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.
No comments:
Post a Comment