Two Weeks Later...

Hey everyone, you may have thought I'd been kidnapped or something in the last 2 weeks but no, I'm still here. Well actually I did run away to GB for 9 days I just couldn't stand Germany any more.



...nah just joking, I love Germany. But I did head home! As of Friday the 19th of October at 10.40 am my school had 2 weeks holiday. So what did the teachers do? Get drinking, naturally. We cracked open the beers in the team room, then headed out to an italian restaurant and ate pizza. I cannot stress how lovely the other 7 teachers in my "team" are, in the last few weeks they have been so welcoming and helpful AND they even paid for my pizza!

I then caught the train back, grabbed my (pre-packed, thank God) bag and went to catch the coach to Frankfurt Hahn airport. I was genuinely sad to be leaving my flatmates for 10 days, they are so lovely and good fun, but equally happy at the prospect of seeing my uni friends and family.

For those of you who don't know, Frankfurt Hahn airport is a bit odd. It is in the middle of nowhere in Rhineland Pfalz, and only does RyanAir flights. Because of this I had to travel there the night before and stay in the B&B hotel across the road (literally), as my flight was at 6.30 am.
I'd never stayed in a hotel alone before, but I was so tired and had to get up so early I fell asleep at 8pm and woke up at 4am, fully refreshed.

Later came the biggest challenge: negotiate the London Underground. Another first to do alone, as I can count on one hand the number of times I've even been to London. This proved even trickier than expected, as a lot of the lines were semi-down, and I accidentally got 2 poor German tourists lost with me, awkward. Eventually I managed it though, and made my way down toSouthampton, where I study.

Officially this was to do some research for my YARP (year abroad disseration thingy) but it was unofficially a chance to revisit the delights of Portswood's nightclubs and see my friends still in Southampton, both of which I'm pleased to report I did enthusiastically. A LOT of couch surfing was involved, and also a dash of dressing up as a sheep and hitting Jesters with the CymruSoc lot (highlight). I did get my research done too, somehow.

After that it was a case of heading back to Wales to see my parents and (briefly) my brother, and a  lush few days were had. I also got to go to the Cowbridge Food and Drink Festival! (http://cowbridgefoodanddrink.org/) Wandering around with a couple of my oldest friends I was hit by how much of a mixed bag my life has become: one day I'm learning about the intricacies of German culture and helping (or rather failing to help) my flatmates make Apfelstrudel. A few days later I'm back in Wales wandering around lovely stalls of Welsh cheese, cider and wine.

Being home also triggered several conversations about the things I wish I'd known before arriving, so that will be my next blog post!

I was pleased when I realised that I was excited to come back to Germany, and got straight back into life here, including singing karaoke twice (not my usual style) with a mish mash of erasmus students the night I got back. I love Trier!!!

Brilliant jet setting plans (well car-setting) this weekend, news on that next week!

I leave you with a few pictures:


Lush cheese, that I brought back with me to Germany.


Cowbridge Food and Drink Festival

Finally Southampton University Hartley Library, which deserves a mention as a) I love how it looks and b) I have spent way too much time there in the first 2 years of my degree.

Entertaining Times as an English Language Assistant

Guten Tag, wie gehts dir?

What is your name?
Where are you from?
Do you have any hobbies?
Do you have any brothers or sisters?
What did you do in the holidays?

I realised that despite my new job being obviously a big part of my new life in Germany, I haven't really mentioned the work I actually do, apart from the awkward part anyway.

So above is a taster of a lot of the stuff I'm doing at the moment: taking students individually out of class and asking them questions such as those above. This has varying results.

Some kids are über keen, which considering I usually do this activity with the G course kids (those who will leave the school after class 9, so Hauptschule standard) is always a nice surprise. Some play it cool, which I get. I mean, I was a reluctant school kid myself once.

Its the ones who are visibly terrified of me that breaks my heart! I mean, I'm 5 foot tall. The only self defence I know I learnt from Miss Congeniality (SING: Stomach, Instep, Nose, Groin, if you're interested) and I don't even have any piercings to speak of. I am possibly the least terrifying person in the whole school, yet when I see them shaking and they forget all their German, let alone their English, I really have to resist the urge to give them a cwtch.

