with them. They were absolutely precious and really funny.
Then after about an hour and a half of intense craft making, it was time for a break to go outside to play, have a snack, bathroom break, etc.
So after eating my peanut butter and honey roll I brought, I quickly got engaged in a very intense game of tag. SO FUN. At first it was a just about 3-6 kids playing and then the next thing I know, about a dozen or so more boys and girls start crowding around me, obviously wanting to participate. One of the funnest rounds of tag I've played. But then it became not so fun when some of the kids were complaining that it wasn't fair because I was so much older and faster than the others. That is, I was faster than SOME of them.
So after that we went back inside and onto another room for crafts. Before we took our seats, a 9 or so year old boy asked me if I was new at the school, like as a student. I laughed a little and told him I was the aunt of one, but definitely not a student. Later on I told one of the girls that I was going to university soon, and her eyes got HUGE. I was like a grandma to these kids.
We then made paper machet-type coverings for what would be colored flower vases. A little gooey and kind of disgusting consistency, but I enjoyed getting my hands dirty and actually doing something.
I then helped to clean up, talked a little more with some of the kids, and the subject of my age came up yet ANOTHER time, and then I read a little of book that's probably the a 3rd grade or so reading level, but hey! It's the practice of reading in a foreign language that counts.
So, a very fun first day of volunteering at my niece and nephew's even more precious to me elementary school and I can't wait for tomorrow! :) <3
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
10 months. Wait, what?
Woah baby. I've seriously been here for almost a year already? That's crazy. I definitely have mixed feelings about having only about 2 1/2 months left here when it seems like just yesterday I had a whole year.
Something amazing has happened! I actually have color on my skin! Well all of us do. It's so nice to walk outside and be saturated with vitamin D. I never appreciated warm weather or the sun so much now that I've experience a real, Berlin winter. In fact, when I see people still wearing scarves and jackets when I'm in shorts and a t-shirt, I just want to shout at them: "Are you crazy?! Take those winter clothes OFF!" So, if I ever complain of it being too hot or too sunny, just slap me ok? :)
As most of you know, I've been attending an absolutely incredible church here. And a couple weeks ago (on my birthday) a big group of us went to the old Tempelhof airport to shoot the new church video that gets showed before the service. I'd never been to that airport before but it was really cool. I mean, so much happened on those runways. Millions of people were fed by the airlift, not to mention that it was extremely dangerous. It was just really cool to be with an extremely fun group of people on a huge piece of Germany's history.
Also, that day being my birthday, my sister and I went to an amazing American burger place. Her friend met us there later and then a couple minutes later said she was going to the restroom. Well 5 minutes later, I see one of the waitresses from the restaurant walking toward me with a huge, delicious piece of cheesecake with a glowing candle in the middle. My sister, her friend and the waitress started "Happy Birthday" and then next thing I know, the whole bar section of the restaurant joined in too! It was incredible. Definitely one of the highlights of my birthday. Totally unexpected and awesome. Not too shabby for my first birthday spent abroad. :)
Something amazing has happened! I actually have color on my skin! Well all of us do. It's so nice to walk outside and be saturated with vitamin D. I never appreciated warm weather or the sun so much now that I've experience a real, Berlin winter. In fact, when I see people still wearing scarves and jackets when I'm in shorts and a t-shirt, I just want to shout at them: "Are you crazy?! Take those winter clothes OFF!" So, if I ever complain of it being too hot or too sunny, just slap me ok? :)
As most of you know, I've been attending an absolutely incredible church here. And a couple weeks ago (on my birthday) a big group of us went to the old Tempelhof airport to shoot the new church video that gets showed before the service. I'd never been to that airport before but it was really cool. I mean, so much happened on those runways. Millions of people were fed by the airlift, not to mention that it was extremely dangerous. It was just really cool to be with an extremely fun group of people on a huge piece of Germany's history.
Also, that day being my birthday, my sister and I went to an amazing American burger place. Her friend met us there later and then a couple minutes later said she was going to the restroom. Well 5 minutes later, I see one of the waitresses from the restaurant walking toward me with a huge, delicious piece of cheesecake with a glowing candle in the middle. My sister, her friend and the waitress started "Happy Birthday" and then next thing I know, the whole bar section of the restaurant joined in too! It was incredible. Definitely one of the highlights of my birthday. Totally unexpected and awesome. Not too shabby for my first birthday spent abroad. :)
Monday, March 4, 2013
It's beginning to look a lot like springtime...
