The weather here has been stupid lately. Way too hot. I complain. The kids at school are too hot, it's hard to teach, to learn, to move. Today I had a few water breaks and made sure that the water bottles went everywhere with the kids.
On Saturday I went into the city to run some errands. Went to the dollar store in Bockenheim to get some small things for my classroom: clothes pegs, baskets, zip lock bags, etc. Then back to the Zeil for more errands. Bought some shoes to replace some of the broken pairs I own. Still need another pair - annoying thing about not being able to wear runners or sport sandals to school! I also bought some dresses. All last week I have been worried about the heat that was coming so some dresses sounded like good things to wear to school on hot days.
It was super hot (~33) and sunny, but I did stop to watch this for a bit:
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| Tearing down a building on the Zeil. They didn't seem to be working too fast, possibly given the heat. |
I had a quick walk down to the river and across the Eiserner Steg (iron bridge). I wanted to walk through the flea market and look for a bell for my classroom. Managed to get their before it was finished, but no luck with a bell. Ended up taking the U-Bahn back to the Zeil because I was too hot to face the walk back.
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| Looking back while on the Eiserner Steg - a train was going on the tracks along the water! Never seen this before - I think it was some special train. It rang it's bell the whole way along to make sure no one was walking along the tracks. |
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| Had to stop at the Applewine Festival to buys some chocolate popcorn - thanks to Cara for introducing me to this! |
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| And no German festival should be without a barbecue - a hanging, swinging barbecue! |
Sunday was even hotter than Saturday. It got up to 37 degrees and was more humid! Horrible sounding, AND I had a softball game!! Our coach had emailed us earlier in the week to tell us to start drinking lots of water and bring at least 3L to the game. At the game they kept going around telling us to drink. I don't think I have ever been in such heat, or drank so much water in my life! The games (we actually play two back to back) took longer than normal because we had some water breaks. I got to play 2nd base for a few innings, but in the heat couldn't really manage any more. We all survived though, and won one of the games :) It was a nice come-from-behind-in-the-last-inning win. Fun, but don't ever want to do it again in that heat!
And back to school today. Was a bit tough for some of the kids. The heat, and having been off for the weekend - I was welcomed in the morning by two of my students in tears. One continued to cry on and off all day. Hopefully things will get easier for her quickly. Lessons went really well - they are starting to get the hang of school - yippy!! Though apparently as some of the boys get more comfortable they start fighting...
Here is a bit of a list I have compiled, so I can look back over the year and see how things change:
What frustrated me right now:
- them not understanding simple instructions. For example, I ask them to put their snack in their backpack and line up, and end up with kids lined up with their back packs on...
- because they don't understand a lot, a few of the kids don't communicate with me. I mean don't look at me, ignore me when I am talking, as if I'm not there.
- the content is too easy for them, but we have to do it so they learn the English. For example, counting to 10... they can even do that in English!
What I already love:
- hearing them speak English!!! Even if it is a version of "May I please go to the washroom?"
- going out on the playground and being greeted by my students with big smiles on their faces
- crying students asking for me on the playground. Ok, I don't like that they're crying, but it's kind of nice to know that they are sad and asking for me.
- the feeling of accomplishment that comes with them lining up quietly (because trust me, it IS an accomplishment!)
I will add some more as I think of them, because I know there are more! Now on to Tuesday.... so much for a quick post :)
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