Funniest thing to happen though: Last Friday I went along with a teacher to a low ability yr 8 class. So kids who are 14 - 15 years old. I did the standard taking them out one by one thing, but each time I came back I grew more and more apprehensive of 3 boys, who were all a) a good foot taller than me b) very rude to the teacher and c) making it very clear they thought I was a bit of a joke.

When the time came to take the first one out I was more than a little nervous, but to my utter shock this guy, and the ones after him, were perfectly polite and very respectful! They even spoke some English, which to be frank I hadn't expected. Not entirely sure why they behaved to this day, presumably they were stupefied by my Englishness.

The best feeling so far though is when you find a student who, when you're sat there explaining what life in Wales is like, or asking them about what music bands they're into, actually gets bright eyed with interest, asks questions and does their best to answer. Even better, a few walk off repeating the stuff I taught them under their breath, and now greet me enthusiastically whenever they see me. I know these students are few and far between, but the feeling you get when you feel like you have actually made a small difference in someone's english ability makes me wonder if I was wrong in assuming teaching wasn't a long term option.


Addition: I wrote the above a few days ago but have something to add.

So today I went to class 8d to do a cover lesson that I'd arranged over a week before and prepared. I walked in a there was a teacher I didn't recognise there. She looked at me and said defensively "ich nehme es für die Dritte und Vierte" (I'm taking it for the 3rd and 4th lesson). I tried and failed to argue then slumped off back to the staff room.

15 minutes later the headmaster comes in and asks why my class has come to him saying Frau Thomas has left them alone for a quarter of an hour. Turns out the teacher was referring to the television, not the actual class. Oops. I blame German and its ambiguity!

Wer zu spät kommt, den bestraft das Leben

Today's title has little to do with the post, its just a german phrase that my first german teacher Fr. Perks used to say to anyone who was more than 30 seconds late through the classroom door, and its one of my favourite things to say in German.

Translation: Those who come late are punished by life.

A little harsh in my opinion.

Anyway, I thought a little update was needed. I am alive and well, and things are good.

The school is lovely to me now after our little misunderstanding and there's always someone asking if I'm ok, do I have something to do etc etc. They were also very understanding when I eventually succumbed to the billions of illnesses the schoolkids have undoubtedly exposed me to. So long story short I'm very glad I said something and I have no complaints now. So ist das Leben :)

Best news of all: I have a semesterticket!!

This means I can finally travel on all public transport in the Trier area and several trains out of the Trier area for free. Including the train I take to work, saving me 22.50€ minmum a week, result!

Due to a couple of mistakes and a large amount of confusion (both on my part) it took a lot longer to sign up for the uni and receive my semester ticket than it really should have. I'd attempted to do it weeks before and failed miserably, so it was only when I had the bright idea to ask Annabel and Tylor what they'd had to do did I realise my mistake(s).

Cue me traipsing to the uni for the sprechstunden early the next morning to beg the woman to put my application through despite the fact I'd originally missed my deadline. This sort of disorganisation is a new part of my character that has only appeared since arriving in Germany. In fact, I don't think I'm actually becoming more disorganised, rather Germany's expectation of organisation is much higher than Britains.

Anyway, I digress. I arrived (sneakily, I thought) 20 mins before the office even opened, but lo and behold 8 people had already had the same idea, scheisse. My spirits sunk further. Until at least it crept closer to the important hour and to my surprise floods more people arrived and started queueing for the woman. Queues! I was mainly surprised by this, as Germans only really do queues in supermarkets, until I realised that duh, this was the international office.

So suddenly I found myself one of the envied, powerful few who had arrived early enough to have a seat and a smug look of comfort etched on our faces. Once the original 8 people had gone in (and come out again, obviously, this wasn't the beginning of a horror film) I cheerfully sprang to my feet, grinned at the guy about to steal my place and said "ich war die nächste" and strolled in. So I suppose my blog title is actually relevant after all!

Happy days.

I've also done a lot of travelling around with various assistants and also my fellow Southampton language students Helen and Meg recently, dass hat viel Spass gemacht.

Pictures below!

 From left to right: Whitney, Emma, Annabel, Hilary and Tylor. All Trier assistants.