Happy almost spring, everyone! :)
Gosh, the sun shone today for I think about the third day in a row. Absolutely wonderful! I tell you, I've never appreciated or enjoyed the sun so much as I do here. I guess experiencing a Berlin winter makes you count your blessings. Those golden rays make all the difference.
(My first ice cream since the summer on Saturday :) )
It's so funny because once the sun's been out for a couple days, you see more and more people sitting outside at cafes, drinking coffee and just hanging out with coats still on. And then of course the stylish shades, along with really cute boys wearing them, come out of hiding :)
But other than the sun making an appearance in our lives on this side of the Atlantic, I realized on Friday, that I've been here for 8 MONTHS! Crazy! That's almost a whole year!
I mean, it definitely feels like I've been here a while, but almost a whole 365 days, not so much. I wouldn't trade my time here so far for anything, though. Living with family and developing friendships with people that I probably would never have met had I not come here, has been absolutely incredible.
As some have already found out, I'm done with my German courses. I'm burnt out on learning the language for almost four hours a day, and since I'm only here for about four more months, I decided to use the rest of my time here to hopefully travel, enjoy my family and new friends and to give my brain a break before I start college in the fall. So, let's see what sort of shananigans I get myself into in the mean time :)
Yesterday, I started helping out at the German church I go to. I've been basically a regular attendee, and figured that since I like it so much I might as well be a help. So I was part of the "Welcome Team" and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Partly because all I really had to do was say "Hallo!" and be friendly and open the door for people who arrived to the service late (I know very well how that feels.) But I also got to speak a lot of German. I had to come earlier since I was going to help, and stay for a meeting after the sermon. So altogether I was there for about four hours, 98% of the time listening to and speaking German, which I honestly find very fun. It's SO COOL to be able to carry on conversation after conversation in a different language. I know I am repeating myself so many times on this subject, but people: SPEAKING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE IS SO AWESOME! It gets easier and easier the more you immerse yourself in situations and places in which it is the main language spoken. I always get a little nervous before going to church because usually I haven't spoken much German, especially when I've been home. But then it just comes when it needs to. Brains are cool that way, how they just say: "Oh, ok now we're gonna be speaking German instead of English so move in the new grammar and vocabulary!" hahah. But really!
Ok, hope everyone has a productive, exciting, wonderful week! I also hope that the sun will continue to shine in Berlin! :)
Gosh, the sun shone today for I think about the third day in a row. Absolutely wonderful! I tell you, I've never appreciated or enjoyed the sun so much as I do here. I guess experiencing a Berlin winter makes you count your blessings. Those golden rays make all the difference.
(My first ice cream since the summer on Saturday :) )
It's so funny because once the sun's been out for a couple days, you see more and more people sitting outside at cafes, drinking coffee and just hanging out with coats still on. And then of course the stylish shades, along with really cute boys wearing them, come out of hiding :)
But other than the sun making an appearance in our lives on this side of the Atlantic, I realized on Friday, that I've been here for 8 MONTHS! Crazy! That's almost a whole year!
I mean, it definitely feels like I've been here a while, but almost a whole 365 days, not so much. I wouldn't trade my time here so far for anything, though. Living with family and developing friendships with people that I probably would never have met had I not come here, has been absolutely incredible.
As some have already found out, I'm done with my German courses. I'm burnt out on learning the language for almost four hours a day, and since I'm only here for about four more months, I decided to use the rest of my time here to hopefully travel, enjoy my family and new friends and to give my brain a break before I start college in the fall. So, let's see what sort of shananigans I get myself into in the mean time :)
Yesterday, I started helping out at the German church I go to. I've been basically a regular attendee, and figured that since I like it so much I might as well be a help. So I was part of the "Welcome Team" and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Partly because all I really had to do was say "Hallo!" and be friendly and open the door for people who arrived to the service late (I know very well how that feels.) But I also got to speak a lot of German. I had to come earlier since I was going to help, and stay for a meeting after the sermon. So altogether I was there for about four hours, 98% of the time listening to and speaking German, which I honestly find very fun. It's SO COOL to be able to carry on conversation after conversation in a different language. I know I am repeating myself so many times on this subject, but people: SPEAKING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE IS SO AWESOME! It gets easier and easier the more you immerse yourself in situations and places in which it is the main language spoken. I always get a little nervous before going to church because usually I haven't spoken much German, especially when I've been home. But then it just comes when it needs to. Brains are cool that way, how they just say: "Oh, ok now we're gonna be speaking German instead of English so move in the new grammar and vocabulary!" hahah. But really!
