AMBER
Elementary Education Undergraduate |
AMBER
Elementary Education Undergraduate |
The night we arrived in Toronto, I could feel myself dragging along. All I kept thinking was "just a little bit more and then you'll be home." Finally around midnight I had made it to my parents house. I longed to see my family and they definitely perked me up after the long trip home.
The following day I went to Fourth of July fireworks in my Berlin sweater. Although I was enjoying being back in the States, I kept on thinking about Germany. I missed my host family, my friends on the trip, and the overall culture. It was also very hard to get used to the time change coming back. I actually slept through most of the fireworks! In the following days I told all my friends and family about the trip and showed off pictures. Looking back on what I really learned from the trip, I find that it was more than I expected. The schools taught me a lot about classroom management. The students there listen well and respect their teachers. One item they used was a chime to get the attention of the class. I was amazed when it worked so well. I also learned more about play time in school. It's very important to allow students to play and take breaks. I found that when they did this they had a much easier time paying attention during a lesson. I also learned that I have the ability to be completely independent. It sounds strange, however I had my doubts about how well I was going to be able to get around Germany. I found that it was very organized and I picked up on words and signs easily. i plan on going back to Europe in the near future and feel much more confident about transportation and safety while I'm there. Overall, the trip taught me a great deal about schooling and culture. I also made amazing friendships and memories to last a lifetime. If you're ever questioning yourself on doing an adventure like this...say yes! You'll be glad you did.
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Our last in Germany was bitter-sweet. All of us ladies with our hosts got to together and went out to dinner. We met at a traditional German restaurant in downtown Stuttgart. The atmosphere was warm and the food was even better. As it was my last night in Germany, I had to try the Schnitzel; a dish my mother raved about. And it was amazing! The food in general blew me away throughout the trip. As we sat around the table enjoying our meals, we discussed some of our favorite memories, what we're going to miss, and what we're looking forward to. After dinner we walked through Stuttgart and I tried to take as much of it in as I could. It was my last time being there so I pictured myself a sponge soaking up the culture. We made our way through a festival held on the streets. There were drinks, food and music, with crowds of people that were so difficult to get through. Yet I loved every minute of it!
The morning we left was harder than I thought it would be. Everything was packed and ready to go. I still wanted to take one last walk around the neighborhood so that it was imprinted in my mind. Unfortunately there wasn't enough time but I spent the morning saying goodbye to my host mom. Although she couldn't speak English, she was wonderful to Rachel and I! She made the most amazing dishes and always greeted us with a smile. Annette and our host brother Artem, drove us to the airport. At that point it was all tears from Rachel and I. It didn't really hit me that we were leaving until I had to leave them. It was still a happy moment though. I'm still in contact with them and look forward to going back one day! Or maybe they will come here to Buffalo! only time will tell. |
AuthorHello and welcome to my blog! I am an Education major at Buffalo State College and will soon be traveling to Germany to teach and observe in the German classrooms. I enjoy learning about history and other cultures as well as meeting new people. I hope you enjoy reading my blog as I share my experiences and knowledge with you! ArchivesCategories |