Teaching in a German Classroom!

6/7 - 

Today Marianne and I headed to my host's school to teach our first lesson in a German classroom! We taught the kids a story about the Utah desert and rattlesnakes - they learned new English and about some of my favorite things! It was so cute how excited and eager they are to learn from a new teacher - a breath of fresh air from the American kids! We then went to a few more classes, including a repeat visit to Herr Fischer's English class. We saw him last week and it was so nice to interact with him again. His English is perfect, he understands the difference between the education system in our two countries and is so patient with our questions. Herr showed us the final Exam for the seniors and explained the process - holy cow do these Germans have to study a lot of content! 😳  I will definitely be contacting Herr for collaboration and advice in the future. 

After school we headed to meet the Vice-Mayor (the head Mayor was busy on official business) with the American Tempe Exchange students. It was really fun and surreal to see our own TUHSD students in Regensburg. I wish we had seen them more - they're here for 6 weeks and it would be so interesting to hear their experiences and impressions so far. Not to mention, I bet they'd like a little American interaction. :)

This is a painting on the wall in Mayor's office.

The best part of the visit with the Mayor was the tour of the Torture Chamber under city hall! A very curt German woman, who has been involved with the Sister Cities program for many years, took us through the medieval interrogation, explaining each device along the way. It is the only remaining original torture chamber in Germany - outfitted with body stretching machines, a bed of nails, a true underground dungeon, wrist and head cuffs, and lots of other tools you might see in the "pit of despair!" We've seen many churches, many castles, lots of German food, and now...torture! Balance. 😂

After, the other 2 Americans and I sat at the Spitalgarten and had prosecco and apple strudel...with a pretty amazing view of the Dom! It was the first time all 3 of us got together and much needed - there are just some things you can only say American to American - spend 3 weeks in a non-English country and you'll see what I mean. 

Our view at lunch:

We headed back to Veronika's to make dinner at home - something we hadn't done nearly the whole trip! A quick stop at the Real Market (Germany's version of a Walmart Super Center)...

 ...and loaded up on German goodies. A quick stop down the International aisle lead us to how Germans view USA food...yikes!

Spending the night in with Marianne and Veronika was so great and so relaxing. It felt like I was back at home, hanging out with my friends. Moving out of my host's was one of the best decisions I made for myself this trip - I'm falling asleep with a happy heart tonight. :) 

A Visit to Munchen!

6/6 -

Today Marianne and I are taking the train to the biggest little Bavarian town of Munich! We spoke with Julia at Veronika's party, who lives in Munich and got some great tips (and a new friend too)! Sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure this is really all happening! We arrived and immediately headed to the Olympic Stadium! (Who knew I would see 3 stadiums here after seeing 0 in the US!) Just like Berlin, it was so awesome to be in the same spot so many inspiring athletes once competed. 

We subway-ed back to the city center on a packed train and emerged in the famous Marienplatz!

It was like walking into a fairytale. We saw the old and new town halls, a few famous churches (St. Peter's, St. Michaels and the Holy Spirit), shopped till we dropped - purchasing matching shirts for the 3 of us, toured the Viktualienmarkt (the Scottsdale Farmers Market, Arnold Schwarzenegger style), and watched the dancing figures in the Carillon with a thousand other tourists!

The Market!

The Dancing Figures!

We walked back to the train station through Karlsplatz. We saw the beautiful Brunnenbuberl fountain, the Justiceplatz (court building) and visited the Church of our Lady - which has the Devil's Footprint on the floor. Apparently it was built to ward off evil spirits, but there was some controversy in its construction and some Munchens are not so sure it's doing its job. 

For lunch, we stopped at a biergarten and even though I love the sausages, pork, bread and the dumplings, I'm really missing the traditional American food. So, to get the best of both worlds, I ordered a burger with sausages on top and fries on the side😳 it's really too bad I have no reason to carb load, because I now have every storage (or insurance as Vroni calls it) for days!

We've been to big cities, Berlin and small villages, Bamberg in Germany. Munich is a huge city with a small town Bavarian feel. The buildings are all small town German, but the excursions and amenities are all big city. I love it and can't wait to come back to visit - especially knowing I already have a friend, Julia, with a spot in her flat for me. :) 

A birthday and a change of address ;)

6/4 & 6/5

Saturday morning started with a long run through the German countryside - forest, wooden bridges, open fields and all green! It was exactly what I needed. For lunch, we had white Bavarian sausages - I'll let the pictures do the talking. 😂

Today is Veronika's birthday - so she picked me up for a bbq party / sleepover with all of her friends. I want to see it all, do it all and live it all!

Marianne and I got everything ready for Veronika's party - food, music, drinks - it was so nice to be able to just hang out and be myself. This program is designed to let you relax and soak up a normal life in a different culture. Today at Vroni's, I feel like I can be my whole self and truly get a glimpse of a normal German weekend. 

Veronika's party and friends were such fun - just like I knew they would be. :) Her friends have traveled all over, were so kind and very interested in the Americans! I got Veronika a teacup for her birthday that said, "Do more of what you love." I have decided to adopt this slogan for the remainder of my time in Germany and bring it back with me to Phoenix. 

On Sunday we went to breakfast with some of Veronika's friends and it was another great experience of German everyday life and culture. After we walked along the Danube with Vroni's friend Julia and her new baby Francisca. In Germany, new moms can take a year off and earn a very high percent of their salary. It's a pretty sweet deal, but they pay for it up front in their taxes - for example - gas is about 4$ a gallon here! 

The initial plan was to head back to for a bike ride through the countryside but a miscommunication between us lead to a change. Instead, Marianne and I went for a run along the Danube, stopping along the way to take a million pics and put our toes in the river! 

That night, Vroni took me back to my host's and we came to the decision that it is better for me to move out and stay on Veronika's couch. Though I am grateful for all of the experiences I was provided the first 2 weeks, we are not a good fit and I must do what is best for me and my time in Germany. Sometimes, things don't work out between 2 people (definitely been there), and it was much better for me to cut ties and truly take advantage of this awesome opportunity I have. I am over the moon excited for the next week and all it will bring!

To kick off my new address, Marianne had pizza and beer waiting for me and my suitcases. This experience has taught me so much already - what I need to be happy (and how it is very different from what I thought on the plane ride over) and to appreciate and notice how great a little act of kindness can truly be. I saw this tonight and won't forget it - this feeling will definitely come back to the US with me.