This weekend has been gloriously sunny, and ridiculously hot. Who knew Germany could reach 30° in May?! Exactly the kind of weather long weekends were designed for. Hence, Saturday was a day for sitting on Heidi's roof, chilling in the park, and avoiding the hundreds of police / blocked roads. I managed 2 out of 3 successfully.
'Pro-Köln' right-extremists are apparently not taken lightly over here, so hundreds of armed police and their vans / army style trucks were stationed around the city blocking off certain roads etc. That in itself wasn't too much of a problem, we may have had to take the longer way round a couple of times but we were able to cross a number of roads without waiting for the green man and without incurring a fine for doing so (which, given there were so many police around, was even more satisfying). Anyway, as I approached Deutz station to catch the train back to Bergisch (in order to be back in time for dinner with the landlord) I noticed a lot of annoyed people standing outside, and some equally crotchety policemen standing behind a barrier stopping people from going in. Apparently "for our own safety" the station was temporarily closed.
This would have been more believable if people didn't seem to be getting in through other entrances. As they slowly reduced the closed area down to just 4 platforms some of us clocked that we could get in through the side door leaving Mr shouty policeman with his megaphone to keep barking at those looking for trouble. Getting inside was good progress. However, now we were met with 5 or so police officers stationed at the bottom of the platforms. We weren't going anywhere until they said so (all the while trains passing through on the platforms above our heads). Still, we were told it would only be another 15-20 minutes and in true 'German efficiency isn't always a myth' style that estimate was pretty much spot on. What a palava.
I made it back to the Bach just in time for dinner though, even without having to arrive all red-cheeked and flustered (my life is just too exciting right?). And when, at half eleven at night, you are still sat outside in a pleasantly refreshing 20°, you can hardly complain!
Today has also been just as warm, if not a little hotter than yesterday, and we definitely reached the 30 degree mark. So hot in fact that I don't have to worry about getting sunburnt, as sitting in the shade is plenty warm enough for me! A little bit of rain to clear the pollen and smog wouldn't go amiss though. Growing up into hay fever is not something I am enjoying!
Back to school tomorrow morning, bright and early, with only a maximum of 10 working days to go ...
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
The beginning of the end
After training it back across the continent via London, Brussels and Cologne (top tip: British trains on a bank holiday are reallyyyy slow) I am back in the land of the Deutsch for the home straight of my year abroad... How on earth has this year gone soo quickly?!
By 3 o'clock this afternoon I had already completed about 80% of my working week, and am the proud (?) owner of one of the most flicked through copies of Heat magazine's 'Wedding Souvenier Special'. They may not fully understand all the hype about the Royal Wedding over here, but a good few of them did tune in to watch it and even more are more than happy to look through pictures! Talk about easy lesson planning. I also introduced mini-eggs to my AG group, and judging by the empty packet, I'm going to say they went down well!
Successes aside, I have also managed to pay an extortionate amount just to send my postal vote back, and will now apparently be losing another €6 to the bank just for the priviledge of a new card seeing mine has decided to no longer be readable. Robbing so and so's.
Countdown:
This time in 4 weeks I will have finished my last day at NCG.
This time in one month I will be in Paris.
By 3 o'clock this afternoon I had already completed about 80% of my working week, and am the proud (?) owner of one of the most flicked through copies of Heat magazine's 'Wedding Souvenier Special'. They may not fully understand all the hype about the Royal Wedding over here, but a good few of them did tune in to watch it and even more are more than happy to look through pictures! Talk about easy lesson planning. I also introduced mini-eggs to my AG group, and judging by the empty packet, I'm going to say they went down well!
Successes aside, I have also managed to pay an extortionate amount just to send my postal vote back, and will now apparently be losing another €6 to the bank just for the priviledge of a new card seeing mine has decided to no longer be readable. Robbing so and so's.
Countdown:
This time in 4 weeks I will have finished my last day at NCG.
This time in one month I will be in Paris.
Saturday, 30 April 2011
noch mal nach Deutschland!
Wills and Kate (or the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as we should probably now call them) have had their big day; the UK has partied and celebrated with them (the biggest display of British patriotism I have ever seen); and the sun has been shining for an amazing amount of the last 2 weeks - must be time to go back to Deutschland!
