Pictures

The Gymasium at GHS. This is where I spend most of my time. This building has rooms for all three schools. Those windows are the teachers lounge. I usually sit there and look out them like I am thinking about something really important.









Below are the Realschule (left) and Hauptschule. There are no Gym classes in the other two buildings, but some of the other kids come over to the Gym. for classes. The whole area is very pretty and wooded. Its a nice place to spend the day.

Schools

Its been a busy past few weeks--that is, it's been relatively busy for a girl who works 12 hours a week. This whole expedition is based around my participation at a school here, so I thought it might be a good idea to give good ole' GHS (Gustav Heinemann Schulzentrum) some justice. If you have the time, take a look at their (beautiful) (German) website. The words may provide you little, but you can see some pictures for yourself. I've also included a few pics of my own.

The German school system seems very strange to any American at first. Everyone gets to go to the same school when they are in primary school, its called "Grundschule". This is where the little girl in the family I am living with goes. You get to go there until 5th grade (about 10), when you are required to choose one of four choices: Gesamtschule, Hauptschule, Realschule, and Gymnasium. The Gesamtschule is something relatively new in Germany and is most similar to American High School. It is not the norm here, and a lot of Germans believe that it is not the right way to do things. A lot of teachers and parents have the firm belief that students should be seperated according to their abilities. Anyone can go to the Gesamtschule, regardless of grades and there are a couple of choices of what to do with your future (that is, there isn't a rule that prevents anyone from taking exams for college.)

The traditional German system is to split the kids up at 10 years old, according to how well they are doing in school. Hauptschule is for the kids who are really struggling and will probably be headed for jobs in the service industry. Realschule is the middle level, and the Gymnasium is for kids who will be going to University and having real carriers. These kids go to school for 13 years, take an "Abiture" exam, kind of like an SAT II. There is a huge difference between these three types of schools, and from what I've witnessed so far, it builds a lot of resentment between the students. It seems just totally unfair to decide who is smart enough to try for Uni and who isn't, but at the same time I see a level of honesty in this system. Some people are never interested in Uni, why should they go to school with kids who are? Except that a lot of the reason people go to Real/Haputschule is because of language barriers, NOT intelligence or ambition.

GHS is special because all three types of upper level schools are on the same campus. Students do not take classes together because teachers are assigned to different schools (pay levels differ, too), but they share hallways and all eat at the same Kiosk.
I witnessed my first incidence of "class-clash" when one of the 11th grade classes I assist was let out early. They were walking through a hallway which contained mostly Hauptschule rooms and droped a hollow, metal bike lock. It clanged and echoed down the hallway--was extremely loud and annoying. After their teacher told them to be quiet, they looked her in the eye and explained that she needn't be upset, because it wasn't disturbing any real learning, due to the fact that it was in the Hauptschule hall. WOW!

There was little response from the teacher, other than "well thats not nice." Which brings me to my other point. There is exteremely little dicipline in these classes. They are taught much like college classes. In fact, the kids are monitored at about the level of a college student. They could have only 2 classes a day, and their whereabouts are not counted for otherwise. But the students are kids. 10-19 years old. And in the younger classes, it becomes frustrating when dicipline is simply expected, but not demanded. Therefore, the teachers speak without being heard, ask questions without being answerd, and in general teach without anything being learned. This makes it nearly impossible for even a native speaker to follow the teacher, let alone a German student. I can't imagine trying to actually learn and participate in this situation. I am the first to admit that I am one for paying attention in class (or at least zoning out in a way that does not disrupt others), but I am not exaggerating here.

Aside from my frustrations, the school is a fun place to be. There is a giant teachers room where I hang out during my time off. It is a little bit like a high school cafeteria. Everyone has his or her own seats, and all of the bff's sit together. It is hard for me to find a cozy spot...it can get pretty cliquey. I usually sit myself on the sofa for visitors. That way I can talk to many people. That is also where people put food if they bring any in...so that's a plus too. Most German teachers are 30+ because they have to do a lot of school and practice before they get the degree. But they are nice; seems like the type of personality it takes to command a room full of smelly kids is universal. And the kids are all nice to me. So its a great place. Nice facilities and really hard working teachers.

Any school is going to have problems, and any school system is going to have issues. It is just a matter of understanding that the education is more important than the education system. I am teaching my first two classes next week because the kids are finishing up their units before Fall break. I will have to update on how all of that goes. Hopefully I will be able to teach about the US without having to address questions about the death penality, excessive spending, and politics. Wish me luck...

