After two full weeks of school, I am exhausted. Constantly translating--or attempting to do so--is grueling for eight hours every day. My teachers have learned to scan over me when they search for a student to call on, because whenever they call my name I can only respond with "Wie bitte?" or "Ich verstehe nicht." Needless to say my German still isn't where it needs to be to keep up with everything happening in class, but it is amazing how much my German has improved over the past two weeks. I have found that each time I have to speak in front of my classmates my palms begin to sweat, and my heart races. This is very odd, because I am never nervous speaking in front of groups in America. I gave a presentation on Kansas, Topeka, and a little information about my family the other day in German class--in German, of course--and afterwards I couldn't even stop my hands from shaking long enough to put on more deodorant (which I desperately needed).
Kids at school have become used to my presence now, and are starting to talk to me about real things, instead of just "Where are you from?" and "Do you understand?"but on occasion, I still walk into the wrong classroom, or pull a door which should be pushed, and they must correct me. I have befriended most of the girls in my class, however, sometimes I follow them so closely, and so often, that I'm worried I may frighten them, or lead them to believe I am stalking them.
My host family is still wonderful. Each day I fall deeper into love with my host mom. Last Sunday she took Jule and me canoeing, then to a small cafe for cappuccinos and fresh pretzels (which were bomb), and later that night she walked through the door with fresh döner for dinner. Yesterday I received something in the mail which turned out to be a ticket for a concert I will be attending with Jule in November, and as soon as she saw what it was she shouted "Oh nein!" I was very confused until she revealed that she had already purchased my ticket, and was going to surprise me with it for my birthday. I could have cried real tears, because I felt so bad, and because I was so touched.
Things are schön here in Lüneburg, and I know with time my German will be just as good.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Thursday, September 11, 2014
First Day of School
I woke up this morning at 6:00 AM, got dressed, had breakfast and coffee with Cathleen, Jule, and Emma, brushed my teeth, and headed out the door to Gymnasium Johanneum. Cathleen walked with me, assuring me that everything would be easy because it's the first day on our way. I wasn't nervous until we turned the corner and about a hundred kids were standing outside the school, waiting for the bell. We walked through the crowd and into the building, where we found an even bigger crowd of students catching up after the long summer holiday. Cathleen took me directly to the secretary so I could wait for someone to show me to my classroom. She gave me a big smile and warm hug before leaving me with my teacher. Herr Weigel led me to the room which had several students waiting outside. "Oh God," I thought as we all shuffled in, "this is going to be the longest day of my life."
When class finally began Herr Weigel made everyone find a partner--"Great."--to get to know each other and talk about activities we do in our free time. A girl approached me, seeing that I clearly didn't know anyone, and introduced herself as Lena. As she started to explain what were doing and ask me questions, I realized how little German I actually knew. Everyone was speaking so quickly, it's a wonder to me how they even understood each other. Lena tried to communicate with me as best she could, but nothing was getting through to me, and I could tell she regretted ever agreeing to be my partner. After a few minutes of Lena asking questions in very advanced German, and me gazing back at her blankly, Herr Weigel announced that it was time to go around the room and present what we had learned about our partners. "Oh nein. Nein, nein, nein," I murmured as I stood up with Lena. I went first, giving very little information in very broken German, then Lena. I would have preferred to dig my eyes out of their sockets. The rest of the period was fuzzy, to say the least. When it was over I stood up, ready to head to my next class, when I realized I had no idea where I was going. "Rebekah," I heard from behind me. "Would you like for me to show you around the school?" Dani, a girl who had the same schedule I did offered this very kind gesture--and in English! "Ja! Bitte! Bitte," I replied.
We walked to our next class: French. "I can do this," I thought, "This shouldn't be that hard." (I have taken four years of French.) Class went by much more smoothly than that before it. Next came History, then Politics, both passing with very little understanding of what was actually going on, and then Pause. After Politics I was in such a daze that a 45 minute break was exactly what I needed. I followed Dani around the whole time. She introduced me to new people, showed me around more of the school, and explained more of how German schools works--some in English, some in German. After our break we went straight to English, and as I realized which subject it was I breathed a sigh of relief heard around the world. "My ish," I thought as the teacher spoke in fluent English. Lastly came Physics, which was also a complete blur.
Once school ended I walked home, without even saying goodbye to Dani, eight books in my hands, and realized I hadn't eaten anything all day long. Not one thing. I was ready to pass out as soon as I walked through the door, but I found Cathleen in the kitchen with a hot meal waiting for me.
