Last post before Language Camp.

Hello everyone. I will be leaving for Language camp tomorrow for 2 weeks, so you won't hear from me until I get back. I am quite excited! I will be meeting all the other exchange students in my district there. Pretty exciting!!

So I've now met everyone in the family. I met the older daughter Ann-Kathrin. She isn't home much because she is working a lot. In the fall she will go to University. Stephan has gone back to the city where he goes to University to look for work.

On August 4th, I went to my first Rotary meeting. There were a lot of people. It was definitely bigger than my Rotary club back home, but there weren't hundreds of people or anything. I think it was a spouses night though, so I'm not sure how many were Rotarians. I was outfitted in my red blazer, so you definitely couldn't miss me. Everyone wanted to meet me and they all were very good to me. That's one thing I have been so greatful for is the German people's kindness.

The meeting took place at a different location that usual. There was a presentation about Adam von Trott in a house which use to be his home. I had never heard of him before, but he was a man who belonged to an organization who tried to assassinate Hitler. The presenter spoke very quickly so I didn't catch anything she said. There was another man who talked every once and a while who spoke much slower, so I was able to understand him better.

The next day was my first day of school. I barely slept the night before, because I was so nervous. Lutz even had a lunch packed for me. That was so nice. I was taken to school by one of the neighbours. (Jonas is now going to a different school, not the one I am going to.) Theresa the neighbours daughter took me to all her classes. She was very good to me.

Differences I noticed at school:

1. The chalk boards can move up and down on wheels. I kid you not! Behind the chalk boards is a white screen for the projector.
2. Classes are more like discussions. The teachers and the pupils talk a lot more.
3. People don't need to be prompted to raise their hands. Many hands are in the air at all times.
4. Classes are different lengths from each other.
5. 7 classes in one day
6. School starts at 8:15 and goes to 3:50.
7. Classes are smaller. 20 pupils
8. Language courses far more advanced.

I'll explain this last point a little. For their first English class of the year in Grade 12 they had a discussion entirely in English about the concept of the American Dream. They were asked to make an acrostic poem about the American Dream in English. They were using and understanding words such as the new Frontier, Rags to Riches, melting pot, etc. The class was conducted in English and students spoke in full sentences back to the teacher. It was unreal...I was completely floored. This is why every one's English is so incredible. WOW.

That evening I called my parents and my sister. It was so great to hear their voices. We talked for about an hour and a half. It was really uplifting for me.

So school is a bit boring for me, because I don't understand what the teachers are saying. So I've developed a bit of a routine for myself. When they talk, I try to listen to what they are saying and try to understand them. When they ask the class to work, I work on my German. I have a great little dictionary that Tannis let me borrow. I make lists of words I already know, new words that I've learned, and words that I hear a lot but don't understand. So school is hard work. When I leave a class I usually have a head ache. I'm also quite tired a lot of the time, because it is exhausting trying to understand.

The next day I stayed at the school later so I could be involved in Drama. Gosh I was soo nervous. They are going to be doing a play based on the book, I never promised you a rose garden by Hannah Green. I am going to obtain this copy in English. (They are doing it in German.) So we'll see if I'm up to it and how my German is.

That evening Marion took me with her when she took Anton for a walk. (Anton is the dog.) We went through some fields and into the forest. It is so beautiful here. It was so nice to walk around. I'm use to walking a lot in Lethbridge and I haven't been walking as much here. I miss it.

It's official that dogs in Germany are so much friendlier than in Canada. I haven't had any problems. None of them have given me any reason to be afraid of them. Pheww...what a relief.

I never thought I would say this, but going to Gym was a relief. I was actually able to do something, and understand what was going on. That was soo nice. I had a pretty crazy adventure after school looking for a place to buy bus tickets. My goodness! I was sent from one place to another for about 3 hours. So I got a lot of walking in which was nice. However, it rained a lot during this time. BIG DROPLETS. So I was soaking wet. The weather changes very fast here, so in the morning I went to school in shorts, a tank top, my little white sweater, and a pair of running shoes. I didn't think I needed a jacket or an umbrella. Man oh man. Well it was an adventure. I never found anywhere that sold bus tickets, but Marion took me home.

Then I had a music binge, so my I-pod really needs to be recharged. The Spill Canvas is amazing if you haven't listened to them look them up! Seriously, you are missing out. Tomorrow is Language Camp I am sooo excited. Well I'll blog something in 2 weeks. Try not to miss me!