Friends

This weekend was an American one. I went to Essen, the closest big city, to meet a fellow American Fulbrighter there. Essen is "the shopping city", as they brag on their billboards. (Camera was dead, next post will involve pictures, I swear) There were lots of amazing stores mostly with clothes similar to anything I could find in the US. Except the shampoo bottles are smaller. Us two Fulbrighters had a wonderful afternoon full of cake, coffee, and, believe it or not, real, German bbq. Its amazing how similar our experiences are, but how our different perspectives bring us to completely different consequences about our situation. I am greatful to have another American perspective, especially from someone who knows the joys of the Fulbright scholarship.
After Essen, I went to Bochum to meet more Fulbrighters and hear similar stories. Bochum is slightly smaller than Essen. It has a more homey feel, with some very high-end clothing shops. We also happened to meet there one the weekend of a few festivals. Kindertag, the Onion Festival, and the Police Festival, to name a few. It was great to walk around and see the different displays. However, I am droaning on without even mentioning the reason for our pilgrimage! The Bermuda Triangle is a famous area of Bochum that contains countless bars, clubs, and places where one could find trouble if need be. It was suprising similar to the streets of Myrtle Beach in the middle of the summer...lots of themed bars with "good deals". But it was all European, of course, so it was much cleaner. The trip was a break from the reality of my German life; sometimes the phrase "ten months in Germany" hits me like a brick wall.
American friends can be a blessing: celebrating, comiserating, and living together in a foreign land creates a bond that I have yet to fully understand and appreciate (although I just know it is something special.) But while these people are priceless additions to the experience, I am eternally greatful for the one German student who has reached out to me in Dinslaken. I had coffee in the town nearby and talked for hours with her. I am amazed that she asked me to coffee, put up with my German, and afterwards escorted me to Essen out of the goodness of her heart. How lucky I am to have such a kind person in my life!
When things are going really slowly, it is easy for me to forget just why I decided to leave all of my friends, boyfriend, and family to come live in some place and teach some kids. But it comes down to the fact that my time here, more than accomplishing something huge at the school (muuuuch more to talk about there, in a later post), is for advancing in the field of human relationships. My truly unique opportunity in Germany is not to spread a magic dusting of love and understanding of America, but to learn and know people who I would have otherwise passed off as being fond of paperwork and not so fond of hugs.

Dumb vs Dumb

It has taken me a week to get this up and running. With all of the newness that inundates one while in a foreign country, I have been exhausted and hesitant to start posting (preferring sleep over typing). However, on this rainy, cold September day, the adventure begins.
There isn't much to say about the differences between life in Germany and life in the US. People live lives and try their hardest to be happy and healthy. The main difference comes from my own experience as a person who can't speak the language. It is amazing how a language can build a culture, and visa versa. I am fascinated at how even a place so familiar...with electricity, internet, tv (MTV at that) and all of the comforts that I find so important...can be so daunting and intimidating. Therefore, it is important to celebrate the small victories that come with living in a foreign place. For example, today I bought a yoga mat without having so speak English. I also signed up for a running club. Such simple tasks become great victories for me in Germany! "Simple" doesn't exist when everything must be translated.
I had a wonderful conversation (in Gernglisch) with my mentor-teacher this morning about the frustrations of living with native speakers as the state registered me as a legal visitor (that is a whoooole other story). There are countless benefits, but one of the most frustrating parts is not being able to speak to your intelligence level. I've made jokes about being the "educationally challenged" educator because I speak German on the level of a 6th grader, at most. (For this reason, the 9 year old I live with get along really well!) My level of education is clearly not 4th grade, however it is extremely difficult to exhibit intelligence when speaking slowly etc. The family all went to an extremely old town in Germany, Xanten, where the buildings are all from the 1500's. There was also a museum there that had 2000 year old artifiacts from when the Romans ruled this part of the world. I learned a LOT (like there were Romans in German 2000 years ago, who knew??) But there was no elegant way to say "this place is beautiful, sacred, and something that has enriched my life bla bla." It was simply "Good! This place is pretty!" (But with feeling). It is not that I am dumb, I am simply dumb. I fumble with the words, not the knowledge. It is amazing how imporatant being able to express myself has become even in this first week, and I am elated to be able to use the relatively few words that I have!
Aside from the language barriers, the Germans are warm, welcoming, and understanding people. I am almost as at home as I would be anywhere in the US. Before I came to Dinslaken, it was easy to pass off Germany as the collection of people visiting cities like Munich. It is quite obvious to me that the true character of the country does not shine brightly in the big cities; it is only when the daily lives of those living here is apparent that their character is too.

Now, as I learn the language, I will put in a list of some words that have been imporatant for me in the past few days. Some I have learned time and time again in school, but until now I haven't been able to remember them. Others are things you wouldn't think about saying until you didn't know how!

Duck das Ente
Barn das Barn
Race das Gerinne
Garlic das Knoblauch
weight lifting das Gewichtheben
powdered sugar der Puderzucker

Bis Spaeter!