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
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