Excursion to Münster

One perk to being in Werne is that you are so close to other cities. It is easy to jump on the train and spend the afternoon somewhere you've never been before. Our entire group met after school on Thursday and took the train to Münster for the afternoon. We walked around the city and got to see all the beautiful churches and architecture of all the building, as well as wondering through some shops and just exploring. 

               

 

We also ate at a really great German restaurant where I got schnitzel which was so good! And one of the girls in our group got pork knuckle which looked so weird to us. It was a beautiful restaurant and we enjoyed getting to spend some time together as a group. I am so glad I am here with this group because we get along so well and really enjoy spending time together. 

First week at Uhlandschule

     This week was spent at the elementary school with 1st through 4th grade students. It was very different from what I was used to during student teaching back home, but it was good getting to be flexible and see how well we could do. These students haven't really learned English yet so communicating with them was a challenge but a good one!

     One big difference about school was getting there. Riding your bike to school sounds so cute and fun until you have a rainy day. I have learned to enjoy my rides to and from school now that I know the way and don't have to worry about getting lost. I turn on some music and enjoy the alone time before and after school. However, it isn't as enjoyable when it is rainy and windy. You learn to leave when it stops, no matter how early it may be from your normal time. And a rain jacket is great except the hood doesn't stay on while you ride through the wind. Definitely makes you appreciate having a car!

     Another difference is the schedule of their school day. The first class we taught was at 8:15 and it lasted 45 minutes. Then they have a 5minutes break outside before their next class which is 40 minutes. Then they have a 30 minutes break outside that acts like their recess. And then 3 or 4 more classes that are 45 minutes each. Some students only have 5 classes a day and some have 6. If they don't have another class they just get on their bikes and leave for the day. It is a little crazy how much free time they have between classes and yet they get done so much earlier than we do at home. 

     One big difference is the lack of internet and technology at the school. If we wanted to use something from the internet we had to download it to our computer before to have it which made planning very important. It also meant that anything we wanted to give to the students to do had to be printed before and then just copied at the school. We had a projector (beamer in Germany) in the lunch room where we had most of our classes to we could show our PowerPoints to the class. But when we were in the classrooms they only had chalk boards so we would have to walk around and show things on our laptops. It wasn't ideal but it worked alright. 

     It was definitely different and took some adjusting but it has been a great experience so far getting to work with these kids and try new ways to help them understand us and learn English. It is a lot of motions and songs and repeating words but we are learning what works and what doesn't. I am excited to go back on Monday and have another week to work with them. Definitely thankful for this learning experience! 

Weekend at the North Sea

My host family has been absolutely amazing about helping me see so many things in Germany. On my first Saturday here, we all drove a couple hours to the North Sea. It is not your typical beach day for sure! The water at the North Sea actually disappears during low tide. So you can walk out where the water used to be and it is all mud that you sink into. It was a disgusting yet amazing experience!

We spent the afternoon laying in the sun and enjoying the day. Then, when it was time for high tide again, we watched the water come back in. It was amazing how quickly it came back up the beach. It was amazing to watch and I was so glad to get to see it. 

It was a great experience to get to see something I never could have imagined. I got a little sunburned but it was totally worth it! I know that this trip abroad isn't a vacation and it's for education, but little trips like this where I get to see unique things about Germany are so amazing to have mixed in. 

The weekend already?!

It is hard for me to believe that my first week in Germany is almost over. A third of my trip has come and gone and it is a little sad. My first week has been amazing though! I started out a little homesick but all the experiences I have had has really helped me enjoy myself.

The biggest help is my host family. They have been so welcoming and helpful in my first week with helping me adjust to Werne. They actually remind me of my own family in a lot of ways which is very comforting. I think I was matched with the perfect family! I have fun sitting outside spending time and talking with them and learning about them each day. They are so funny and even say and do some of the same things as my family which I love. And their dog Boomer, is so sweet and he makes me miss my dog just a little less.

The school has also been amazing. There were so many differences so adjust to but they have been great. Riding my bike to school was a struggle at first, and I honestly still don't think I know my way, but now I am enjoying it a lot and know I will miss it when I go home. The way they have classes scheduled is also very different but I like the way it gives the students a break between classes to have a snack and interact with their friends. Plus, with getting out so early, it allows for more time to do things in the afternoons which I love. Several days I have gone into town with some of the other student teachers after school and that itself has been an amazing experience.

Getting into town I always see kids I had in class and it is still crazy to me that they are riding their bikes around by themselves. But it is completely normal here and it feels so safe compared to back home. It is also nice just sitting outside at the ice cream place enjoying the ice cream and spending time talking about the classes we had that day and watching other people. The culture here is amazing and I feel like I learn something new everyday. I love how laid back they are here and how much they enjoy being outside walking around or sitting outside to eat. That is another thing I will miss a lot. But I am enjoying it all for the next couple weeks I still have left.

Overall, I am so glad that I have had this opportunity. I was nervous before I left and had started to wish that I hadn't decided to do it. But now that I am here I am so glad I did because I never would have had an experience like this if it weren't for this program. I can't wait to get back and tell everyone about how amazing it is here and I really hope that one day I can bring them to see it for themselves, because nothing I say will ever be as good as actually getting to experience it. I can't wait to see what the next couple weeks have in store for me!

Let the Countdown Begin!

So I am less than a week away from leaving and I am both excited and a little nervous. I know once I get there and get into the schools that I am going to have some amazing experiences, but the packing and getting there is stressing me out. I am excited to get there and meet my family though. They have been great with answering all my questions, giving me information, and making me already feel welcome. I am also so excited to get into the schools. I have heard great things about the structure of their schools as well as just the education itself. The fact that they teach other languages so early is amazing to me since we don't really do it here until high school. My host family speaks multiple languages which I am jealous of.

It will definitely take some adjusting to the new culture and just the different ways they do things. Even just little things like riding bikes to school or getting done at lunch with classes instead of going all day. A big one that I am nervous about is the food. I am possibly the world's pickiest eater so this will definitely push me out of my comfort zone. 

I am excited for all the opportunities I am going to have while I am over there to learn some new things and to try some new things. There are so many different things to see and try and I think a month is just enough time to do it. I know this trip is going to play a big part when it comes to jobs and interviews and I am so excited to share about my experiences when I get back. This trip will definitely impact me for the better and I can't wait to see how I've changed after my time abroad.

“The biggest rewards in life are found outside your comfort zone. Live with it. Fear and risk are prerequisites if you want to enjoy a life of success and adventure.” Jack Canfield