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

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. :)