KATIE
Elementary Education Undergraduate |
KATIE
Elementary Education Undergraduate |
Getting back into my normal routine has been more difficult than I thought it would be. The time change was challenging at first, but sticking it out and staying up even when I really didn’t want to helped. I didn’t realize how many little things I had missed while I was in Germany. Coming back into the country it was so nice to look around and understand every sign I saw and understand what the person standing next to me was saying. It was a wonderful feeling.
The first thing I couldn’t wait to do was drive my car and get somewhere on my own without relying on someone. I didn’t think I was going to miss driving as much as I did. Its little things like driving a car that we take for granted and I really opened my eyes to that. In some ways I am missing Germany, but I’m so happy to be back home with my family and friends. This trip truly changed me and I’m so glad I got to experience it and I plan on taking what I learned with me through out my education and life.
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Being my first time abroad I experienced so many new things. I learned how to navigate a different country which was challenging, but so fulfilling to know I could figure it out. It also made you talk to people because there was times that I had to ask for help. It really made me look at foreigners differently after experiencing this trip. I used to get easily frustrated when someone from a different country would ask me something because I would think how did they not know that. Now that I have been that person I understand not everything is the same and it’s scary being in a place that’s unfamiliar and trying to get yourself around.
When I first started this trip I was concerned about money because it isn’t cheap traveling, especially to a different country. I learned as I went through the process there are ways to save money and you can always gain money back, but you can’t gain the experience back. This trip has made me catch the travel bug and I learned it isn’t always about how much money you have it’s about the experiences and the friendships you gain by going on trips like this. I am so glad I took the leap and gone on this trip because I have changed as a person and I have really opened my eyes to a whole new world. After being in a school that has a different culture than my own I am more eager to put different cultures into my own classroom. I noticed in the classrooms that they had different flags of all different countries hung on the classroom walls. The children were so curious about other countries and how they are different from their own. I believe we should teach children at a young age about different countries because of their interests in things different than their own.
I also really liked how my teacher started all of her lessons with a song to get the students attention. They children were always ready for her after she did the song with them. To start her English lesson she would do what she called high five. She would ask the students to name things in English, for example she asked them to name wild animals. They had to talk to their partner first and then she went around and ask the children and when they answered correctly she would give them a high. I loved how engaging it was and it also helped the children review what they have already learned. Something else that I found different in Germany was the backpack the children used. They were box backpacks that better supported their backs and kept their papers organized. It was also designed to help keep their papers from getting ruined because they use my paper than books in the younger ages. I really liked them because they were easy to use for the children. If there is a way to get them here in a states I would high encourage parents to buy them for their children. While we were in the Black Forest we came across a play ground. We all decided to check it out and were amazed at the differences. It was more natural and had more wood instead of metal and plastic. There were branches for them to climb on and a zip line for them to play with. We also found another playground in Stuttgart that had trees all around it so they had plenty of shade. There was natural logs connected together for them to play on. For padding on the ground there was wood chips and dirt.
While at the school they have recess 2 times a day. They got about 45 minutes in the morning and over an hour in the afternoon. Most of the children only go for half the day because that’s what Germany normally does, but they are slowly switching it to full days. I found this amazing because the children were able to get some much free time to play that when it came time to do work they were ready for it. They seemed more focused because they got all their energy out. The play grounds there were great too, but they also had more things for them to do not just a play ground. When I watched the children they had a soccer game going and there was a table for ping pong. There was a shed full of things for them to play with. I liked how they had so many options and were able to do there own thing. I loved how these areas provided a safe place for them to explore and learn through play. I have now been in the classroom for 2 days and what an experience it has been so far. The children were so excited to meet Kara and I. They wanted to practice their English with us, so they asked us a lot of questions about us and where we come from. The children found some of our answers interesting and others they found funny. They were overjoyed when we would know some things about Germany and that we were willing to learn some German from them.
One of the first things I noticed was the children had a little more freedom than most American schools. I was shocked to see the children sitting in the classroom waiting for a teacher. Even when they had their recess there is only 1 teacher outside just to make sure no one gets hurt. I really liked this because the children were able to learn responsibly and how to act correctly without a teacher guiding their every move. It was challenging at times when they were talking in German, especially when there was a lesson in German and we didn’t understand what was going on. It really put it into perspective of how a child would feel coming into a foreign country and going to a school that speaks a different language. I’m learning that a lot of guidance and patience can really help a child when it comes to teaching a different language. I am excited to see how the rest of my time at the school will go and what new things I can learn from the German teachers! Strasbourg, France felt like a fairy tale. The streets were filled with people, flowers, and wonderful smells of fresh bread. As we were walking around I was reminded of the movie Beauty and the Beast. My inner 8 year old elf was so happy.
As we got closer to the Cathedral I was more and more amazed about all the details. The structure was so dark yet so beautiful. As we walked in I was amazed by all the stain glasses. While I was walking around I was thinking if the amount of time was put into this and how much they cared about every detail that went into it. I experienced some culture shock while I was there because the people, bikes, and cars were all in the same area so you always had to be on the look out. There was areas that I thought a car would never fit down nor try to go down, but yet they were still squeezing through. Over all Strasbourg was a great experience and I’m glad I was able to get a little taste of France. 4 days in Berlin, wow those days went by fast. We were always on the go seeing as many things in Berlin as we could. We were walking about 10 miles, walking up and down stairs, and running to trains every day. When we first arrived on Sunday I was amazed at how green the city was. There was trees and grass patches everywhere. The parks were beautiful and peaceful. I loved how quiet the city was. I also loved the cobble stone that was everywhere. The buildings were breath taking and I just stared in amazement. Something I had to get used to was having everyone around you speaking German. It made the group stick together because we were all each other had at times. I’m growing to love this group more and more.
The food in Berlin was amazing! I loved how fresh everything was. I never had a meal that was disappointing, even my McDonald’s (it’s different than the US so we had to try it). We always sat outside when we ate. The streets were always filled with table and chairs with umbrellas above them. People were all around enjoying food and talking quiet among themself. As I have gone through the process of getting ready for Germany I have learned to be more and more independent. I have learned so many new things about traveling and Germany in general. Now that the trip is finally here I’m learning that there is still so much out there. I was counting down the months, then weeks and days, and now I’m counting down hours. I’m getting more and more excited as it’s approaching, but the nerves are definitely settling in. It’s hitting me that I’m leaving a place I have always known, my comfort zone, and heading into a different part of the world I have never known.
I can’t wait to see Germany and learn everything about its culture in these next 3 weeks. I’m excited to experience Germany with my own eyes and hands instead of just through pictures. Here’s to a new adventure! It seems like it was just yesterday I was applying for the trip patiently waiting to see if I got in. Now I am here patiently waiting to go! As I am finishing up my spring semester I am getting more and more excited to be going to Germany and experience a different culture. I never thought I would be able to travel to another county without my family, but here I am spreading my wings and going out of my comfort zone. I am loving every moment of it. I cannot wait to see what it will be like to be in Germany for 3 weeks.
Sitting through class these past few months I have learned so much about Germany, but yet I feel like there is still so much to learn while I am over there. I am excited to be going into their schools and see how my host teacher teaches and runs her classrooms. I have communicated with her through email and she has already made me feel so welcomed. I can’t wait to stay with her in Stuttgart for 2 weeks and experience how Germans live. I am overjoyed with excitement for this new journey and I’m glad you guys get to follow me as I experience it. |
AuthorHallo, ich bin Katie! Archives
August 2019
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