On Tuesday morning Gabrielle and I met again at the Bergedorf bus station for our second day of school. Our month-long public transportation pass, which will allow us to travel in and around Hamburg by bus and train during April, started today, so we were able to use this pass this morning instead of buying a ticket.
We got on the right bus at the right time... but didn't press the "Stop" button hard enough, and the bus drove right past our stop. Then it kept driving... for a long, long time. We got off at the next stop a few minutes later. Luckily, a bus happened to be coming from the other direction, and we were able to run across the street and hop on that bus.
School on Tuesday was a lot of fun! The students seemed to feel more comfortable with me, and I started to get into the routine of things more. I have noticed that there is a lot of emphasis put on students' independence and freedom. While the teacher does speak mostly in English, the students usually speak in German. They have been putting a lot of effort into using English to communicate with me, though. :)
We got on the right bus at the right time... but didn't press the "Stop" button hard enough, and the bus drove right past our stop. Then it kept driving... for a long, long time. We got off at the next stop a few minutes later. Luckily, a bus happened to be coming from the other direction, and we were able to run across the street and hop on that bus.
School on Tuesday was a lot of fun! The students seemed to feel more comfortable with me, and I started to get into the routine of things more. I have noticed that there is a lot of emphasis put on students' independence and freedom. While the teacher does speak mostly in English, the students usually speak in German. They have been putting a lot of effort into using English to communicate with me, though. :)
I caught the bus 13 minutes after the school day ended to go home for lunch (the big meal of the day)! Gabrielle joined me and my host family, and we had delicious fried fish, potatoes, and salad. Afterwards, we walked around the Bergedorf area, including my host father's beautiful church, and Kelly and Alicia came to join us. It was a fun evening full of Currywurst, our first German beers, a waiter making fun of shopping, coffee & pastries (of course), and exploration! Oh and a waiter making fun of Americans and their selfies.
To continue my list, some other random thoughts and tidbits about life in Germany thus far:
1. Carbonated drinks are very popular here. Water is often served sparking, and the apple juice is carbonated as well.
2. You may or may not have to tip to use the restroom in a shop. Gabrielle and I still confused about this.
3. We tried to order small beers but were told that "that isn't very German." Germany fail?
4. German sausage is, in fact, delicious.
5. Fresh bread. Yum.
6. I have forgotten how to use T9 Word since the middle school days, and therefore it takes me about 5 minutes to text on my German handy.
1. Carbonated drinks are very popular here. Water is often served sparking, and the apple juice is carbonated as well.
2. You may or may not have to tip to use the restroom in a shop. Gabrielle and I still confused about this.
3. We tried to order small beers but were told that "that isn't very German." Germany fail?
4. German sausage is, in fact, delicious.
5. Fresh bread. Yum.
6. I have forgotten how to use T9 Word since the middle school days, and therefore it takes me about 5 minutes to text on my German handy.