First milestone.

I have been living in Germany for a month today now. Wow. It still feels like an extended holiday, or like the exchanges we did at school, where I stayed just two weeks...one month down, five to go. I can't believe how quickly it has gone! Here's to many more fun filled months!

So this week has been very quiet, really. As usual, I got nothing done that I wanted to (I keep trying to do a bit of grammar work, in a plight to improve my German, and it isn't happening), however I had a few trips out, and a few evenings with activities too. All in all, this week has actually been quite busy!

I went to see the film "

Groupies bleiben nicht zum Fruehstueck" (Groupies don't stay for breakfast, for you none Germans), and it was brilliant! Such a cheesy little film, it's a love comedy, centred around a girl who falls in love with someone from the most famous pop group in Germany.. It was actually terrible, but so terrible that it was brilliant, and it was all based around Berlin, which meant it got me all excited for my trip away next weekend!

School's getting lots better, and I'm really enjoying myself! I'd like a few more hours, but to be honest I'm not complaining, and my timetable gives me a lot of leeway to travel. My challenge of the week was teaching the differences between much, many and more. When you speak English, you just don't think of why you say what you say! Best lesson of the week, however, was my Year 10 class. I had been warned that they can be a little bit hard, but they were such excellent kids! I took groups out of the class to chat to them in English, as I do with my two older classes, and had such a good time! I have to do the same in my next week year 10 class too, so I'm looking forward to an easy 45 minutes!

As well as that, I'

m starting to tutor a few pupils as of next week. After Herbstferien I'm starting a language club for people who want to practise their English....I'm excited! I like that I'm finally getting some form of routine to my weeks, the thing I miss the most about having a job at home, or being at University, is not having a set amount of things to do. My work here is so small, only twelve hours a week...I'm absolutely not complaining though. It means lots of free time for travels and visits, which was one of the biggest things I was excited about doing this year :)

Speaking of visits, my three day weekend proved itself very useful this week for the first time. On Thursday, I went to see Lucy, a friend from language assistant training, in Osnabrueck. Osnabrueck is quite a big town/small city inbetween both of our towns, and we had some dinner, wine, and a general catch up about all our different experiences since being in Germany. It was really great! Lucy then invited me to check out Haren, her town, and with me having Fridays free, I felt it a perfect opportunity. We drank rum and beer and watched German Harry Potter....and then I got a tour of Haren on Friday! It's a really nice town, it's quite similar to Diepholz, only less ghost town like!

I bumbled back through to Diepholz on Friday evening, full of pizza and coffee, and on Saturday, I went to Bremen with one of the history teacher's sons, Christian. He showed me around the little places I've not seen before, took me to the student area which reminded me of South Clerk Street a little bit...only with less kebab shops. We then went to the Schnoorviertel, which I hadn't been to on my two previous visits to Bremen. Now, any people intending to visit me, make sure I take you here! It's not that exciting, however it is so cute. There are lots of old little German houses, with really really narrow streets, quaint shops, musicians, tapas bars, coffee bars, beer gardens...the sun was shining, music was playing:- to be honest, it was all a bit eerily Spanish! My favorite thing there was a "Hochzeit Haus", a very small (there is just one room) hotel namely for newly wedded couples to spend their first evening together. So adorable!

We then went to the Konditorei. And I had a really yummy cake. Any visitors, we are also going there when you come here!

And now it's Sunday! Again, I seem to have made a big post about not very much! I went out last night, so today has been a big tired sleepy day, as I didn't get to bed until late, and naturally I woke up very early! We went to a club in Wagenfeld, and it was essentially Strata/City, but maybe a little bit cooler...beer was cheap, I wasn't complaining.

So today has been a bit redundant. I've been missing home (for the first time!) a bit this weekend, but all will be fine again when I have less time to think and more things to do! Plus, I'm heading back to Scotland on the 8th October, and then Grassington on the 10th, for a few days, the time will whizz by!

I think I am one of the few people that looks forward to going to school...so much so that I usually stay there a lot longer than needed. (Usually just on the BBC website though, not actually doing work...)