However, bank holiday Sunday + travelling by train = one very long journey... Damn flights over the weekend being so expensive. Also, someone forgot to memo Germany that bank holidays should be celebrated even if they happen to fall on a weekend - back to work Monday it is then!
However, bank holiday Sunday + travelling by train = one very long journey... Damn flights over the weekend being so expensive. Also, someone forgot to memo Germany that bank holidays should be celebrated even if they happen to fall on a weekend - back to work Monday it is then!
Monday, 25 April 2011
Easter
I probably should have updated this sooner as I've already been back in the UK for about 10 days, but just for memories sake, here's a quick little Easter update.
I got back last week safe and sound, and on time. In fact, after catching 4 trains, I only had a total of about 10 minutes of delays - impressive. So much less stressful than at Christmas! I also had far too many kilos of luggage and consequently some slightly sore muscles the next day... Steps up onto the Eurostar are not friendly.
England has been sunny, and a lot sunnier than I expected. Yey for early summer spreading across from the continent! Just a shame that the one day it chose not to be sunny was yesterday (Easter Sunday) morning at around sunrise time. Being up at 4.30am would be a lot less painful if we actually got to see the sun one year, and not just a sky full of clouds gradually getting lighter! Still, there's always next year....
So, all that is left to say is a (belated) "Frohe Ostern"!
I got back last week safe and sound, and on time. In fact, after catching 4 trains, I only had a total of about 10 minutes of delays - impressive. So much less stressful than at Christmas! I also had far too many kilos of luggage and consequently some slightly sore muscles the next day... Steps up onto the Eurostar are not friendly.
England has been sunny, and a lot sunnier than I expected. Yey for early summer spreading across from the continent! Just a shame that the one day it chose not to be sunny was yesterday (Easter Sunday) morning at around sunrise time. Being up at 4.30am would be a lot less painful if we actually got to see the sun one year, and not just a sky full of clouds gradually getting lighter! Still, there's always next year....
So, all that is left to say is a (belated) "Frohe Ostern"!
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| Marzipan chicks - a productive afternoon me thinks |
Monday, 11 April 2011
Blue skies and sunshine ♫
And yet another day of glorious sunshine after a very sunny week. Who knew it could reach 24° in April? Perfect. Shame the sun is apparently taking some leave and letting spring return tomorrow. Still, can't complain!
So, school... Well after a (many) timetable hiccup(s) last Tuesday, I sat in on a Klasse 9 lesson and learned that the English language has 4 ways of forming the future tense depending on the context - who knew? (For the keen beans among you: 'going to' future, 'will' future, simple present, and present progressive).
This week is the Abi* students' last week in school, so apparently they are coming in 'verkleidet' / dressed up every day, each day a new theme ... today appeared to be something along the lines of awards ceremony / suit get up. They are also selling waffles in the break times raising money for, well I'm not quite sure what - probably some sort of leaving party, which, as they blasted out music through some big speakers, turned the corridors into more of a club than a school! Cue some of the older teachers returning to the staffroom mumbling and grumbling utterances of dissatisfaction about something they could do nothing about.
I also briefly met one of the teachers accompanying the English exchange this morning - apparently they were off to Fantasialand today. Took me right back to being about 11 years old...
This long weekend also involved a trip on the Seilbahn (cable cars across the Rhein), some sitting by the Rhein and Dora's birthday celebrations. Whilst sitting at the Rhein we watched an owner play fetch with his dog, using a bottle top ... and were also asked if we wanted to be part of the audience for a quiz show on WDR. I had to decline, although bonus points for the woman still approaching us auf Deutsch even though she had heard us speaking English. Dora's birthday meal, despite being at an Argentinean restaurant, proved to be very German - when the menu says steak, it means steak, just steak. Nice to see a whole collection of Leeds people though (plus others!).
Easter is now a coming, so trees like the one below (taken from the internet, I decided that stopping to take photos outside people's homes probably isn't a good idea!) and lots of painted boiled eggs are springing up all over. Plenty of Lindt / Milka chocolate bunnies have also appeared in shops, but no creme eggs or mini eggs - consuming as many of those as possible will have to wait until next week. Homeward bound on Friday!
