Weekend Travels Part 3: Around Chemnitz
So a bit of a cheat this weekend - I did not, in fact, spend the weekend travelling. HOWEVER, that does not mean it and the week before were not eventful!
Last week went very quickly as usual, but was marked firstly by the introduction to a new class. I've agreed to help Caro, the trainee teacher, with a simulation for her 11th grade (English year 12) to help them learn Everyday English. The class will cover topics such as going out to eat, what to do in an emergency, how to apply for jobs, how to return things in shops - all things they've already learnt at some point in their school career but have definitely forgotten. We've also got them to invent roles for themselves (such a huge number of them put 'football' and 'sport'/'keeping fit' as their hobbies that it was sickening) and put them into 'flats' of three, i.e. they sit at tables of three to do the individual tasks. Although it is rather late to be starting new classes, it's been fun so far as this is more of a challenge than, for example, playing Pictionary with the 5th grade, or sitting at the back of the classroom while the 12th graders get on with being really astoundingly good at English.
The second memorable thing about last week was teaching two hour-long lessons about Great British history on the same day, first to the 6th grade and then to the 7th. This was memorable in that it inspired the feeling of mild panic you get when your teacher asks you a question about something that you should know and you don't quite, so you make up something and hope it sounds plausible, all the while being conscious of the fact that you are a truly terrible liar. This was exactly that situation, apart from they wrote down everything I said word for word. So if any slightly knowledgeable person reads their notes at any point the game will be UP. Hopefully it won't happen before I've left.
Speaking of which: having spent a large amount of time in recent weeks stressing about what I can do with my summer that is both productive and enjoyable, I have finally come to....still no decision at all, actually. However, I've asked the headteacher if it would be possible to extend my contract at the school so I finish at the end of June instead of the end of May. It doesn't make sense for us to finish at the end of May anyway, as the school doesn't even break up until the third week of July. The issue I am facing is that he has not yet replied, although he has READ the message (thanks WhatsApp, for allowing me to know when someone is being rude rather than just oblivious), and he's impossible to find in school due to him invigilating exams (apparently every hour, every day, for weeks). So there we are. More on the story as it develops.
In other news: last Thursday, the 30th April, was Walpurgisnacht! Those of you who, like me, attempted to read Faust last year will know that it's something to do with witches and shit. There were lots of Hexenfeuer ('witch fires') all around the region, and presumably round the rest of Germany too, which were oddly reminiscent of Guy Fawkes in their gruesome burning at the stake of a very human-shaped figure. I went to the one in Röhrsdorf with Katrin and her friends, where the witch figure apparently used to be burnt on the huge bonfire, but was banned a few years ago on account of their suddenly realising how distressing that was for children and sensitive adults in the vicinity.
Anyway, the evening itself was lovely; Katrin's friends were delightful, and it felt very German somehow. Röhrsdorf is a small village just outside Chemnitz, so the bonfire was just for the residents - no tourists allowed. Not that there are many (or any) tourists in Chemnitz, but I imagine there are even fewer in Röhrsdorf. We left quite early (about 10 o'clock) as it suddenly got cold, and went back to Katrin's with two of her friends (one of whom is also called Katrin - easy) where Karsten (the original Katrin's husband) made us hot chocolate with rum and they all grilled me about schools in England and the royal family.
David showed true dedication to the cause by arriving in Chem at about 8am, ready for the demonstration at 9. I, however, having been trapped by the poor bus services on bank holidays, missed all that and arrived at the fair at about 10.30. The main square in Chem where the Christmas markets had been (sob) was filled with various political stalls - the Green party, the SPD, the Pirate Party, several others of which I had never heard and about which I remain woefully uninformed. Not for lack of trying, though. We were trapped by a youth from the SPD for a full twenty minutes while he explained their policies to us, until David silenced him with a question that was as savage as it was unforgiving: their views on adoption by same-sex couples. The poor guy's expression showed clearly that he was experiencing that same panicked feeling I had been favoured with just the day before, when a small child asked me when the Union Flag was introduced and when exactly the Republic of Ireland became separate from Northern Ireland. Unlike me, he did not hazard a wild guess, but instead rushed off to look for a colleague, at which juncture we made our escape.
There was also a stage at one end of the square where people kept popping up and making speeches and a dance group periodically shambled on, did some rhythmic flailing around, then trooped off again. Having been promised a dance group that was 'about so much more than mere dance', this could have been a bit more convincing; I tend to value acts more highly if they demonstrate skills that I or the average person could not learn in less than half an hour or so. However, it was lovely having them there, and provided us with an excuse to leave again when the SPD man's colleague found us to explain their views about same-sex adoption in great detail. We're afraid we can't stay, we explained. The group has just begun dancing to Timber by Ke$ha and there's a token middle-aged man in a silver waistcoat right at the front and he looks exactly like Jason Watkins in Nativity, and as you can understand, all of that requires my full concentration.