Berlin next weekend! I can't wait! As of Friday, my exciting weeks of travels begin. Berlin this weekend, home the weekend after, then visiting Ailsa and Janni the week after that down in the South of Germany! As well as all that, I have a cheeky trip to Prague early November all booked too....so very, very excited.

Wir feiern die ganze Nacht!

Diepholz Grossmarkt made up the main activity of my weekend this week...I decided that whilst there was something actually going on in Diepholz, I'd refrain from going anywhere. I plan to go to Bremerhaven or Oldenberg on Saturday...getting in all that free local travelling whilst I can with my under 21 railcard!

My weekend so far has been quite eventful, as days in Diepholz go! I went to Bremen on Friday, with the two other nearby language assistants Matthew and Nathan. It was so lovely to not have to speak German...which sounds awful. But sometimes a constant awareness that your grammar/word order isn't perfect, or knowing you won't always be understood, is so tiring! We had a drink in a Biergarten on the Rhine, and wandered round a pretty Church or two. A very peaceful day.

The Grossmarkt has taken up every night of my weekend thus far. Friday night was the big one. We had a "Grillabend"....i.e. a bit of a barbecue, at Annika's house, along with some "vortrinken". That being the word for predrinking...I cannot describe the pure joy I felt on finding out that Germans also have a word for pre-lash. Love it.

What I didn't particularly love (or at least not the next day), was the German drinking games.... I tell you what, that was an education. I learnt all sorts of new drinking/card game related vocabulary, and a very impossible game, that seemed to involve attempting to lie. If your lie gets busted, you have to drink. A no brainer really. Needless to say, I was much happier once the game was over, and I could relax and just chat with some really nice, new people.

Diepholz Grossmarkt was super cool. There was a carousel that was like a bar, but it spun round...this was enough to keep me entertained for a while. Booze orientated carousels aside, we drank beer and chilled and danced in one of the tents until the wee small hours of the morning. My first German nightlife experience, and I am presuming it will be one of few! However, not the last time I hear this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLWP84ktoN4

However it was great fun, and I'm really happy that I've met some pals here, who seem genuinely interested in me, and don't mind being friends with the one whose German is a bit hit and miss.

Speaking of the German language, I really really hope that I slide into mastering mode soon. It is driving me insane! After Friday, where I'd spent all night speaking German, from about 8-3 consistently, I woke up on Saturday feeling so much more confident with it. But it really does just take one day to slip out of it, because now I feel I couldn't string a sentence together. I'm trying to get a bit more going on in my life, i.e. taking a few courses at the university in Bremen, and volunteering in a youth centre...fingers crossed for improved speaking! I'm going to the cinema with my German pals tonight, I'm taking this year abroad thing one day at a time....

I've been here three weeks today! Which is crazy. But exciting. That means nearly a month. Nearly a whole month living very independently...i.e. alone...but I'm really proud of myself. And I have a lot more work to do, but I feel like I'm turning myself around a bit, and having so much more confidence in myself. And making myself do things I wouldn't normally do. If I hadn't impulsively chatted to strangers, I wouldn't have the friends I do today here in Diepholz...speaking of making friends, it truly is so hard. Think Freshers Week, without the pre-prepared social events to make you meet people, and without you all speaking the same language..so essentially, not Freshers Week at all. But definitely that feeling of awkwardness, as you try muddle through the small talk conversations and find common areas of chat...I am getting there.

Graf-Friedrich Schule.

This week has felt like my first real week at GFS. Teachers have put a bit more trust in me, and have let my creativity flow...I have just finished my first proper lesson, where I was in front of the kids on my own for 1 and a half hours. I had the time of my life! It was the 8. Klasse, making them all about 12 or 13, and they know their English irregular verbs to a tee! For none linguists, this is something that we didn't get introduced to greatly until we hit sixth form, and even then it was barely tested. Anyway, I played lots of little games making them run around the classroom (inadvertently testing their English!), and then made them write funny little dialogues about having a 'problem' in New York. They were so excellent! I am feeling overly confident about everything now, all my fear has depleted, which could potentially be a bad thing. I have just one more lesson this week, and that's my next one on London with 7. Klasse. What an excellent week in GFS! And having Friday's free makes life just that bit sweeter =)

