Monday morning fail

Only Monday mornings could begin like this: firstly I managed to paper cut (well, slice) my thumb on a pile of photocopies; next I was woken from my somewhat dazed walk across the school to a group of lads from my class calling "hallo, Frau Groves, hallo? wir haben 604" aka. we had a room change which somehow they knew about and I didn't; and lastly I had to then face this class, my least favourite class of all, most of whom were not up for cooperating with me today. Fun. So glad it was my last lesson with them!

Monday then carried on its slightly bizarre manner when my middle two lessons were cancelled as years 9-12 were all to go to the hall to watch the Oberstufe's theatre play. Faced with the alternative of another hour and a half sat in the staffroom feigning busyness, I went along with. However, despite trying my best, I can safely say that I did not understand what on earth 'Der nackte Wahnsinn' was about - and not just because it was auf Deutsch, though that didn't help. Most bizarre play ever.

Still, it's lovely and sunny again now, and yesterday's afternoon at the 'beach' (well, a stony 'beach' along the banks of the Rhein in picturesque Kaiserswerth anyhow) was lovely. Now just to face my new 'speaking AG' tomorrow... (and my one out of three cancelled lessons).

Kaiserswerth

Sunburnt in March

That's got to be a new record. Not badly burnt you must understand, just that slight level of pink that you don't notice until it stings a little in the shower - oops! Hello strap marks.

Still, that is a sign of just how amazing the weather has been this week :) Sitting in the sunshine alongside the Rhine eating ice cream is a way of spending my afternoon that I will never ever tire of. Summer weather in March, and afternoons free to enjoy it - who can complain?

Another win for Cologne is the cupcake cafe we ventured to today. Not only did we get to nom a delicious cupcake (I challenge anyone to eat two in one sitting), we also discovered a whole new Stadtteil, with a whole new selection of shops, of which miraculously only one was an H&M (compared to the 5 in the city centre!). Plus I still don't understand quite how our meandering brought us right back into the middle of the city, but it did, magic.

"Dornröschen" - Sleeping Beauty

Also noteworthy is that I actually worked all of my timetabled hours this week, not a single lesson was cancelled. Next week however, is my last one on this timetable before a quick change for my last 6 or so weeks of school left here :'( It also brings the (somewhat late) start of 'my' English speaking AG... ie. an after school conversation group, organised by another English teacher on my behalf (just as well she's friendly!) for able students in classes 8 and 9. Hence, on Tuesday afternoon, somewhere between 0 and 15 students should be turning up to voluntarily speak English....

Another semester ticket win

Today I fell in love with Münster and out of love with football fans! The latter first...

It's just a personal gripe, but football fans would definitely be consigned to my Room 101. They should run special trains, or at least designate them a particular carriage so that their shouting, singing and burping is inflicted on none other than those doing the same. I did not appreciate their BVB chants en route to Dortmund - a quiet nap would have been preferable.



On a more positive note, Münster is a truly lovely city, especially in the sunshine. Once you pass out of the not so nice station, and move a street or two towards the city centre, you reach an elegant, relaxed and contemporary city, with just the right mix of old historic buildings filled with modern shops. Plus it has parkland and trees to enjoy in the nice weather... you just need to keep your eye out for bikes! Münster, I approve.




Another win for the semester ticket. Its imminent expiration will be mourned.

A Scandinavian Weekend

This weekend I went to visit Sarah in Lund, Sweden. This meant flying to Copenhagen - home to the biggest and most confusing airport ever. But also the first airport that I have passed through this year without getting me or my bag searched! When arriving at Copenhagen airport you have to walk all the way through departures (a good 10-15 minute walk through what is effectively a shopping centre) just to get to the main terminal building. More worrying / impressive, is that I travelled all the way from Colgone to Copenhagen, and then onto Sweden (by train), without anyone even once checking my passport... Seemingly flying within the continent requires fewer checks than when the UK is involved!

Brushing over a few problems with trains that decided not to stop in Lund, and a lack of English translation as to why, Friday night I was treated to the true Swedish student lifestyle; dinner at a 'Nation' with fellow international students, followed by free entry to their club night. However, not before Sarah could whip out her idea of a joke - cycling there and back. After not having ridden a bike in about a decade (!), it was time to test the theory that it's a skill you never forget... Well, if you take out starting, stopping and turning corners, then yes I can still ride a bike. Albeit it not very speedily and some what wobbly. Still, I only nearly fell off twice...

Pretty street in Lund

As well as exploring Lund, and Malmö by night (both pretty Swedish towns) we also spent a day being tourists in Copenhagen: meandering round the city, climbing the Round Tower, eating cake, watching buskers play glass bottles, searching for the Little Mermaid, walking through the new harbour and visiting an ice bar...

Copenhagen

Bottle playing buskers

The Little Mermaid

Schön oder? Looking be-a-utiful in the ice bar!

Two countries in one weekend, not bad huh? Although having spent the weekend playing the ignorant British card and failing to understand any Swedish / Danish, listening to German again at the airport came as an odd relief to once more hear a language that I could actually understand.

After a busy few days back at school, (including a 2 hour earlier than necessary get-up this morning) and some gloriously summery weather - think 18° sat by the Rhine eating ice cream - my 3 day week means it is now already weekend again, albeit it probably a much quieter one - time to recoup and catch some sleep!

Karneval 2011 ... Köln hat was zu beaten!

♫ Kölle Alaaf, Alaaf. Kölle Alaaf! ♫

Just one of the typical Karneval songs that I can now successfully mumble along to - or at least join in with the key line of the chorus! Along with 'Viva Colonia' another of these songs whose lyrics raised a smile is: 'Alles hat ein Ende nur die Wurst hat zwei', meaning 'Everything has an end, only a sausage has two'!