When class finally began Herr Weigel made everyone find a partner--"Great."--to get to know each other and talk about activities we do in our free time. A girl approached me, seeing that I clearly didn't know anyone, and introduced herself as Lena. As she started to explain what were doing and ask me questions, I realized how little German I actually knew. Everyone was speaking so quickly, it's a wonder to me how they even understood each other. Lena tried to communicate with me as best she could, but nothing was getting through to me, and I could tell she regretted ever agreeing to be my partner. After a few minutes of Lena asking questions in very advanced German, and me gazing back at her blankly, Herr Weigel announced that it was time to go around the room and present what we had learned about our partners. "Oh nein. Nein, nein, nein," I murmured as I stood up with Lena. I went first, giving very little information in very broken German, then Lena. I would have preferred to dig my eyes out of their sockets. The rest of the period was fuzzy, to say the least. When it was over I stood up, ready to head to my next class, when I realized I had no idea where I was going. "Rebekah," I heard from behind me. "Would you like for me to show you around the school?" Dani, a girl who had the same schedule I did offered this very kind gesture--and in English! "Ja! Bitte! Bitte," I replied.
We walked to our next class: French. "I can do this," I thought, "This shouldn't be that hard." (I have taken four years of French.) Class went by much more smoothly than that before it. Next came History, then Politics, both passing with very little understanding of what was actually going on, and then Pause. After Politics I was in such a daze that a 45 minute break was exactly what I needed. I followed Dani around the whole time. She introduced me to new people, showed me around more of the school, and explained more of how German schools works--some in English, some in German. After our break we went straight to English, and as I realized which subject it was I breathed a sigh of relief heard around the world. "My ish," I thought as the teacher spoke in fluent English. Lastly came Physics, which was also a complete blur.
Once school ended I walked home, without even saying goodbye to Dani, eight books in my hands, and realized I hadn't eaten anything all day long. Not one thing. I was ready to pass out as soon as I walked through the door, but I found Cathleen in the kitchen with a hot meal waiting for me.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Laughing at myself
Things with my host family are going remarkably well. Each day I feel less like a guest and more like a part of the family. Everyday we eat breakfast and dinner together, and I can tell they are making an effort to make me feel as comfortable as possible. My host mom, Cathleen, has started carrying an English-German dictionary around with her. Yesterday they took me to a small lake where we had a picnic on the sand, and just as we found a word I didn't know, and she couldn't translate, she whipped the dictionary out of her bag, making us all giggle. Jule has been extremely helpful as well. She gave me a notebook to right down words I am unfamiliar with so I can remember them more easily, but I still find myself stuck most of time, butchering even the simplest German words, which is funny for everyone, I suppose.
Making a fool out of myself goes farther than language. Today, after visiting my school and meeting my teacher, Jule and I decided to get some schools supplies and new threads at H&M. Cathleen staying home meant we would have to take our bikes there. As soon as I hopped on Cathleen's adorable red bike with baskets in the front and back, I was flooded with nerves because I realized the last time I rode a bike was probably ten years ago. We headed down the street and although I was shaky, everything was fine. Just before we were going to ride under a bridge, the handlebar began moving to the left and for some reason I couldn't muster the strength to turn it back to the right (it's all a blur, to be perfectly honest). As I swerved into the road I thought to myself "This is it. After three days in Lüneburg, this is it." There was no stopping me as I flew across the street, over the curb, and landed with the bike on top of me (shout out to Jesus, Ganesh, or whoever made the street clear of cars so I could be here to tell the tale). As I collected myself, laughing wildly because I could only imagine how ridiculous I must have looked, a woman pulled up in a car to ask if I was alright. "Alles ist gut," I responded. All I was thinking was "Please leave me to hate myself." Jule realized what had happened, parked her bike, and ran across the street to check on me. "Scheiße," she said, while "Ja," was all I could reply. "Scheiße" could only begin to describe it.
As we rode away--me with a bruised ankle--I realized I wasn't that embarrassed. I should've been, considering that would have put even Molly Shannon to shame, but I wasn't. I just laughed, and that's all I'm going to do for the next nine months.
Making a fool out of myself goes farther than language. Today, after visiting my school and meeting my teacher, Jule and I decided to get some schools supplies and new threads at H&M. Cathleen staying home meant we would have to take our bikes there. As soon as I hopped on Cathleen's adorable red bike with baskets in the front and back, I was flooded with nerves because I realized the last time I rode a bike was probably ten years ago. We headed down the street and although I was shaky, everything was fine. Just before we were going to ride under a bridge, the handlebar began moving to the left and for some reason I couldn't muster the strength to turn it back to the right (it's all a blur, to be perfectly honest). As I swerved into the road I thought to myself "This is it. After three days in Lüneburg, this is it." There was no stopping me as I flew across the street, over the curb, and landed with the bike on top of me (shout out to Jesus, Ganesh, or whoever made the street clear of cars so I could be here to tell the tale). As I collected myself, laughing wildly because I could only imagine how ridiculous I must have looked, a woman pulled up in a car to ask if I was alright. "Alles ist gut," I responded. All I was thinking was "Please leave me to hate myself." Jule realized what had happened, parked her bike, and ran across the street to check on me. "Scheiße," she said, while "Ja," was all I could reply. "Scheiße" could only begin to describe it.