Meg, Tylor  and Helen.

PS. Now I have no excuse not to start my Year Abroad Research Project. I repeat: scheisse.

Ein schöner Nachmittag in Trier

Today's post is about the lovely afternoon Katie and I spent in Trier yesterday, it was in fact so lovely it gets a post all to itself!

So yesterday Katie and I were invited to the house of the amazing couple we met on the train between Köln and Trier nearly 3 weeks ago. To read about them again click here. They'd told us to give them a ring and arrange a visit but it took us a while to work up the courage to do so, and when I eventually did, with Katie supporting me at my side, I pretty much forgot all my German apart from "bitte schön, danke schön" (please, thank you). Anyway they got back from an event in Heidelberg and rang us, inviting us round at 4pm the following Thursday.

That was yesterday, and from there followed a really good experience. There really is something to be said of saying YES to all invitations (within reason) on your year abroad, as it can mean you meet all sorts of people from your adopted country, not just people your own age.

Anyway, they picked us up and drove us to their lovely house in the outskirts of Trier. Upon arrival they fed us home made plum cake and that marble cake they love so much whos name I missed. They also gave us endless cups of tea and then whipped out the sherry, amazing.

The couple have had such an interesting life, having travelled a lot and studied and lived in all different regions in Germany, so they had a lot to tell us about their travels. But they also had endless questions about our lives and families etc which was very flattering!

Next we moved to the sofas, where we were served Moselwein (local wine from the region) and given an interesting explanation about the wine growing region we live in. Next appeared Mosel grapes themselves, and more nibbles. Resolving to not bother eating dinner when I got home, I tucked in, as did Katie. There we spoke for a couple of hours about all sorts of things: Africa, politics, the NPD specifically, Egypt, the German school system. Basically stuff that stretches Katie and I's German but we coped.

Then, just as we thought they were going to announce it was time to go home, they infact announced it was time for dinner! We couldn't believe how hospitable they were being! Also I wasn't sure I could eat anything more but politeness stopped me from mentioning that part. We had lamb (another awkward point as I'm not a massive meat eater myself and couldn't remember the last time I ate lamb) which was surprisingly nice and rosemary bread and (because I was starting to feel worringly tipsy from all the wine) sprüdel.

(Ok so this blog post is starting to sound like my mum's diary from when she was about 8, which consisted of "Today was ok. We had (insert list of food here for breakfast lunch and dinner) every day as far as I could tell when I read it. )

Around 9 they took us to the car (or pretty much rolled us by this point) and drove us home, but not before giving us a book written by the husband on Kenya! So sweet! He signed it and everything, picture below (sorry its on its side):

Anyway, last night may not have been my wildest night on my year abroad so far, but it was still one of the nicest. I reccommend that everyone who reads this on their year abroad befriends any nice old couples that they happen to meet, you never know how much you can learn from them about the country you're living in.

PS. I had an interesting weekend. Blog post to come soon when I find time.

Random things I've learnt in Germany

Bit of an interlude, but whilst accumulating the miles and miles (sorry, kilometres) of walking I've made a mental list of interesting stuff I've learnt in the last 3 weeks. Most are related to Germany, some not.

Therefore here are a few random thoughts:

1) I know its a stereotype, but Germany really is so efficient! After 3 weeks in Germany I finally had a train be 5 minutes late. For me, it was actually a relief to know the whole country is well, human. That there isn't some sort of secret über efficient clockwork system that the whole country runs on to which I am not party. I felt content. Much to my amusement, the people surrounding me muttered German swearwords and discussed amongst each other how standards were slipping in the country. I suppressed giggles.

2) People are friendly! Well, in general. Friendlier than Britain anyway. Interestingly, the response I get to when I speak English is markedly different to when I speak German. In general when I speak German they're friendlier (once overcoming initial mild surprise).

3) A depressing amount of German teenagers think that Wales is a city in England.

4) On  the subject, German teenagers aren't particularly interested in learning about Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, in fact they seem downright confused why they are at all.

5) As a result of 3 of the Saarland crew coming from the Emerald Isle I saw Gaelic Football for the first time today, it was good! Can't deny that most of the rules went over my head but it was entertaining to watch, to be sure.