How do you sum up Karneval in a simple blog entry? You can't.
Let's start by saying, going out dressed like this is ganz normal:

In fact, not only does nobody bat an eyelid, but once in Cologne you actually attract many more stares if you go out dressed in your normal clothes rather than in costume. And that applies to all generations. Still, setting out mid morning fully verkleidert did feel a little strange!

When Karneval hits Cologne, you know. Singing / music / marching bands can be heard almost everywhere, and catching a tram could compete with the London Underground at rush hour! Even the main station had music playing out of its speakers at midnight. It's all mad, but fun.

A bit part of Karneval is the Dreigestirn, and the many Funkenbiwaks who take part. Both of these we saw at Neumarkt as various groups paraded in and out (parting the crowd directly in front of us - result) and performed on stage leading us, the Jecken, in popular Karnevals Lieder.

The Dreigestirn: Jungfrau, Bauer & Prinz

One of the Funkenbiwak

I should also mention the drummers dressed as sailors who were performing outside the (uncharacteristically, but wisely, closed) Dom. Not only did they attract a crowd, but they had people dancing and limboing on the Cathedral forecourt.

Drummers

On Saturday night there was the Geisterzug - the alternative 'ghosts / ghouls / all things scary' procession, which originated as a form of protest parade against all things political. Anyone can join in and take part, especially if you are wearing a mask. It did, however, prove a little elusive to find, and in typical 'German efficiency is a myth' style, was late.

As for the big parade on Rosenmontag? Well after more than 4 hours of standing watching, 40 out of about 50-60 groups passing by, and many Kamelle scrambled for, we called it quits!

The parade had something over 12,100 participants, was 6.5-7km long, and apparently took around 5 hours to pass by. It's made up of marching bands, often also dressed up, many horses (we saw at least number 600!) and massive 'floats' that were often politically relevant. For example...

Musical clowns

The Blaue Funken throwing out Kamelle.
Yes we are that close to that big a float without a barrier.

Oh dear Guttenberg - in a photocopier

Kamelle are the chocolates / biscuits / sweets thrown into the crowd from the parade. People in the crowd call out "Kamelle, Kamelle" to attract the attention of those in the parade (one pensioner nearby even had a megaphone!) and apparently blowing a kiss is the way to be given a flower. However, we soon learnt that some people are very competitive when it comes to collecting as many of these Kamelle and flowers as possible, and I don't mean children. Parents and children alike come ready with hats to help catch the Kamelle in, and bags to stash all that they have collected. I only need to say 'Kinderwagen woman' and blood will start to boil! As for the woman though who was effectively exploiting her mentally handicapped son (or whatever the politically correct term is at the moment) - I have no words.

However, for Imis, I don't think we did too badly!

Apparently more than 300 tonnes of Kamelle were given out during the parade!

One down side of Kamelle being thrown down from the floats - you will take a few hits to the head! And don't think that just because it hit you it's yours. Oh no, finders keepers - first to snatch it from the air or pick it up from the floor gets to pocket it. Health and safety in the UK would have had a field day / nightmare.

What's more, I can even say that I saw somebody in the parade that I knew! One of the lads in my Klasse 6 from last term was taking part with some form of music group, who were singing out "We will rock you" loud and proud as they passed us by. Thankfully, I managed to escape with only seeing a handful of students who recognised me, despite unintentionally walking past the school as it emptied out on Thursday morning - phew.

All in all a good few days, and no-one can complain at a 5-day weekend. If only this country celebrated Shrove Tuesday ... could have been the icing on the cake!

Only 6 months late...

I know I only updated this yesterday, but today I have breaking news: Near enough 6 months after arriving at this school, and a lot of pestering later, I have finally acquired a Fach* (and little cupboard) in the staffroom - hooray!

I know this is more exciting than it should be, but having a Fach means I should now actually get given the staff notices and maybe even find out about things before they happen, rather than too late! More worrying though was when clearing out this Fach of abandoned out of date information, I found a letter adressed to me from the PAD buried in middle... How did this get to be there? Did I really have one all along, that neither I or my mentor teacher could find? Mystery.

I also appear to be befriending the guy from DHL who has called round twice in as many days now, to ask me to take deliveries (of boxes of wine) for my landlord!

Sun's still shining, and epically long weekend has begun :)

* Postfach = pigeon hole
   PAD = Pädagogische Austauschdienst aka. the people who employ / pay us

Frühling

Spring is sprung, the grass is ris, I wonder where the birdie is? 

Or in other words, it's the 1st March which by my book officially makes it spring. We even have the sunshine to prove it! Not to mention my walk to school now takes place in almost daylight. Just don't look at the sub-zero temperatures forecast for the next few nights...

To the tune of 'Holidays are coming' (which incidentally I heard being played in a shop this week):

Karneval is coming!

Starting on Thursday with Weiberfestnacht - a day when women are allowed to symbolically cut off the ends of men's ties - continuing over the weekend until the big parade on Rosenmontag, and then ending on Shrove Tuesday / Ash Wednesday, when it is apparently traditional to eat fish.


For the first time in about a month, I actually stayed local this weekend and ventured no further than a few trips to Cologne. The result of which is that tickets home for Easter have now been bought, my Karneval costume is looking a lot more promising than a few days ago, and my landlord has been taught how to write a letter on his laptop - bless.

Monday's challenge: how do you get 28 13/14 year olds to pay attention, stick to task and actually do some work? Firstly change the time of the lesson from last lesson to first thing, and then do the lesson on facebook / social networks - worked a treat!

Now to cut some holes in a top and finish this Karneval costume before beginning my 5 and a half day weekend at half ten tomorrow morning!