My Visit With German Students

I just returned only minutes ago from a classroom where I got to sit and hang out with a bunch of German Kids for 50 minutes. Even though I should be cleaning for my big Halloween party tonight I had to stop for a moment and write about this experience because I’m just so excited about it. These kids were fantastic!!! I think I’m finally settled on what I want to be in life..It only took me 10 years but teaching would be ideal.

So my friend here is an English teacher and she asked me to come in and talk with the kids since they are learning about NY and NYC. Perfect! I was a little worried if they would understand me or if they would think I’m strange but they were so great. They laughed at all the right things, they listened as I told them about my experience with 9/11, just an all around great atmosphere. And here’s the fun part…they were all totally into my sweet spider rings and candy corn that I made them try. (Yes, made them!) It’s America’s #1 Candy! 🙂

(Great face….I know….lol)

So here are a few pics of me with the kids, I told the kids I would post them today already. I had so much fun and would love to come back around Christmas time and hang out with them again! 🙂  They spoke EXCELLENT English, I mean, seriously. I’m still trying to learn English but they were so great and had 5 questions each ready to throw at me! They all really made my day! 🙂

My new buddies!

Crazy Faces!

Pic with our sweet rings!

Special thanks to my Mom back home for sending me all the goodies I needed for this day to be a success! 🙂

Until next time, Readers!!! xoxoxox

An American Prisoner in German Integration Hell

Instead of taking notes like I should be during my class I’ve been writing down bullet points of all the things that annoy me about all the people in my class. We’re a class of 15 women. ONLY women which isn’t so bad. I started last week thinking/hoping that at least there would be ONE person from either England, Ireland, or America. Anything familiar would have been wonderful. Of course not…this isn’t heaven. It’s purgatory.

I’m not racist, not at all, but I have absolutely NO patience or sympathy for the stupid! We have women from countries such as Turkey, Tunisia, Serbia, Kosovo, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Mazedonia, and Montenegro. (Note: The girls from Montenegro and from Russia are the only other smart ones in the class.) So on top of trying to figure out where some of these places are in the world and what kind of life they came from I have to juggle their names which are crazy.

For Example:

Nefise, Redife, Habibe, Dragana, Mevlude, Bouthoina, Zehra, Yildiz, Resavjc……. HUH!?!?!?! I’m sure my name isn’t any easier to them but I’m the only one who shortened my name to make it easier for those who have trouble. Not sure how you could have trouble with “Kait” but whatevs.

Our class is every week day for the next nine months – meaning I’m stuck in this hell until July. I spend 4 hours and 15 minutes with these people and I would rather spoon my eyes out. I don’t consider myself “Advanced” but at least I’m TRYING to learn something. These girls have every color pencil, pen, highlighter, eraser you can possibly imagine. Their notebooks look like Lisa Frank folders, however, they don’t have a clue what they wrote in it! Last time I checked people this is NOT an art course…it’s a LANGUAGE course! (Do you remember what Lisa Frank is? Let me remind you……)

Speaking of speaking…everyone mispronounces everything and it makes me want to punch a baby. I mean I’m not perfect either but at least if the word is in front of me, I try to read it correctly. If a word ends in the letter “l”, I’m not going to end the word with a “t.”

So besides the obvious reasons why I can’t stand these people here are the real reasons all these feelings sparked:

1. One younger girl, who is now pregnant, brought in her wedding album. She’s from Tunisia and I was interested to see all about her culture and how they do it. It’s totally different from what I’m used to and not something I would prefer but this is her culture. The rest of the class looks at it and a few of the girls told her she was really fat in her pictures. Um….do you have NO manners?!?!?

2. Then these same girls turned to another one and asked her if she was pregnant. Lets keep in mind she has a great figure, doesn’t look overweight, out of shape..nothing. NOTHING that would make you think she’s pregnant. RUDE. These people are complete scum.

3. The girls all sitting around me literally grab my workbook from me to copy my work. How are you going to learn anything, you morons, if you keep copying my work?!  And how about asking for my help first? And if you seriously don’t understand then I will show you! Seriously….going to punch babies.

So even though I’m stuck with these idiotic people I learned something. The Turkish women specifically all want to learn but they don’t have the confidence. Every single one of them said their hobby was cleaning and having children. That’s not a hobby. That has nothing to do with your personal interests. I felt sad for them. I also realized that maybe in some cultures people don’t have filters (ahem..scum sitting around me)…and some people don’t have support or confidence from those at home. I don’t know if this is true or not (minus the fact about filters) but I do know that people deserve a chance. So, I’ve decided to try a little bit harder every day to be a little bit more patient.