School aside, my week hasn't been particularly jam packed! Beginning tonight, my life here in Diepholz should stop being as sleepy. It's the long awaited Diepholz Grossmarkt tonight, and for the rest of this weekend! I am warned that it is not very big, but in all honesty, I am just excited that there seems to be something, some spark, in this otherwise very quiet town! Svenja, my friend who works at the local Sparkasse, and I are going to go check it out tonight, and have a Bierchen or so. Then there's a bigger group of us all going together on Friday evening, after 'vortrinken' (love that Germans have a word for prelash too!) and some food. And then on Saturday, there's a few of the staff from here at GFS who have asked me to go along to the Grossmarkt with them. All in all, I have a feeling I may be sick of the Grossmarkt by Sunday. But we'll see!

Back to this week...I went to see Marcello Marcello this week, which is an Italian film, but this was dubbed with German. I strongly recommend it! The story is as follows- little Italian island in the 1960's, where it is that once a girl turns 18, the young men of the village must bring a gift to the girl's father...the one with the best gift, 'wins' a date with the daughter. It sounds corny, I know....we then meet young Marcello, who finds love at first sight with young Elena. He thus does everything he can in order to get the perfect gift for the girl's father, and along the way he encounters all sorts of mishaps, that make the film so very charming. Suprisingly (or not), Marcello finds the perfect gift, him and Elena are united (then split apart, then reunited), and all is happy on the island. As I type, I can tell I am describing the sort of film I normally find ever so slightly lame. Maybe it was the mood I was in, but it really was such a cute little film, with really stunning scenery. Oh, and (some of) the male characters were absolute stunners, which always helps!

I apologise that this blog post is of little substance. As the weeks pass by, I have more and more upcoming adventures to excite me and entail. Berlin is the first, two weeks tomorrow, and I cannot wait! Especially as our dates coincide with the Tag der Deutschen Einheit. Hopefully, a brilliant time to be partying in Berlin! It'll also be brilliant to see all my other assistant friends again. Sometimes, there ain't nothing like a friendly face!

Also, I fell off my bike this morning. Spectacularly. I had to document it somewhere, because it really upset me! Especially as one of the students saw me do it, and didn't even flinch. Or ask me if I was ok! Pfft.


Until next time!

Sunny sunny Diepholz...don't get used to it!

Life's all gravy in the North West of Germany. It's a sleepy Sunday in the town of Diepholz, and as I enter into my third week in Germany, I am happy to call it my home :)

This first half of this week was a bit hard... but I feel like I've come full circle! It began with a dreary, horrible Monday. I was so tired, I felt incredibly lifeless and thought there were no friends to be had in Diepholz. In a bold moment, I took it upon myself to go into the night of Diepholz (which I have to say, is quieter than a mouse), and seek out someone. Oddly, whilst reading my Marie Claire and drinking Prosecco in an Eiscafe, this worked, and I made two friends, Jan and Martin...I then met them and Svenja, one of their friends a couple of days later....and this weekend we all hung out a couple of times, which was nice. Just a massive shame that I've been a bit ill, so really wasn't on form! However next weekend, they have invited me to the Diepholz Grossmarkt with them...this seems to be the event of the year! I get the feeling it's about an 1000th the size of Oktoberfest, with rides/bands/beer tents. I honestly cannot wait for my first German night out. I anticipate beer. And one of my many pairs of heels might finally get an outing. Brilliant.

Aside from my attempts at improving my social life here in Diepholz, I have also been at school. As it was my first full week, it included a lot of observation. But it was really nice to get to meet the kids I'll be teaching, I have about 7 different classes in total, and they're all such good kids. Haven't met the Oberstufe (A-Level equivalent) class yet...I have my first lesson with them at 7.50am tomorrow, and have been informed that they're very good! I am sure my German vocabulary will be tested. Eek.

My first full week in Diepholz was a blur, and now I'm settling down, I am trying to get myself into a bit of a routine...which is hard, when you have a lot of time, and not very much to do! I'm generally in school until about 13.00 during the week, and that is the latest I'm in until! I also have Fridays off, which is brilliant for planning future adventures. First of which, is Berlin on the 1st October. So excited.