As we rode away--me with a bruised ankle--I realized I wasn't that embarrassed. I should've been, considering that would have put even Molly Shannon to shame, but I wasn't. I just laughed, and that's all I'm going to do for the next nine months.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Finally with family
Yesterday I reached my host family (finally) in Lüneburg. I began the day by waking up at 5:00 AM and leaving the monastery at 7:15. When we got to the train station in Magdeburg around 8:00 we parked our suitcases outside so we could wait for our trains, most departing around 10:00. We learned there that most of us would most likely have delayed trains because of union strikes. Shortly after we got settled on the cement for a few final conversations about the long day ahead of us, our chaperones herded us across the streets because the entire train station was being evacuated due to some type of dangerous fluid leaked from a plane flying overhead (so we heard). We waited for several hours until finally, around 12:30, some of were able to catch a train to Hannover. Once in Hannover we said our teary goodbyes to our closest friends and parted ways. I took a train to Lüneburg, and shortly after I got my my things together and headed down the platform I saw my host family's beaming faces coming toward me.
My host mom Cathleen hugged me first, a hug which reminded me of one my own mom's hugs, then my 15 year-old sister Jule, and finally my 13 year-old sister Emma. They helped me with my luggage to the car, and then up the three flights of stairs to their apartment several blocks away. Their flat is small, but so charming. I share a room with Jule, but it is much bigger than my room at language camp, so I am pleased.
As soon as I put my suitcase down they showed me to the kitchen where they fed me a piece of raspberry cheesecake, which they made to celebrate my arrival. Then we walked around downtown Lüneburg for a bit, and ate at a small cafe (where I had the best tomato soup I have ever tasted) when it started to rain. Once we finished our meal, we went back to the apartment, and I slept for approximately 12 hours.
When I woke up this morning Jule had already made coffee, and Cathleen was out buying rolls and croissants for breakfast (Emma slept until noon). When she returned with the bread we sat down to eat together. They had a variety of spreads and toppings, but we all had the honey I brought for them from Hedersleben. (Konstantine, a 15 year-old boy from the town, has a bee hive behind the monastery where he sells four different types of honey which he cultivates himself. He started this business when he was eleven, and it has definitely paid off for him because it is the best honey I have ever tasted.) After breakfast the three of us headed out to a salt museum. Apparently Lüneburg is famous for its underground salt mines, and salt cultivation, so I tried to read and learn as much as I could. We then walked through a beautiful park to get to a mini golf course where we played for a couple hours.
Conversation with my host family is limited--obviously because my German is still crap--but I can tell we will become very close in the five months I am living with them.
My host mom Cathleen hugged me first, a hug which reminded me of one my own mom's hugs, then my 15 year-old sister Jule, and finally my 13 year-old sister Emma. They helped me with my luggage to the car, and then up the three flights of stairs to their apartment several blocks away. Their flat is small, but so charming. I share a room with Jule, but it is much bigger than my room at language camp, so I am pleased.
As soon as I put my suitcase down they showed me to the kitchen where they fed me a piece of raspberry cheesecake, which they made to celebrate my arrival. Then we walked around downtown Lüneburg for a bit, and ate at a small cafe (where I had the best tomato soup I have ever tasted) when it started to rain. Once we finished our meal, we went back to the apartment, and I slept for approximately 12 hours.
When I woke up this morning Jule had already made coffee, and Cathleen was out buying rolls and croissants for breakfast (Emma slept until noon). When she returned with the bread we sat down to eat together. They had a variety of spreads and toppings, but we all had the honey I brought for them from Hedersleben. (Konstantine, a 15 year-old boy from the town, has a bee hive behind the monastery where he sells four different types of honey which he cultivates himself. He started this business when he was eleven, and it has definitely paid off for him because it is the best honey I have ever tasted.) After breakfast the three of us headed out to a salt museum. Apparently Lüneburg is famous for its underground salt mines, and salt cultivation, so I tried to read and learn as much as I could. We then walked through a beautiful park to get to a mini golf course where we played for a couple hours.
Conversation with my host family is limited--obviously because my German is still crap--but I can tell we will become very close in the five months I am living with them.
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