6) In general I've learnt a lot about Ireland and Canada lately. This is a result of hanging out with the other Trier and Zoolander assistants, and its been pretty interesting to say the least.

7) Germany runs an hour ahead of Britain. No, I'm not stating the obvious here vis a vis GMT and stuff, I mean that for some (probably easily justifiable) reason the whole country just gets going one hour earlier than Britain. So it appears to be standard to be up at 6, and at work by 8, as opposed to 9 in Britain. This is tricky for me, as even for a morning person like me I'd forgotten what 9am felt like during the holidays, but I'm coping. Just. I'm not going to lie to you my dear readers, life is hard.
I think Germany as a country should just decide to get up an hour later. It's only fair. Then again, maybe that's the reason Germany's financial situation is that much better than Britains? Maybe that hour gained between 6 and 7 is the key to maintaining a healthier country bank balance. If so, I suggest Britain in fact follows Germany's example. In fact, David Cameron, if you're reading this, get on it.

8) Alcohol is so cheap in Germany! I mean, I was aware of this before but wow it is crazy cheap. You don't see so much binge drinking though compared to Britain, however I was surprised how many people smoke in Germany, and how widely advertised it is.

That concludes this random chapter of observations. I had more but I am sooo tired (as always) so I'll have to leave you literally on the edge of your seat until I remember the rest of them.

Englische Verhältnisse? Nur über meine Leiche!

Welcome to another blog written by a very tired Beth Thomas, currently of Cwtched up in Bedland, Trier, Germany.

What a weekend! It started Thursday evening, when I travelled to Merzig to stay with Katie. We watched a film, had some food, laughed at her prison fridge (see below) and cool kids as we are went to sleep at 10.50 pm as I had to be up at 6 for work the next morning. (I felt pretty bad about waking her up so early on her day off too!)


Katie's fridge. You need a key for your 1/8th and everything.

That day at school was a bit different, as it was is referred to in Britain as in INSET day, but it was very interesting for me to find out what goes on in them (or German ones at least). Basically we spent the day working in groups (the teachers that is) discussing ways to improve the school and particular aims for the staff, students and parents. Okay so I'd only been there for 3 days so I couldn't contribute that much but it did involve me listening to German for 7 hours straight on a rather specialist subject and I met a lot more teachers so all in all a good day!

Later we headed to Saarbrücken to meet up with the rest of Saarland lot, which had 2 new American additions (one temporary, sadly) and headed out to the town center after predrinks at Charlotte's. Ok so the night wasn't that mental, as we struggled to find a decent club (cue me insisting that the club give all 10 of us our money back...and being rewarded with a raised eyebrow and a firm no.) but it was fun to see everyone again and made me wish, not for the first time, that I'd been placed closer to Saarbrücken.


This is the Saarland crew, ( or as David says, the Zoolanders). Lush bunch of people.

The next morning myself, Charlotte and Katie made our way believe it or not to a football match round the corner at the Saarbrücken football ground, after Charlotte's neighbour, one of the players for Saarbrücken FC, suggested we did.  Those of you who know me well know I am not football's biggest fan. Or its smallest fan come to think of it. Long suffering girlfriend and friend of football obsessed males has caused me to automatically associate football with boredom, though I do know the offside rule I'll have you know.

Anyway, I didn't go with high hopes but wow what a cultural experience! No joke here, it was amazing, Saarbrücken FC may only be 3rd division. They may have lost 2-0 to Erfurt and we may have been three of the only females within the stadium grounds but we had so much fun. Germany really is crazy about its football but this equates to passionate fans and a brilliant atmosphere. See below for a picture of the ridiculously stolz (proud) crowd, which never stopped chanting


Interestingly, the banner reads Engische Verhältnisse? Nur über meine Leiche. This is a reference to the Hillsbrough disaster apparently, as we got some info about it as we came in.

Später we met up again at the Irish bar, where the aforementioned player appeared to hang with us for a while but sadly left early with the team and their girlfriends as they had post-failure training the next morning. Harsh in my opinion but oh well. I had a good last night away from Trier anyway, as we met a load of regulars at the Irish bar: some German, some Irish, one French guy and to my amazement a Welsh guy. Happy days! I suspect we are the the only two welsh people in Saarland.

