so my school is in a neighboring town called Erkrath. We have to take the Regio Bahn which is right around the corner.. about 10 minutes to Erkrath.. where we walk downhill for about 5 minutes to school. Then after school or during our free periods when we go home.. we must walk back UP the lovely hill to the regio bahn which runs every 20 minutes.
when I first started school I figured that the headmaster would have already picked out my schedule.. when in fact she had not. When we met with her the second time.. she didnt remember us! haha granted Im sure that she was stressed.. but it was still rather a pain not having a schedule. The school system here is very very different. For the Gymnasium.. it's more or less like a college schedule (for me atleast) when you have a free period.. or when your teacher isnt there.. then you can leave until your next class. I only have four classes= advanced english, advanced spanish, art, and Social science..
On September 21 I will be starting my German classes in Dusseldorf. The class lasts until December 21.. It is twice a week for 3 hours (every class) so I will learn very fast- I better! the best part is that I dont have to pay for it.. gotta love scholarships :) thanks Congress Bundestag!! I also dont have to pay for my schokotiket (student discount train card, with a monthly fee) it gets me any where around the region for free...so like Dusseldorf, Bonn, Cologne.. etc.!
I like my English class.. adn the students in it are really nice- racking in the facebook requests!! woho haha my Spanish teacher is intense.. she has a thick Spanish accent with the lisp.. mmm..
The classes are 45 minutes each.. and they have block scheduling.. but every 2 classes you have a 20-30 minute break.. it's really nice! They don't have lockers or a cafeteria.. Also, if you wanna use teh bathroom you have to pay 5 Euros for a key to the bathroom for the year..when you return it at the end of the year you get reimbursed. I have yet to purchase a key.. so I try to plan my liquid drinking around my schedule.. public restrooms arent common- they make you pay! haha
Im still in the process of meeting people.. but I already have a pretty good social network.. and they are really fun!
Quotes from Mira
Mira is the girl that I sit next to in English.. she's the first person I really talked to in the school.. She seemed kind of loopy and well.. ditzy (not to be mean.. but I later found out that she has that reputation) Dont get me wrong.. she's very nice.. her commentary makes class worth while! So this section is dedicated to Mira..
1.) I was talking to her on facebook.. she was leaving and said " I must now go put my head under the shower"
2.) today in class.. we were partners talking about Britains diversity and multi-cultural environment.. and this article said that Britain has always been open to foreigners because of their location they had to rely on trade with other countries.. adn exports..I said yeah they had to do that because htey are an island.. so they had to rely on water transportation to other countries.. and she said yeah I think they like using hte boats
3.) We were analyzing a speech from Queen Elizabeth about the Golden Jubilee.. she started thanking all of those for their service (voluntarily or not) and Mira said.. "yes, she is talking about service.. for example marriage.. adn what is means."----completely irrelevant.
4.) The teacher put us into groups of three and accidentally put Mira into two groups. She was in my group and the other group was calling for her.. and then teh teacher realized her mistake. Mira stayed in our group.. she looked at me and says" I cannot split myself in half.." No Mira, you cannot I said.. and she proceeded "If I wanted to.. I couldnt.. I cannot do that physically."...............
5.) Today in class we were critiquing some peoples presentations. A guy named Sven was finished giving his presentation.. and good ol Mira wanted to comment. She that his presentation was good but his hand was in his trousers some of the time- of course this was misinterpreted by everyone.
5.) Today in class we were critiquing some peoples presentations. A guy named Sven was finished giving his presentation.. and good ol Mira wanted to comment. She that his presentation was good but his hand was in his trousers some of the time- of course this was misinterpreted by everyone.
Spanish
My Spanish is intense like I said.. but yesterday I had her for two periods.. and she didnt show up.. so the class went down to the "zentrum" (student lounge) to wait.. the bell rang after the first period and she wasnt there.. so 10 minutes into the second period i went to a nearby bakery with some friends.. we returned with about 15 minutes left of class.. she was sooooooooo pissed off haha.. whew.. good thing I looked utterly confused at what she was saying in German.. "Im just teh innocent exchange student.. "JahrBuch
Today in our class meeting... I joined Yearbook.. it's only for teh 12 and 13 grades.. and its nothing like it is at home.. but it's still a good way to get involved.. and meet more people!late.. bake a cake..
So I found out (not the hard way.. yet.. although I may be purposely late for this reason) that when you are late to class more than once.. you are asked to bake a cake and bring it to class the next time you have class. I love Deutsch Schule...haha knocking
When someone finishes a presentation or a speech.. instead of clapping or just sitting there.. everyone knocks on the table.. they then give constructive criticism to the presenter.. basically meaning that they rip them to shreds because they pronounced Ireland or Merchants wrong..click..click..click
So my Spanish teacher was sick today.. Oh no.. she still came to class;however, she lost her voice- kind of. She wrote on teh board that she couldnt speak.. but whenever someone would make a mistake she would start clicking to indicate that there was a problem. It was hilarious because no one was used to hearing it so they didnt stop, which caused her to click more and louder.. hahahahAmerica vs. England
Of course in the European schools they are going to learn about England more. That is a given. But my English teacher really isnt a fan of America, this is difficult because all of the people in my class like America MORE than Britain.. adn we have been learning in detail about Britain for the past few months.. it's more of a history class than an english class.. we are only reading one book this year..and that isn't until next semester. Any way.. my English teacher essentially nixed everything that was planned having to do with America this year.. I don't know what her beef is with America.. I am by no means patriotic.. but it would be kind of cool. I don't mind learning about Britain because I don't know what much.. but she's so traditional adn well... boring. haha She always asks me to correct people or point out things they did wrong.. i hate this because not only do I feel bad doing it.. but I would be slightly ticked off if I was the other student hahah mmm Frau Clodious.. what are we going to do with you?Spanisch Klausur
So right before Fall Break I took my Spanish Klausur test.. they have quarterly exams-joy! anyway.. it was 3 periods long. just writing, writing, writing. I didnt have to take it, but why teh hell not? any way.. I got it back today.. my teacher had corrected it and everythihg;however, she DIDNT give me a grade!!!! she wrote good work.. but I guess since I dont need credits.. she didnt grade it. This is still really annoying because I need some kind of grade range!! 