You may remember me saying back when "Wills and Kate" first announced their engagement, and then the wedding date, that Germany didn't really get it. Well, they probably still don't but that hasn't stopped wedding fever reaching the media here. The local newspaper even has a countdown for the number of days left to go... Oh dear.
* Abi, short for Abitur - the German equivalent of A-levels
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| Bergisch Gladbach (Hebborn) in the sunshine |
So, school... Well after a (many) timetable hiccup(s) last Tuesday, I sat in on a Klasse 9 lesson and learned that the English language has 4 ways of forming the future tense depending on the context - who knew? (For the keen beans among you: 'going to' future, 'will' future, simple present, and present progressive).
This week is the Abi* students' last week in school, so apparently they are coming in 'verkleidet' / dressed up every day, each day a new theme ... today appeared to be something along the lines of awards ceremony / suit get up. They are also selling waffles in the break times raising money for, well I'm not quite sure what - probably some sort of leaving party, which, as they blasted out music through some big speakers, turned the corridors into more of a club than a school! Cue some of the older teachers returning to the staffroom mumbling and grumbling utterances of dissatisfaction about something they could do nothing about.
I also briefly met one of the teachers accompanying the English exchange this morning - apparently they were off to Fantasialand today. Took me right back to being about 11 years old...
This long weekend also involved a trip on the Seilbahn (cable cars across the Rhein), some sitting by the Rhein and Dora's birthday celebrations. Whilst sitting at the Rhein we watched an owner play fetch with his dog, using a bottle top ... and were also asked if we wanted to be part of the audience for a quiz show on WDR. I had to decline, although bonus points for the woman still approaching us auf Deutsch even though she had heard us speaking English. Dora's birthday meal, despite being at an Argentinean restaurant, proved to be very German - when the menu says steak, it means steak, just steak. Nice to see a whole collection of Leeds people though (plus others!).
 |
| One view from the Seilbahn, looking over the Rheinpark towards the Dom |
Easter is now a coming, so trees like the one below (taken from the internet, I decided that stopping to take photos outside people's homes probably isn't a good idea!) and lots of painted boiled eggs are springing up all over. Plenty of Lindt / Milka chocolate bunnies have also appeared in shops, but no creme eggs or mini eggs - consuming as many of those as possible will have to wait until next week. Homeward bound on Friday!
 |
| Ostereier |
You may remember me saying back when "Wills and Kate" first announced their engagement, and then the wedding date, that Germany didn't really get it. Well, they probably still don't but that hasn't stopped wedding fever reaching the media here. The local newspaper even has a countdown for the number of days left to go... Oh dear.
* Abi, short for Abitur - the German equivalent of A-levels
Monday, 4 April 2011
Is datt nit schön?
Or, translated from Kölsch to Hochdeutsch: ist das nicht schön?
And from German to English: isn't it lovely?
That, it certainly was. With highs of 24° and glorious sunshine all day long Germany delivered its promised 'super spring' weather. Beautiful. However, after an afternoon in the park, I now have the sunburn to prove it - doh!
Some photos for you, just to prove how sunny it was :)
(Click to enlarge)
Today, too, was a good day. I met three new classes, whose names I have already instantly forgotten, and discovered a whole new staffroom kitted out with a dishwasher and everything.
I'll choose just a couple of highlights...
I began the day with Klasse 7 who I'll be taking in small groups for conversation practise. Having been talking about topics such as favourite films and plans for the Easter holidays etc. I regretted encouraging them to also ask me questions when one lad, out of the blue but in all seriousness, came out with: "What do you think about Fukushima?" Well that brought the mood down!
After what has become a fairly standard introduction procedure to my new Klasse 5 (the first year of secondary school, aged 9/10) - their teacher pretending that I don't speak any German and getting them to try and find out who I am - I went to move to the side of the room to wait until it was time to take my part of the lesson. Unfortunately there was no free chair nearby - the only one I could see being on the exact opposite corner of the classroom - so I simply just moved and stood by the window.
