New Friends and Places to Go - Woo hoo!

I Made New Friends!
These are my new friends Bianca and Corina.  They are from church and about 20 years younger than I am.  They are super cute and fun girls.  This is Corina's house and I love the ceiling!  Such cool architecture in her apartment and building.  I tried to capture it, but it's almost impossible!  Ugh!  I got to visit them on Tuesday - Bianca invited me over when I told her I was lonely!  :)  So cute!

This maybe capture a little bit of the charm, if you look closely!  Anyway, trust me, it was cute and very German!

I Made Dinner!

So, if you know me, I'm not that big on cooking.  I asked my friend Karma how I can help her since she is going through a hard time.  She is also from church and works at the same school I do.  She asked if I liked to cook and I said I didn't but I would do it anyway.  She said she didn't like to cook either!  HA!  So, I cooked and it actually turned out better than I thought it would!  Thank heaven for the internet, great recipes, and a bit of luck!  I got to visit her and her family at her beautiful house on Thursday.

School - Good and Not so Good.

People at school are super nice!  One guy offered to show me where the 2nd hand store was!  I realized that I didn't pack as many clothes as I thought I did (I am not sure if I had that many in the first place).   

Today (Friday), I went to have "drinks" after the school meeting today.  Drinks for me consists of fruity drinks like Fanta.  I did discover though that there is a multitude of fruity drinks here.  Today, I'm not sure, but I think I had rhubarb and apple drink.  It was great just to socialize for a couple of hours with other people!

Not so good?  Well.... one of the girls in my technology class said, "Ms. Trent are we going to learn anything in this class? (We had already done 3 different projects on Digital Citizenship.  Animoto, Voki, and Tagxedo)  Last year's teacher made us take notes.  Are we going to have tests in this class?"  This was one of my favorite classes and I hated that she didn't think she was learning anything.  So, I told my friend Karma while I was cooking dinner about this experience and she said that I should give them a test and tell everyone that it was her idea.  So, today, they walked into class, I said, So... somebody said they weren't learning anything, here is a test, let's see if that is true.  The girl that made the comment asked if it would count and I said, you bet it will.  Let's just say, I had a very quiet class today.  At the bottom of another girl's test she said, "I have enjoyed your class and I have learned a lot!"  Things teachers have to do at the beginning of the year to set a line through the sand!  UGH!  I had so much fun with that class!  I hope it can still be fun!

Weather in Ulm

So far:  Week 1:  HOT!!!!  Week 2:  Fall weather, had to wear a jacket in the mornings  Week 3: Warm, with a HOT weekend.  Next week:  Fall weather again.  It's kind of odd that the weather stays consistent for several days.  NC weather tends to have mood swings.  If it rains here, it rains for a few days.  At least this is my observation from a newbie who doesn't know better.  :)

Teaching in Germany

So, this was my first week of working with the whole staff and my first week of teaching middle/high school students.  The staff is great and I've been fixing their problems left and right, so I think they like me!  Ha!  I'm actually lucky, because I'm the technology person, I get to know everyone very quickly and they all know me.  I think I'm helpful and friendly, so it's great.  There are 2 people who work in the office - Doris and Martina that are especially friendly and I have a lot of interaction with them asking for keys to this and copies of that.  Luckily, they haven't gotten tired of my visits - yet!

Wednesday was the first day that the students were here, but I don't teach on Wednesdays.  So, it was a nice easy transition and I got time to plan (thank heaven).  On Thursday I did my first teaching and I found that I only had 4 or 5 students in each of the 3 classes I taught and I could be relaxed and easy going.  I had 2 of the students that were "hyperactive" and I was a little worried, but with only 5 students, it is not a problem at all.  (But of course it's the first week of school.)  The only problem that I found was these students do things a lot faster than my elementary kids, so I need to make sure I plan extra things to keep them occupied!  Next week I have a class with 16 kids for 2 hours!  :)  That should be interesting!

On the IT side of things, I'm learning how to do a little networking - so far I'm horrible!!!  Kids with Macs and Iphones come to me and beg me to put them on the network.  NO CLUE how to do that!  I don't know the password for the guest wifi and even when I did put it on one, it didn't work.  Grrrr!  So someone is coming who used to work here.  Luckily his wife had an appointment at 6 in Ulm.  So, I'm at school at 6:00 waiting.... on a Friday. :)  I'm so excited he's coming though! 