After the jollities of the righteous socialist frenzy in the main square, we took a trip to the Gunzenhauser Musuem, first walking right to the other end of Chemnitz before realising that Google Maps is in fact not the same as iPhone Maps, which are JUST USELESS. The Museum (actually an art collection) was great, though; the best part was the Otto Dix paintings, although I may have to go back and write down the name of some of the other ones I liked.
Saturday was a quiet day, distinguished only by the fact that I got up and went for a RUN at 8.15 in the MORNING. This was not on purpose, of course; I happened to wake up needlessly early and couldn't get back to sleep so thought I might as well make the most of the sun. This paid off; I then sat in smugness all afternoon while the storm clouds rolled in.
Sunday was filled with more activity. I had promised Katrin I'd go on a bike ride with her at some point over the weekend, and as I'd cancelled on her on Friday in favour of the socialist fair I felt I couldn't duck out again when she texted me yesterday morning. So we went on the long-awaited bike ride which actually turned out not to be too horrible, despite my obnoxiously uncomfortable and heavy mountain bike. She took me to the Stadtpark and up to the Wasserschloss in Klaffenbach, a lovely little 'castle' (kind of) with craft shops for the glass- and metalwork they do there. It is a popular spot for weddings, apparently.
We stopped at her friends' house on the way back and they introduced us to their two sheep and three lambs, and FIVE little chicks, one of which had hatched five days ago!! So tiny! They also gave us coffee and delicious cake, which meant I was far less resentful about having stopped for socialising.
In total I cycled nearly 23km with Katrin (she cycled another 20, as it's 10km to Röhrsdorf from Chemnitz and she came and picked me up). This, for her, is nothing at all. For me, however, it was a very small achievement, so well done to ME, yay me, etc.
So anyway. If I don't end up staying until the end of June, which I fear I won't as it may be too complicated to organise with the school at this late notice, then today was the first day of my final four weeks at the school. Let's not even think about how quickly it's gone past, or how quickly the rest of it will go, because it's too alarming. I just thought I'd mention it, as I like to mark every single milestones I can think of and I'm already feeling tipsily nostalgic after one single glass of wine (it needed drinking, okay?). Oh Chemnitz. I will miss you.
Last week went very quickly as usual, but was marked firstly by the introduction to a new class. I've agreed to help Caro, the trainee teacher, with a simulation for her 11th grade (English year 12) to help them learn Everyday English. The class will cover topics such as going out to eat, what to do in an emergency, how to apply for jobs, how to return things in shops - all things they've already learnt at some point in their school career but have definitely forgotten. We've also got them to invent roles for themselves (such a huge number of them put 'football' and 'sport'/'keeping fit' as their hobbies that it was sickening) and put them into 'flats' of three, i.e. they sit at tables of three to do the individual tasks. Although it is rather late to be starting new classes, it's been fun so far as this is more of a challenge than, for example, playing Pictionary with the 5th grade, or sitting at the back of the classroom while the 12th graders get on with being really astoundingly good at English.
The second memorable thing about last week was teaching two hour-long lessons about Great British history on the same day, first to the 6th grade and then to the 7th. This was memorable in that it inspired the feeling of mild panic you get when your teacher asks you a question about something that you should know and you don't quite, so you make up something and hope it sounds plausible, all the while being conscious of the fact that you are a truly terrible liar. This was exactly that situation, apart from they wrote down everything I said word for word. So if any slightly knowledgeable person reads their notes at any point the game will be UP. Hopefully it won't happen before I've left.
Speaking of which: having spent a large amount of time in recent weeks stressing about what I can do with my summer that is both productive and enjoyable, I have finally come to....still no decision at all, actually. However, I've asked the headteacher if it would be possible to extend my contract at the school so I finish at the end of June instead of the end of May. It doesn't make sense for us to finish at the end of May anyway, as the school doesn't even break up until the third week of July. The issue I am facing is that he has not yet replied, although he has READ the message (thanks WhatsApp, for allowing me to know when someone is being rude rather than just oblivious), and he's impossible to find in school due to him invigilating exams (apparently every hour, every day, for weeks). So there we are. More on the story as it develops.
In other news: last Thursday, the 30th April, was Walpurgisnacht! Those of you who, like me, attempted to read Faust last year will know that it's something to do with witches and shit. There were lots of Hexenfeuer ('witch fires') all around the region, and presumably round the rest of Germany too, which were oddly reminiscent of Guy Fawkes in their gruesome burning at the stake of a very human-shaped figure. I went to the one in Röhrsdorf with Katrin and her friends, where the witch figure apparently used to be burnt on the huge bonfire, but was banned a few years ago on account of their suddenly realising how distressing that was for children and sensitive adults in the vicinity.