Ok, hope everyone has a productive, exciting, wonderful week! I also hope that the sun will continue to shine in Berlin! :)
Friday, February 1, 2013
New month, same Emily.
Hello again!
Coming from my German school, once more. :)
I love this school. I've met even more incredible people from all over the world, and learned a lot more of the language. It's been a good month!
A funny thing I find about German, or any foreign language for that matter, is that there are certain words and phrases you simply just "don't say." For instance I'll try to directly translate things that we say in English all the time, but my teacher and family members who speak it just make a funny face and say, "Wir sagen das nicht," or "we don't say that." So just like English, German has its little coloquial and slang phrases that can't be translated word for word from English.
Another cool thing that I keep getting the chance to experience, is hearing people pray in German. I go to a German church, which is an excellent way to both practice my German and hear it spoken for a solid 2 hours each Sunday. I've also been going to a small group and there, when we close by praying, I get the chance to hear people pray a completely different language. It's SO COOL! The thing is, that it's not even Chinese or Arabic, or anything that's not similar to English at all. It's a language very similar to my mother tongue, and yet it's so neat to experience the simple truth that, even though I don't understand everything the girls in my group or the pastor on stage is saying, it's impossible not to feel His warm, gracious presence as a result.
Onto the month...wow! Already February! My year off is slowly but surely passing by :( Now time to decide which college to go to and whatnot. Yay for real life! Well, kinda. But I'm trying my best to enjoy my time here, spend time with my new friends and learn more of this language during the rest of my stay in Germany.
In terms of weather, it really hasn't been super cold. It was really cold a couple weeks in December and earlier in January, but it hasn't been the scary, dark, completely awful winter that I had expected and heard so much about. It has, however, taught me to take advantage of simple things like the sun. People in the south, you drink up every bit of that vitamin D that you can, because it isn't so plentiful in Berlin! But seriously, I find myself almost jumping from my seat in my class if I see the sun reflecting on the other side of the school. And then I exclaim 'Die Sonne scheint!' ('the sun's shining!') and my teacher looks at me like I'm a little crazy, but I'm used to those looks by now. :) The best is when I go for a run and by the time I'm done and warmed up, I walk home for a few minutes and carry my jacket because I'm warm enough by myself and I get the most baffled looks from people. I can't wait for the day that I can throw on a tank top, shorts, and chacos and be on my way!
I really hope to travel some more before I return to the States. I have friends in France, England, some connections in Prague and other cities in Germany that I would love to visit. Hopefully my efforts to auction myself as a babysitter will pay off and I'll be writing my next blog entry somewhere else in Europa!
Gotta go do my 'Hausaufgabe' (homework), because, even when I tell myself that I'm gonna do at home, that never happens.
So, have a good day and I'll write again soon!
Coming from my German school, once more. :)
I love this school. I've met even more incredible people from all over the world, and learned a lot more of the language. It's been a good month!
A funny thing I find about German, or any foreign language for that matter, is that there are certain words and phrases you simply just "don't say." For instance I'll try to directly translate things that we say in English all the time, but my teacher and family members who speak it just make a funny face and say, "Wir sagen das nicht," or "we don't say that." So just like English, German has its little coloquial and slang phrases that can't be translated word for word from English.
Another cool thing that I keep getting the chance to experience, is hearing people pray in German. I go to a German church, which is an excellent way to both practice my German and hear it spoken for a solid 2 hours each Sunday. I've also been going to a small group and there, when we close by praying, I get the chance to hear people pray a completely different language. It's SO COOL! The thing is, that it's not even Chinese or Arabic, or anything that's not similar to English at all. It's a language very similar to my mother tongue, and yet it's so neat to experience the simple truth that, even though I don't understand everything the girls in my group or the pastor on stage is saying, it's impossible not to feel His warm, gracious presence as a result.
