Okay, I´m going to write now in english, just for fun.. I think I have to keep my english going as here, it seems I have to speak "bad" english so people can undestand me=) Well, not bad, but simple and kind of "below" my own level... (-just a bit annoying!) And I have to speak slowly! (you know how fast I usually speak! People do speak a wee bit of english, but I´m actually quite surprised how limited their vocabulary is.. Anyway, here goes!
( Along some pics from around Birkenmoor, where was my first course... )
So, My first week here is over. Quite a week.. I was a bit further away (actually on the former East Germany -side!) in the middle of the forest with 2 other "teamers" as they say here. There was 23 fiftgraders and 2 of their teachers. We did with the kids for example some ”basket climbing” (korikiipeily-> kastenklettern) and a little nighthike..Oh, and one day we went to a (coal?) mine! That was pretty cool... All the activities were kind of new and interesting experiences for me aswell and not like, just for the kids;)
And on the last few days I actually managed to get some contact with the children! It was kind of cute when the children were so shy and asked very slowly in (quite shaky) english: "What-is-your-favourite-colour? Do-you-have-brothers-or-sisters?" Wie süß! And then I aswered them auf Deutch!And they wanted to teach me German, so that was fun!=) My german is slowly getting there.. It´s just the bloody Germans who are afraid to use english or even talk to me in german for that matter! Like, I´m not stupid even if don´t understand everything!;) I understand a lot but forming a sensible sentence is another thing..:) Sometimes it´s quite frustrating not to be able to understand what people are talking around me.. I usually have an idea what people are talking about, but obviosly I don´t understand every word..If they speak really really fast I just kind of give up and tune off.. But yeah, I learn more german every day and all the old things and words I`ve once learned are slowly goming back..Toll! Super!
Yeah, but it was quite a hectic week and I was pretty tired on Friday when we got back.. I had a meeting with my practical training supervisor and we talked about the next few weeks.. Went to shower, did some laundry and then had a glass of wine and relaxed a bit..(->organizing my stuff into shelves, listening to music etc..) This weekend there was a seminar here (the theoretic backround and history of adventure education and the situation of adventure education in contemporary Germany) in which I´m attented.(-and a got a certificate of it too! Cool!) I had some materials of the seminar in english so most of the seminar was ok..Though the long conversations were quite hard to follow..Oh, by the way all the Paukkula people: the lecturer was Werner Michl, the same man who was in International Week in Mikkeli few years ago..Funny guy! We did the same kind of "walk and talk" -exercise as we did in his lecture in Finland. (I don´t know if you remember?) Anyway, it was nice to walk around in the forest.....
It´s so pretty here!
I have one course next week, then the next week I´ve got some "theory" (pedagogische) -training week..And then I´m off for one week! Woohoo! I can´t wait to travel a bit..again!;) I have my Bahn Card (I get at least 25% off from all the train tickets!) so where should I go..?;) Okay later more about my travelling plans.. I´m thinking Prague...or maybe northern Italy! That´ll be cool! Venice, Verona, Milan maybe...? I know I should think about work and the training but still.. Well, if I have a chance to travel...I thought I´ll travel more in Germany when I´m more used to the language..That´ll be easier then I think...and I would probably get more out of the travel.. Like in Bremen, for instance, there´s not too much (tourist-) information in english around... But yeah, we´ll see where I end up inthe end of this month...
Okay now off to rauchen...Unfortunately I´ve been smoking here more than I did in Finland:(
Ganz blöd! Umm...then I think I´ll make some espresso and have some of the snacks I got for the weekend from the supermarket..(which, by the way, is about 10 km away...) I wonder if I can get a bike from somewhere.. Have to ask. I´d love to bike around a bit.. (There so many chanrming wee villages nearby!) -And also that way I could go do some shopping or whatever when I´ve got some spare time and not just when someone is going there by car.. But yeah, I think in general I like it here!
I know it takes time to get settled and get used to how things run around here but...I have a good feeling! After all the trainings I´ll be much wiser..From the look of the first week I think I quite like the system they got here...(like in a pedagogical sense) -Though the living space (like the kitchen!God!!) for the teamers are quite pathetic.. Way too little space for so many people! But the surroundings and the nature are spectacular! It´s so beautiful! And it´s summer and warm and so green everywhere! Okay, Bis später! -and yeah yeah, miss you all and everything!<3 (I really haven´t had any spare time to sit around and miss you guys..-Sorry!)
The next two weeks I´ll be here in the main building so maybe I´ll have a chance to write more quite soon...
(I think I´ll get my laptop registered (?) and the password for the w-lan here on Monday...) Oh by the way, newt weekend here´s going to be a big celebration of the 25 year-old Erlebnistage! Loads of people coming from around the country I think..And some important people, like the founder of the whole organisation etc. They´re putting up a giant tent outside and yesterday they put up a screen there and we watched the Eurovision Song Contest outside! I´t was quite special!We had a barbeque and some drinks...It was fun, but there´s nothing like watching the competition with a group of good friends, very harsh critique and funny drinking games!
(I did miss you guys!) Ok. I´ll write more later.. (wow, "more"! -Heh, maybe a little less at once next time..And perhaps in finnish..) Right. Luv ya´ll!!! =) -Peace.
-SaaRa-
Ps. Check out some links below! (if I got it right and they´re really there..)