Meanwhile, unbeknown to me or their teacher, some of the lads had spotted that I was chairless, so without saying anything, the lad next to the only spare chair got up and carried it up to the front for me. When he then received praise for being so kind, one of the other lads a little further away indignantly, and incessantly, exclaimed that in actual fact it had initially been his idea. As their teacher quizzed him as to why that was so important, he started to blush. So naturally she teased him a little further - turns out I've got myself a little admirer! In her words: "aww, how sweet"!
Mondays could easily become my favourite day of the week.
And from German to English: isn't it lovely?
That, it certainly was. With highs of 24° and glorious sunshine all day long Germany delivered its promised 'super spring' weather. Beautiful. However, after an afternoon in the park, I now have the sunburn to prove it - doh!
Some photos for you, just to prove how sunny it was :)
(Click to enlarge)
 |
| Kölner Dom - Cologne Cathedral |
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| The Rhein glistening in the sunlight |
 |
| Our view whilst lazying the park |
 |
| A pretty little daisy |
I'll choose just a couple of highlights...
I began the day with Klasse 7 who I'll be taking in small groups for conversation practise. Having been talking about topics such as favourite films and plans for the Easter holidays etc. I regretted encouraging them to also ask me questions when one lad, out of the blue but in all seriousness, came out with: "What do you think about Fukushima?" Well that brought the mood down!
After what has become a fairly standard introduction procedure to my new Klasse 5 (the first year of secondary school, aged 9/10) - their teacher pretending that I don't speak any German and getting them to try and find out who I am - I went to move to the side of the room to wait until it was time to take my part of the lesson. Unfortunately there was no free chair nearby - the only one I could see being on the exact opposite corner of the classroom - so I simply just moved and stood by the window.
Meanwhile, unbeknown to me or their teacher, some of the lads had spotted that I was chairless, so without saying anything, the lad next to the only spare chair got up and carried it up to the front for me. When he then received praise for being so kind, one of the other lads a little further away indignantly, and incessantly, exclaimed that in actual fact it had initially been his idea. As their teacher quizzed him as to why that was so important, he started to blush. So naturally she teased him a little further - turns out I've got myself a little admirer! In her words: "aww, how sweet"!
Mondays could easily become my favourite day of the week.
Friday, 1 April 2011
Der Superfrühling kommt
These are the wise words of yesterday's weatherman. Our summery weather may have temporarily taken a break (it rained a lot of yesterday and is definitely grey and drizzly today) but according to those 'in the know' the "super Spring" weather will be returning over the weekend, with temperatures reaching up to around 24° - ich kann kaum warten! What is even better, is the "Grill-Wetter" chart they've produced especially, ie. the weather forecast measured in barbecues!
In other somewhat sad news, the semester ticket expired yesterday, meaning that once more we now have to pay for our travel again - shocking. €207 (or some such amount) for 6 months free travel was soo worth it. Thank you kindly Universität zu Köln.
My timetable for my last 6 and a half weeks at school :'( has now been sorted, and my 4-day weekends are set to stay! Plus I get to keep my friendly year 12 Leistungskurs class whose lessons always involve a bit of blagging as they know a hell of a lot more about the UK / America than I do.
Also, having done a little bit of tidying up etc, I have begun to realise just how much stuff I've managed to acquire out here ... thank goodness for travelling home by train at Easter - hello no weight limit!
Finally, word of the week: dämlich, meaning daft.
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| Bergisch Gladbach is in the West, just underneath the edge of 3 sausages. |
Dear Germany,
if your weather forecasters are right and you pull this one off, I will officially forgive the 6 continuous weeks of snow and all those sub -5/10° days we endured back in Winter.
In other somewhat sad news, the semester ticket expired yesterday, meaning that once more we now have to pay for our travel again - shocking. €207 (or some such amount) for 6 months free travel was soo worth it. Thank you kindly Universität zu Köln.
My timetable for my last 6 and a half weeks at school :'( has now been sorted, and my 4-day weekends are set to stay! Plus I get to keep my friendly year 12 Leistungskurs class whose lessons always involve a bit of blagging as they know a hell of a lot more about the UK / America than I do.
Also, having done a little bit of tidying up etc, I have begun to realise just how much stuff I've managed to acquire out here ... thank goodness for travelling home by train at Easter - hello no weight limit!
Finally, word of the week: dämlich, meaning daft.
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