Speaking of Welsh, I gave an hour long lesson on Wales today to a group of bemused 15 year olds. Not sure they really wanted to know that we eat bread with seaweed in, how to say you're tired in Welsh and how to say Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch  but either way they know now.

I've missed out loads but it's taken me about 2 hours to write this, Katie came over last night for films and stuff but unfortunately we muddled up the train times, so got up at 5.20 am for her to catch her train to Perl but then missed it, then I got my usual train to school at 7 so it has already been 11 hours since I woke up and its only 4.09 pm! 

As to my general mood there is a massive improvement from this time last week, I don't feel lonely any more and feel more content at the school every day. Also I've noticed an improvement in my German already  :)

Until next week then. Exciting things to come are:

Weds: Schnitzelabend at a New Mintons in Trier. 

Thurs: Day off!

Friday: After school I am meeting up with my old German exchange from when I was like 16, Anna! I am so excited, she is so lovely and although our attempts to stay in contact haven't always worked over the years I am now living in the same Bundesland as her for the whole year.

Friday Evening: Birthday flat party of a fellow Trierer, should be fun.

Bis bald! xx

The School Life of Foreign Language Assistant.

So just a quick post about my first proper day as a language assistant, and I really got thrown in at the deep end!

6am: Wake up. Well, wake up and set alarm to snooze for 10 mins, then get up.
6.50 am: Walk to train station feeling oddly awake.
7.04 am: Catch train. Tiredness hits.
7.41am: arrive at train station.
7.55am: Catch bus to school (can't always find a lift) and sit awkwardly amongst 30 kids from the school who think (like everyone else at the school unless we've been personally introduced) that I'm another pupil. Awkward.
8.10: arrive in school, discover the teacher who's class I was supposed to be observing for 2 hours is ill, and so I have to teach it ON MY OWN in 5 minutes time.
8.11 - 8.15: have mild panic attack.
8.15: recover from mild panic attack and go to class. No clue what I'm supposed to teach them or what work they're doing, can't read handwriting in class book which doesn't help as well.
8.16: Stand awkwardly as 30 fourteen year old german kids eye you incredulously and try to think of something to do with them.
Rest of the lesson: Figure out what work they can do from their textbooks whilst trying to keep my nerve. After the first lesson (yes, it was a double) I shameless stole a format another group had prepared at the training the week before, using role play to learn food vocab and how to order in a restaurant. Group 2, Saarland crew, you are lifesavers. Anyway, it went down well I think.
10 am (ish): collapse in staffroom only to remember I have another 2 hours of teaching in 5 minutes time (though I knew about this one in advance. )
10.05: Walk into class 5b, who are a) 10 years old and b) very sweet. This lesson went a bit better as I'd prepared it in advance but I still was terrified throughout. Are all teachers this terrified of the kids at first? I hope so as I'm here for a year.

Midday: Collapse again. Thank God schools in Germany finish early (at half 1 anyway) Have a lift to the train station at 1.30 so spend the time preparing a lesson on Wales for year 10 next week.

1.35pm: arrive at train station. Need to cross to other side of the platform, but the barriers come down on level crossing so can't, meaning I miss my train.
1.38pm: Get to other side and realise there is an underpass which I could have taken to avoid waiting at level crossing. Realise I am also an idiot.
1.39pm: Driving rain starts. Huddle in shelter freezing and soaked through waiting for the train to arrive.
2:16 pm: train finally arrives. Immediately fall asleep listening to a Scott Mills podcast.
2: 48pm (roughly): wake myself up by bursting out laughing at something on the podcast which i was still half listening to in my sleep, startling fellow passengers as well as myself but fortunately stopping me from missing my stop in Trier Süd.

3pm: Arrive home. Wet through, shattered but oddly content. Today I did something I frankly didn't think I was capable of and moreso didn't make a fool of myself. I taught 4 hours of lessons, most of which (particularly for the 10 year olds) was in German and was understood. This year abroad really is testing me but so far I've not done too badly, in my opinion anyway.

Until the weekend then folks!

PS. I can't wait to sleep in tomorrow morning. 6am starts and I will never be best buddies.