I went to Bremen yesterday. I live approximately 40 minutes away, by train, and I can see myself spending a lot of time there in the next few months. It's a stunner.

As you walk away from the Hauptbahnhof, you descend into the "Altstadt". The main attraction of this, as with most popular German cities, is the old Rathaus, and also some governmental buildings. They are great, proud, decorative buildings, all centred around a square. There was music playing, the sun was shining....I got that feeling you get when you're on holiday..love it.

I wandered around aimlessly for a while, loosely following a map given to me by Cornell, when I stumbled across Boettcherstrasse. This quaint little street is really narrow, and leads you through to near to the Weser, the river that runs through Bremen. Now I am no enthusiast, but the architecture is truly magnificent, with carvings, stain glass windows, and cute little bars and restraunts all the way down. Definitely want to celebrate my 21st birthday somewhere down here, that's for sure :)

I spent the rest of my day in Bremen drinking coffee in the glorious sunshine, wandering cluelessly around little streets, and lazily browsing the shops...I did however, notice how Anglified, if that in fact is a word, Bremen is. Maybe it's the whole of Germany, but I certainly haven't noticed it in other cities. Bremen has it's own Primark, it's own Oxfam, and down Boettcherstrasse, buildings had names like "Robinson Crusoe Haus". That's the West for you. In fact, as well as this, I found a park, with a big windmill....that looked like it had walked straight out of Holland. Bremen, I think there is something you are not telling us.

That brings me to today! Sort of. I spent my last two nights with my new local German pals, and they're really lovely. I, however, have been so tired this week, I'll blame it on feeling under the weather, so really wasn't on top form to keep my German language banter up. We played cards/board games on Friday night...which was interesting. Learning new card games, all in the German language, is mighty confusing! But it all worked out in the end. Last night we cooked pizza, drank beer, whilst sat out on Svenja's balcony...followed by some very competitive Wii games! I'm so glad I've got a group of people here that I'm starting to be friends with, and I'm looking forward to the Diepholz Grossmarkt next weekend, because by then, hopefully, my German might have improved just a little bit more...

Speaking of which, I'd love to say I can feel my German improving. But as yet, it seems to have ever so slightly regressed. I'm blaming this entirely on feeling under the weather!

This week is a brand new week, and I'm feeling a hell of a lot more settled. Excited to explore outer Diepholz on my new bike...

Bis spaeter :) x

Week one- German beer, lesson planning and Freies Tanzen...

My first week in Germany has passed, and it has been a whirlwind of lugging heavy suitcases, drinking German beer, and meeting a lot of new faces.

Cologne was nothing like I expected. It is so world reknowned, that I expected to walk in and be bombarded with tourist attractions left right and centre. It was nothing at all like that..the central attraction is the beautiful Koelner Dom, which stands with pride at the entrance to the train station. It is one of the few things to have survived the war, and is the central attraction in Cologne. Sam and I spent a day exploring, however ended up drinking a lot of coffee, having a few muddled (but successful!) German conversations, and attempting to see some other sights than the Dom. We reached the chocolate museum, to find it closed Mondays, and decided against going to the less popular Senfmuseum (Mustard Museum, yes, honestly) that was opposite. So, we opted for Currywurst and Pommes and sat on some seats by the Rhein. It was lovely.

Then came three days of training in Altenberg. We were in a gorgeous old Catholic Youth Hostel, with amazing scenery. Training saw us plan lessons, and receive general information for life in Germany. Planning lessons was great, and having to teach the "class", i.e. other language assistants, was so much fun, as was getting to be a child for the day!

The evenings at training were a mixture of lots of German beer (at 1,50, who could say no) and meeting 160 new faces. Although quite often we stuck to our little group of people we knew, on the last night I decided to go chat to my friends from my Arbeitsgruppe, who I'd planned my lessons with, and this decision led me to not sleeping until 3.30...with a 6.15 rise the next day. Ouch.

