So there is only about a month left
before I leave for Germany. It really seems unreal right now, but that is
probably due to so much happening in general. Today is the last day of school,
and this afternoon I will have completed my first year of teaching! The past
few weeks have been crazy busy with activities-from music to sports to award
banquets and ceremonies, there were days that I could barely seem to keep track
of what was needing to be done, and yet many teachers including myself have been
working long hours to get everything done.
It seems that April and May are actually busier than December is when
you look at school activities and schedules, but it has been great to go to all
the banquets and ceremonies, and attend various activities to see what all the
students are involved in and the community support. I could not be prouder of
my students or enjoying teaching more than at those events and on the brightest
days in the classroom. As the school year comes to a close, it is hard to see the
growth from an inside view, but when I step back and remember last fall to this
spring, the changes that have occurred are drastic. There is still work to be
done, but so much more growth too, and not only in the students but also in
myself.
So as
summer approaches and I find myself planning for next year whether reviewing
and fixing my handbooks, planning marching band camp, thinking about ideas for
drill or for the Christmas concert already, the trip, or the summer projects I
have, I tend to push Germany aside. I get caught up in the excitement of
planning a new school year, but then I stop and realize how close Germany is,
how excited I am to go, and how blessed I am to be able to go on a trip like
this. There are so many unknowns yet-like the total cost of the trip, or
knowing anything about the host families I will be with or where I will be
going in Germany, but I have come to terms finally with the not-knowing. When
it is time for me to know, I will be told the information needed. That may mean
waiting until I get off the plane in Germany to find out where I am going first
or that may mean finding information out next week. Regardless, I trust that
God has everything under control and that He is guiding those who are in charge
of organizing host families and the costs. It has taken me months to reach this
place, at one point I even considered not going because I was frustrated with
the not knowing, but now I have learned even more patience.
In the meantime, I am
starting to think again about the meal I will prepare for my host family (and
the fact that I need to try making BBQ from scratch first), the gifts I want to
bring for my host families, and the pictures that I would like to print and
leave with each host family. If you have any tips or ideas, any would be
appreciated. I have some ideas already like bringing measuring cups that we use
here in the US, but I have had difficulty thinking of other ideas. I’m also
looking for something that could represent Kansas, Ohio, and Colorado (or three
separate things) as I have lived in all three states at various times over the
past few years. I am also planning to work on reviewing my German language
skills. I have yet to find the time but plan to make this a priority when
school ends. I would like to be able to speak quite a bit of German when I
return. Currently my German is very poor, I can understand certain words and
phrases, even pronounce words yet, but speaking in a conversation is a
challenge. I am looking forward to trying many new dishes while there, being
adventurous and hopefully hiking some while I am there, as I have been told
that Germans tend to be more active. I do not know yet whether I will be in a
rural area or in the city, either experience will be wonderful and I hope I can
learn a lot from the families about their lifestyle and how things are done
there compared to the US. I also hope to learn about how music is taught, and
if/how it has a part in their school system as their school system is quite
different from ours.
There is so much to learn and experience, I wonder if I will
have learned much in 8 weeks, or barely even touched the tip of an ice-burg in
learning about Germany, it’s peoples, and it’s customs. I am so excited, and as
I write becoming more excited, yet nervous for what is to come all at the same
time! It is still so crazy and still so unreal yet to me. I wonder if it will
not seem completely and utterly real until I pack up my stuff and prepare to
board the plane to leave for the conference prior to flying to Germany. Whatever
the case, there is little news to update in preparation for my trip, except to
start a countdown (now that school is over, this is okay to do! Lol)-5 weeks!!!
EEK! There’s so much to do between Germany and preparing for school next year!
As far as family or home-life goes: Mom is graduating from
college this Saturday! Karen has finished her first year of grad school,
Krystal has almost finished her first year of undergrad, and Dad is switching
to a day position at school. My roommate and I are very close friends at this
point, and our dogs seem to be happy although Winnie I think has felt abandoned
the past couple of weeks with all my activities so I will be sure to give her
extra attention when I get to stay home the second half of next week. For now,
that seems to be all. If you want to know more about the IFYE program or have
questions about my trip or school year, feel free to ask! (I also apologize for
the length, maybe I should learn to post more often……don’t worry once I leave for
Germany I’ll be posting an update once a week as well as a picture or two with
each post J).
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