My life in Neu-Ulm:  Outside of school it is quiet.  Very very quiet.  I'm such a social person, I'm jealous of people walking with their friends into town.  I think I'll take a German class.  That is twice a week.  It will help me get to know people and I won't be quietly on my own.  I think the biggest difference is that in the US, I was Soooo busy with so many things.  Now, I have work and that's it.  On Fridays we have shorter classes, an early dismissal and have a staff meeting.  After every staff meeting they go to the beer garden to socialize.  I thought that was so fun!

I do walk a lot.  Some days, I walk to Ulm - about a 20 minute walk - by the river.  I think it's actually longer to walk by the river, but it's so gorgeous I can't help it not to mention it's healthier.  This picture was taken on my walk home.  There are actually 2 sidewalks - one for bikes close to the road and another one through the trees for pedestrians.  I bought a camera - a real one, so pictures very soon hopefully!

Cutting through the Red Tape

Today was insane.  Okay, let's back up.  In order to do anything when you want to move to Germany, you have to have 2 things:  A work contract and a rental agreement on an apartment.  You have to have these before you move to Germany.  As soon as you move to Germany you have to go to the registration office and register that you have a rental agreement.

With the registration you can have a bank account, but you have to sign up for a time to meet with the banker - you can't sign up right then and there.  In order to get a cell phone you have to have the registration and a bank account.

You also have to go to the immigration office - your registration needs to have been processed first - Ulm people, so sorry, you have to wait for a week, Neu-Ulm people can go the next day. (Luckily, I live in Neu-Ulm.)  When you go to the immigration office (which happens tomorrow for me), you need everything certified and documented.

I literally have a folder which proves that I am who I am from birth certificate to degrees to passports. I also have to have a background check done in Germany by the German government - never mind that I had an FBI background check that took 12 weeks to get back to me just certified.  No wonder I could never figure out how to live abroad and get a job on my own.  Too many specific steps you have to follow in order!  Lol!  Thank heaven the school has someone who specializes in this type of thing and speaks fluent German and English!  She was amazing today helping all of us newcomers!

Beer Gardens are for Kids & Wandering Around is the Best Way to See a City!

Beer Gardens are for Kids:
So, just down the street from my apartment is a really popular beer garden.  If you know me well at all, you know I don't drink alcohol.  So, why would I go to a beer garden?  Because, although they sell beer, they are actually a family and community type of restaurant.  It is made up of picnic tables and a casual dining style.  In fact, more often than not, you'll be sitting with strangers on the other side of the picnic table.  The food is usually cheap and good.  You do not have to have a beer.  The one near my house has a playground for children.  Another one I saw, had an extensive playground for all ages of children.  As I went on my walk today, I saw people literally flooding in the one almost next door to me.  I need to go there to eat dinner one day soon.  This is one I passed that was closed. It was right next to the cathedral.

Wandering Around is the Best Way to See a City:
When I go to different places, one of my favorite things to do is get lost.  I have my map on my cell phone when I want to get home. (Just an FYI, if you look at your Google map when you have wifi, and don't close the app, it will show you exactly where you are and an interactive map of the city - no data required.  It will also tell you directions if that is what you choose to do, but you have to program the directions before you leave wifi.)  I followed directions to church this morning.  It worked, but it took me through streets that had shops and not very interesting things.  This afternoon - after the heat had gone - around 5, I decided to walk along the river.

This path is very close to my house.  The bridge is just for walkers and bikers, cars can't use it.

On the other side of the walking bridge is a lovely park with things for all ages!

I love that there are remnants of the old city wall and fort.  This is in the middle of the park.

This is a little fair for kids.  I couldn't tell if they were paying for the rides or they were free.  I think they were free, because they could ride over and over again.  I love the variety of rides.  I'm not sure if you can see the swings, but they were 2-people swings - big enough for adults. Under the green umbrella is an old fashioned roller coaster - emphasis on the roller.  They took old crates, put it on the rollers and rolled down the ride.  The kids would take the crates back to the top and go again!

I love the old mixed with the new!

I love towers!  More stairs to climb to see great views! (Later!)

I love these shopping streets. I actually hate shopping,
but these are pedestrian only and are great for people watching!