Katrin B: so has Kate had her baby yet?!
Me, thinking, 'these people are so out of the loop, Baby Number One was born ages ago': Yep!
The assembled Germans: REALLY!?!??!?
Me, suddenly realising what's going on: Oh wait no, not the second one. Baby Two is still inside. Yeah no, she has still only got one child out in the world.
Katrin A: When is it due?!?
Me, in my head: Umm??????? I have access to literally the same information as you?? There isn't a special Brit-broadcast that tells us secrets of the royal womb unavailable to other countries??? Also I have not kept up to date with Kate's pregnancy!! She should be left alone!!! And the royal family should be dismantled probably!!?!? I'm undecided as it's such a big part of British history!!! But it's so expensive!? And no one really cares anymore, it's just the Americans really!! And they don't bring in as much tourism as we think!! They're just born into ludicrously privileged lives and we pay for them to gallivant around and that is not how socialism works!!! Also oh god the election is coming up. What will become of our country. GOD HELP US ALL.
Me, aloud: Hahaha no idea hahahehehaha!!All in all, it was a relief the next day to go to the festivities for Workers' Day, 1st May, which is a bank holiday in Germany, and most of Europe I believe. (I could easily find out with a simple Google, but I don't feel like it. But anyway, hope you enjoy these blog posts full of arbitrarily invented facts written by an out of control narcissist!!!)
David showed true dedication to the cause by arriving in Chem at about 8am, ready for the demonstration at 9. I, however, having been trapped by the poor bus services on bank holidays, missed all that and arrived at the fair at about 10.30. The main square in Chem where the Christmas markets had been (sob) was filled with various political stalls - the Green party, the SPD, the Pirate Party, several others of which I had never heard and about which I remain woefully uninformed. Not for lack of trying, though. We were trapped by a youth from the SPD for a full twenty minutes while he explained their policies to us, until David silenced him with a question that was as savage as it was unforgiving: their views on adoption by same-sex couples. The poor guy's expression showed clearly that he was experiencing that same panicked feeling I had been favoured with just the day before, when a small child asked me when the Union Flag was introduced and when exactly the Republic of Ireland became separate from Northern Ireland. Unlike me, he did not hazard a wild guess, but instead rushed off to look for a colleague, at which juncture we made our escape.
There was also a stage at one end of the square where people kept popping up and making speeches and a dance group periodically shambled on, did some rhythmic flailing around, then trooped off again. Having been promised a dance group that was 'about so much more than mere dance', this could have been a bit more convincing; I tend to value acts more highly if they demonstrate skills that I or the average person could not learn in less than half an hour or so. However, it was lovely having them there, and provided us with an excuse to leave again when the SPD man's colleague found us to explain their views about same-sex adoption in great detail. We're afraid we can't stay, we explained. The group has just begun dancing to Timber by Ke$ha and there's a token middle-aged man in a silver waistcoat right at the front and he looks exactly like Jason Watkins in Nativity, and as you can understand, all of that requires my full concentration.
After the jollities of the righteous socialist frenzy in the main square, we took a trip to the Gunzenhauser Musuem, first walking right to the other end of Chemnitz before realising that Google Maps is in fact not the same as iPhone Maps, which are JUST USELESS. The Museum (actually an art collection) was great, though; the best part was the Otto Dix paintings, although I may have to go back and write down the name of some of the other ones I liked.
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| A picture of a postcard I bought - for once, Google images has failed me!!! So this is the best I could do. Anyway, I liked this one a lot. |
Sunday was filled with more activity. I had promised Katrin I'd go on a bike ride with her at some point over the weekend, and as I'd cancelled on her on Friday in favour of the socialist fair I felt I couldn't duck out again when she texted me yesterday morning. So we went on the long-awaited bike ride which actually turned out not to be too horrible, despite my obnoxiously uncomfortable and heavy mountain bike. She took me to the Stadtpark and up to the Wasserschloss in Klaffenbach, a lovely little 'castle' (kind of) with craft shops for the glass- and metalwork they do there. It is a popular spot for weddings, apparently.
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| Pretty! But a bit grey by this point |
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| The sheep were a bit shy, sadly |
So anyway. If I don't end up staying until the end of June, which I fear I won't as it may be too complicated to organise with the school at this late notice, then today was the first day of my final four weeks at the school. Let's not even think about how quickly it's gone past, or how quickly the rest of it will go, because it's too alarming. I just thought I'd mention it, as I like to mark every single milestones I can think of and I'm already feeling tipsily nostalgic after one single glass of wine (it needed drinking, okay?). Oh Chemnitz. I will miss you.
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