Thursday morning arrived with a deep pit in my stomach. I had to leave all my friends behind, and embark on my own journey to my new town, Diepholz, in the South of Lower Saxony. My journey was helped along by meeting someone from London who is nearly in a neighbouring town, a reassuring thought! Despite the feelings of fear I had on my 3 hour train journey, the views as we spanned over the Rhein were stunning, and I slowly began to fall in love with the country I will call home for the next 6 months.

I arrived in Diepholz, Lower Saxony, and Cornell, the lady whose house I am staying in, met me at the train station, and took me to sort out all the formalities in my new town. The next day I went into school, and there was such excitement! The people at training had made us ready for no one to care about our arrival, however, Diepholz has not had an English Languag

e assistant before, so everyone was rallying around me, and several English teachers informed me they "wanted me", I can but presume for English teaching! I then visited three classes, which were all really nice. The kids seem really nice, very intelligent, and I am therefore hoping this might make my life a wee bit easier than had thought! I spent all my breaks having to do paperwork for the school, which meant getting to meet people properly was hindered massively- this is my aim for next week! I did however get chatting to a few teachers, one of whom says she will organise some teacher and me day out next week. Which is nice. I got invited to go dancing on Saturday by one teacher, an invitation I did accept...more on that later. I spent Friday afternoon in Vechta, a neighbouring town, that seems to have a lot more going on. I can see myself spending a lot more time there!

Going to school on Friday though really was funny. In training last week, my group decided to do a lesson on "Stereotypes", and discuss what people thought about Britain...having now arrived in my town, I cannot quite get over how much the people I've met believe in our stereotypes. The teachers in the school kept asking me all sorts of tea/scone/fo

otball team/Manchester related questions, and my confessing to not having tea and scones at 5pm every afternoon genuinely did make one teacher's face fall. I think they actually whole heartedly believe in British stereotypes, so from now on I think pretending might be the way to go! A moment that truly did make me smile was one teacher saying "Amelia, oh, like Amelia Earhart!". Him then discussing the Joni Mitchell song Amelia with me has meant that we will definitely become firm friends.

Saturday came, and I awoke with a tinge of sadness, something I have all but avoided since arriving here. I realised I had a big friendless weekend ahead of me, in a brand new town, with just one or two people I knew....this, thankfully, was saved by a phone call from my mentor teacher, who invited me out to Schloss Ippenburg in Bad-Essen, which was stunning. It was like a palace, with beautiful themed gardens. It was such a cute day out!

Following the language assistant code, I decided I could not decline an invitation to dancing class, although I did foresee that it would not be my cup of tea. On arrival, I noticed the name of the class to be "freies tanzen". Free dancing. I essentially spent two hours in an incense filled room, expressing my inner hippy. Any Peep Show fans that have seen the epi

sode where Mark and Jeremy attend the dance class, yes, it was identical to that. Only without the touchy feely aspects. But all in all it passed my Saturday evening, and you can't say I didn't try it!

My flat, in Diepholz, Lower Saxony, is more of a first floor of somebody's house. Cornell and her son Yannick live on the ground floor (and the dog Luna, who has finally stopped growling and barking at me whenever she sees me), whereas I live am ersten Stock. I really have got a good deal. The staircase up to my flat is away from their rooms, so if I were to come in late (which I sincerely doubt, Diepholz is extremely quiet!) then they wouldn't hear. Also, my flat has a sizeable bedroom, study, bathroom and kitchen. Anyone who wants to visit, there is plenty of room for you!

This brings me to today. The family I live above have some friends visiting, and have invited me for Pflaumekuchen und Kaffee, and this evening my mentor teacher is taking me out for dinner. Then tomorrow I have a 6:30 rise for my new week in the school! Hopefully this week I will get my timetable for future weeks, so I can know when to go on my travels :) I am but 3 1/2 hours from Amsterdam, 4 hours from Berlin, and just 40 minutes from Bremen. Very excited for my many trips around! I was at first slightly disheartened by how quiet Diepholz is, however the train station has great connections to Oesnabruck, the nearest city, and once I have met a few people from around here, I am sure I will be keeping busy!

Now to the Pflaumekuchen. Auf Wiedersehen!