Onto the month...wow! Already February! My year off is slowly but surely passing by :( Now time to decide which college to go to and whatnot. Yay for real life! Well, kinda. But I'm trying my best to enjoy my time here, spend time with my new friends and learn more of this language during the rest of my stay in Germany.
In terms of weather, it really hasn't been super cold. It was really cold a couple weeks in December and earlier in January, but it hasn't been the scary, dark, completely awful winter that I had expected and heard so much about. It has, however, taught me to take advantage of simple things like the sun. People in the south, you drink up every bit of that vitamin D that you can, because it isn't so plentiful in Berlin! But seriously, I find myself almost jumping from my seat in my class if I see the sun reflecting on the other side of the school. And then I exclaim 'Die Sonne scheint!' ('the sun's shining!') and my teacher looks at me like I'm a little crazy, but I'm used to those looks by now. :) The best is when I go for a run and by the time I'm done and warmed up, I walk home for a few minutes and carry my jacket because I'm warm enough by myself and I get the most baffled looks from people. I can't wait for the day that I can throw on a tank top, shorts, and chacos and be on my way!
I really hope to travel some more before I return to the States. I have friends in France, England, some connections in Prague and other cities in Germany that I would love to visit. Hopefully my efforts to auction myself as a babysitter will pay off and I'll be writing my next blog entry somewhere else in Europa!
Gotta go do my 'Hausaufgabe' (homework), because, even when I tell myself that I'm gonna do at home, that never happens.
So, have a good day and I'll write again soon!
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
6 months down, 6 months to go.
Happy 2013!
It's back to the grind after taking December off. That month was filled with a week long trip to London which I loved, a lot of sleeping in, eating of sweets (well eating in general), and enjoying the holidays.
My first Christmas outside of the States was really good. I spent it with my family in Europe so it was different but at the same time very similar to all my past Christmases. We had friends over and cooked A LOT and ate A LOT and had a really relaxing, fun holiday break.
I started back at my original language school, the Goethe Institut on Monday but yesterday was my first official day of class and I'm SO HAPPY to be back! I don't know why but this school just fits me and I made a lot of friends in my first class, whom it was so good to see. I'm already learning a lot and remembering that this language school ain't no joke. It's the real deal. Homework and everything. But it's good because I've already gotten to meet new people from other countries, which is part of the reason why I love Berlin and this school.
The winter hasn't been too harsh....YET. When I stepped off the plane at the Schönefeld Airport, coming home from London, there was snow and ice everywhere. It was really cold for a couple weeks in December but for the past while it's been really mild. A little chilly but not as cold as everyone says January in Berlin always is. I'm just bracing myself for when the legitimate stuff comes. I wish it would just come already and not hold out any longer!
One of my funniest experiences yet was when I flew out of Gatwick Airport in London back to Berlin. Well, I didn't fly out on the flight that I was supposed to. That is, I missed my flight. I stupidly thought that 2 hours would be enough time to take a bus and train from my sister's place to Gatwick, which was bigger than I thought. So I get off the train platform at the airport and see a digital clock reading "5:55" and guess when my flight was? 6:15! I thought on the way there "Well, they had to defrost the wings on my flight from Berlin and we didn't leave til like an hour after scheduled departure time, so maybe it will be the same here." NOPE.
I run up the escalator with my suitcase and walk up to the Easy Jet check in desk. I give the lady my passport and she types into the computer then a few seconds later says "Sorry, but you're not in our system. Where are you flying to and when is your scheduled departure time?"
I reply, feeling kinda dumb "6:15 to Berlin."
"That gate's closed. You can't get on."
"Seriously? When's the next flight out to Berlin?"
"7:45pm."
"Ok, well what do I need to do to transfer?"
She points to the sales assistance desk and says "You need to go over there and tell them your situation and pay 60 pounds."
"Ok."
So I walk over and tell the lady my story and ask if I can go ahead and transfer.
"Yes you can, but we have to wait 15 minutes until it's passed 6:15. It's all computerized and we need to be passed that time of your scheduled flight so that I can transfer you."
So I go to the bathroom and walk around a bit. Then I come back.
"Can I do it now?"
"No, you still need to wait."
I hang around a bit longer and walk back up.