However, I absolutely have NO patience for the completely brainless ones that walk in front of the bathroom line. UM…we are obviously all waiting here! And I’m assuming it’s because of people like this that they were forced to put this sign above the toilet in the bathroom. This concerns me on so many levels. I wasn’t aware that not only are people here to learn how to speak German but also how to use a toilet properly. Does this worry any of you about the type of place I’m in?! HELP!

I have two teachers and one happens to look like my 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Witter. Which is scary and comforting at the same time. The second teacher is actually quite funny but she can get upset when someone repeatedly doesn’t know the answer…which happens often. I don’t have it in me to teach this kind of class. There is no way. I’ll stick to my idea of teaching children English or in business where people actually act professional and like adults.

Anywho…I’ll keep trucking on…even though I have to pay 2500 Euro for this class. Crazy right? However…if I was married it would only be 900 Euro. Like that makes a lot of sense! Germany…you’re not impressing me lately!

No stress this week…I’m preparing for my Oktoberfest debut in my Dirndl! If I can remember….I will take pictures to show you guys! And…of course if I’m still alive the next day!

Until next time, Readers!!! xoxoxoxoxoxo

Deutsch 101

I’ll be attending a German Language class for the next 20 weeks. Every Monday and Wednesday for 1.5 hours. This week, I attended my first one. My regular teacher was not there, but they did have a substitute. Thankfully, Toblerone dropped me off and walked me to the class which is located in a school.

For 180 Euro I get 20 weeks of this class, but I have to buy the lesson book and no snacks are included. What exactly are we paying for?? Anywho…So the substitute teacher immediately greeted me and asked me for my name in German. Ok, thats alright..I knew that much.

In my class there were many people representin’ (you know…trying out that city talk stuff) many different countries such as, Brazil, Hungary, Turkey, Portugal, Romania, and Australia. Only nine people total, including myself which is good. Did I mention this is a beginner class? Or it’s supposed to be!

The teacher began and not ONE word was spoken in English! GAH!!! Everyone had to go around the room and say, in German of course, Their name, where they are living, where they are from, and what languages they know. It was super difficult because well, I DON’T SPEAK GERMAN!! So, I tried to take what I do know and smush it into sentences. Then you had to turn to someone in the class and ask them about themselves, ummm…also didn’t know how to say this! I literally looked at the teacher with big wide eyes…hands in the air..shrugged the shoulders. I felt like I was back in 4th grade during math period. Mrs. Witter – I’m scarred for LIFE!!!

Class continued on and I found that the majority of people in the class were able to speak German. Oh great, I thought, I really am the dunce of this place! Thank goodness I pick up on languages fairly quickly. Keep in mind, I entered this class on their 6th night. They already had 5 other classes ahead of me and obviously had the basics. Our lovely teacher called on me several times and I didn’t have a clue what she was saying but was able to pull together and follow along and answer as best I could.

German isn’t difficult to understand, it’s just a matter of them speaking slowly and saying it over and over again. At first I was a little upset that they didn’t speak any English at all, how am I supposed to ask a question if I don’t understand how to ask it?? Ah, whatever….I hope by the end of 20 weeks that I will have a good understanding and can move on to the next level. I’m going to keep going until I can write blogs in German. Yes, I will surprise you! I’ll keep you posted on my survival progress through this course!

I’m dragging you all along with me through this!!! Can you believe I live here and don’t have a clue what is going on when people talk? I mean just imagine it for a moment. You’re doing every day things like going for a walk, to a restuarant, using an ATM, grocery store…and no one speaks to you in English. All German at first. Then you give that stupid look like, “Ummmmmm…..” and laugh uncomfortably. Yeah, thats me. The laughing stock of Germany!

 

See if you can understand what is being said – This week we learned family trees!

1. Lisa ist die Tante                                     

2. Andreas is der Onkel

3. Paul ist der cousin von Sara und Tina

4. Niko kommt aus der Ukraine

5. Elsa is die Oma

6. Otto is der Opa

7. Andreas ist der Sohn

8. Stefan, Robert, und Andreas sind Bruder

9. Lisa ist die Schwester

ANSWERS BELOW!!!

Now for the English translation. You’ll see what I mean that it sounds similar once you know the words!

1. Lisa ist die Tante         –  Lisa is the Aunt                             

2. Andreas ist der Onkel          – Andreas is the Uncle

3. Paul ist der cousin von Sara und Tina     – Paul is the cousin from Sara and Tina

4. Niko kommt aus der Ukraine      –  Niko comes from the Ukraine

5. Elsa ist die Oma         – Elsa is the Grandmother

6. Otto ist der Opa       – Otto is the grandfather

7. Andreas ist der Sohn             – Andreas is the son

8. Stefan, Robert, und Andreas sind Bruder     – Stefan, Robert, and Andreas are Brothers

9. Lisa ist die Schwester         – Lisa is the sister

 

Primo! Bravo!  For now, I have some homework to do. Let me get to it!