THE Cathedral:  Ulm Minster - It has the tallest church spires in Europe.

Fisherman's Quarter - I'm in love!

This is a mix of old and new.  Water and waterfalls.  Art and food.  I loved the watermill and how the houses were right on the water.  The next bend would bring more fun architecture and sculptures.

Reminds me of Venice!

This is a city wall that separates the houses from the
walk/bike path and the river.  It's up high and goes for a long way with beautiful sights on both sides!

I loved this candy striped house!

When I didn't think it would get any better, a the end of the wall, there is a flower garden!

I saw so many boats!  Rowing, canoeing, kayaking - you name it, it was floating down the river!

I live in Germany now. How strange!

On July 18, I got an unexpected letter from the International School of Ulm/Neu-Ulm asking me if I would be interested in applying to teach for them.  I would be teaching computer skills to middle and high school students (60%) and doing troubleshooting for teachers (40%).  I had a Skype interview the same day.  The 20th I had another interview from the lower school (elementary school) and then I got hired immediately. All this was taking place while I was in Pamplona, Spain in an English immersion program.  I flew home on the 25th of July and taught an engineering camp for North Carolina State University from the 27 - 31 of July and my mom and sister came to help me pack on the 1st of August.  So:
July 17:  Starting the English Immersion program in Pamplona, Spain with Vaughn Town.
July 18:  Got an e-mail inviting me to be interviewed.  Then had a Skype interview.
July 20:  2nd Skype interview and got offered a job.
July 25:  Flew home.
July 27 - 31:  Engineering Camp for NCSU.
Aug. 1:  I sell my car and Mom and Stacy come to help me pack.
Aug. 4:  Fiorella and Arisha come and help pack - who knew I could cram so much into a tiny space!
Aug. 6:  Get everything stamped to be official in Germany.  Thanks Kelly for the rides!
Aug. 7:  Leave for Germany.
Aug. 8:  Start living in Germany.

The school sent me a 5 choices of places to live.  I chose the one closest to the school.

The bed is a double, but the mattress is a futon mattress, so I may try
 to figure out a way to make it more comfortable.

Watch out for that door!  It locks behind you,
so make sure you always have your keys.  (I have a really nice landlord.)
The door is also see-through, so anyone can see anything that is going on in my apartment.

 This tub does have a shower curtain and a place to hang the sprayer, so I can have "normal" showers.

The roof isn't that bad. I can even have tall people over and they won't hit their heads!

There is an American sized fridge that is not shown!  Thank heaven I have a freezer and a big fridge!  I had to buy a microwave on day 1.  I can't imagine cooking in this heat!

This is all I brought.  It was a pain to put it on the train, but I survived!  

Thanks to some really nice German people!

Cool things I have noticed:  

1.  The train station had a conveyor belt for suitcases.  I was worried about having to carry all my luggage up stairs.  Nope, just put it on the conveyor belt and it climbs the stairs beside you.  

2.  My principal spent hours with me driving me here and there for food, a fan, and a microwave.  Thank heaven on the way to get the fan, I saw a hair dryer!  I almost forgot to buy one!!!!  Averted Tragedy!  My principal lives really close to me and he showed me how I could get everything I needed without going to an actual grocery store.  He took me into a store that sold drinks - I assumed only alcohol, but surprisingly, it also sold juice and soda - woo hoo!  There is a bakery almost across the street from my apartment - woo hoo!!!

3.  My landlord is the sweetest man!  He had me come into his apartment downstairs and introduced me to his wife who gave me water and tried to make me feel comfortable when I was locked out.  (Luckily when he realized he had been trying the outside door instead of the apartment key, it opened quickly.)  I really just wanted to cry because I was sleeping when he woke me up to give me the outside door key and that's when the door shut behind me.  I just wanted sleep.  He later came up and helped me get wifi and tried to fix my TV.  I'm not sure why he is trying to fix my TV.  I'm sure it's all in German and I probably will choose to watch streaming TV on my computer instead.  I tried to tell him, by using google translate, but he wants to fix it for me.  Sweet man!

4.  My fan.  The heat isn't bad when I have the fan blasting on me.  It's only 1/2 way put together because it's in German.  I didn't actually use any screws - couldn't figure out where they went.  But the fan is working and I'm cool, so good enough.