"What about now?"
She just shakes her head, "no."
I wait by the desk and a couple of guys run up and explain that the train was late so they missed their flight. Come to find out that the next flight to the city they were going to wasn't until the next day at 1:30pm! Man, I was so thankful I only had to wait for like an hour.
The lady finally says "I'm ready."
So I hand her my card and she slides it and looks up at me, as though I'm in a movie and says, "Your card's been declined."
I could have fainted.
So I make other arrangements and end up getting the payment through, (screw you exchange rate!) and get on my flight in the end.
Needless to say, I've never been so happy to get on a plane in my life. Dear Lord.
So yeah, as of now, I'm pretty much doing the same. Helping with the chilluns, learning German, meeting really cool people from the whole world, attending a really neat church, and once in a blue moon, missing my flight.
:)
It's back to the grind after taking December off. That month was filled with a week long trip to London which I loved, a lot of sleeping in, eating of sweets (well eating in general), and enjoying the holidays.
My first Christmas outside of the States was really good. I spent it with my family in Europe so it was different but at the same time very similar to all my past Christmases. We had friends over and cooked A LOT and ate A LOT and had a really relaxing, fun holiday break.
I started back at my original language school, the Goethe Institut on Monday but yesterday was my first official day of class and I'm SO HAPPY to be back! I don't know why but this school just fits me and I made a lot of friends in my first class, whom it was so good to see. I'm already learning a lot and remembering that this language school ain't no joke. It's the real deal. Homework and everything. But it's good because I've already gotten to meet new people from other countries, which is part of the reason why I love Berlin and this school.
The winter hasn't been too harsh....YET. When I stepped off the plane at the Schönefeld Airport, coming home from London, there was snow and ice everywhere. It was really cold for a couple weeks in December but for the past while it's been really mild. A little chilly but not as cold as everyone says January in Berlin always is. I'm just bracing myself for when the legitimate stuff comes. I wish it would just come already and not hold out any longer!
One of my funniest experiences yet was when I flew out of Gatwick Airport in London back to Berlin. Well, I didn't fly out on the flight that I was supposed to. That is, I missed my flight. I stupidly thought that 2 hours would be enough time to take a bus and train from my sister's place to Gatwick, which was bigger than I thought. So I get off the train platform at the airport and see a digital clock reading "5:55" and guess when my flight was? 6:15! I thought on the way there "Well, they had to defrost the wings on my flight from Berlin and we didn't leave til like an hour after scheduled departure time, so maybe it will be the same here." NOPE.
I run up the escalator with my suitcase and walk up to the Easy Jet check in desk. I give the lady my passport and she types into the computer then a few seconds later says "Sorry, but you're not in our system. Where are you flying to and when is your scheduled departure time?"
I reply, feeling kinda dumb "6:15 to Berlin."
"That gate's closed. You can't get on."
"Seriously? When's the next flight out to Berlin?"
"7:45pm."
"Ok, well what do I need to do to transfer?"
She points to the sales assistance desk and says "You need to go over there and tell them your situation and pay 60 pounds."
"Ok."
So I walk over and tell the lady my story and ask if I can go ahead and transfer.
"Yes you can, but we have to wait 15 minutes until it's passed 6:15. It's all computerized and we need to be passed that time of your scheduled flight so that I can transfer you."
So I go to the bathroom and walk around a bit. Then I come back.
"Can I do it now?"
"No, you still need to wait."
I hang around a bit longer and walk back up.
"What about now?"
She just shakes her head, "no."
I wait by the desk and a couple of guys run up and explain that the train was late so they missed their flight. Come to find out that the next flight to the city they were going to wasn't until the next day at 1:30pm! Man, I was so thankful I only had to wait for like an hour.
The lady finally says "I'm ready."
So I hand her my card and she slides it and looks up at me, as though I'm in a movie and says, "Your card's been declined."
I could have fainted.
So I make other arrangements and end up getting the payment through, (screw you exchange rate!) and get on my flight in the end.
Needless to say, I've never been so happy to get on a plane in my life. Dear Lord.
So yeah, as of now, I'm pretty much doing the same. Helping with the chilluns, learning German, meeting really cool people from the whole world, attending a really neat church, and once in a blue moon, missing my flight.
:)
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