Friday, the day we finally saw Bamberg

Friday, August 28, 2009, was a busy day. I got to school a little early and started really cleaning the classroom and organizing tons of stuff. At lunch time Delome my mentor teacher took us to the Health Food store so we could see what they had. Then we were back to work for a few more hours. By the time 3pm rolled around we still has tons to do but the classroom looked like it was just about ready for kids, so I said I would come in this weekend and finish everything up. And on that note we took off to tour the city of Bamberg.

My mentor teacher and her husband Helmut were going to be our tour guides. Delome and Helmut have been together for years. Delome originally came to Germany with the intentions of staying to teach on post for two years, but the she met Helmut a nice fun German man and it was love at first sight. Delome has stayed here ever since. This is her 37^th year here and at the Bamberg Elementary school. Helmut was raised in Bamberg and knows A LOT about this town. The two of them are artist and are very into art and the history of the artist. Please check out the pictures to see parts of our Bamberg tour. It was nice to finally get off post for more than 15 minutes, I feel in love with downtown Bamberg instantly it is a very beautiful area full of history. To end our lovely tour they took Cherise and I to their favorite café for Kookin (cake ) and cappuccinos, then they showed us where to catch the bus back to post and made sure to tell us exactly what bus to get on!

Back to post we went. We got back around 730ish then we stopped by the apartment to change and went back to the school. We were working in our classrooms until 1130pm it was a long day. Well that is what has been going on here! I hope you have enjoyed another wonderful blog. You guys can email me at Kylarae@gmail.com I would love to hear from everyone!

XOXO

First Few Days in Bamberg

The next day we walked all over post to get our errands done! We were so excited to finally get it done. When I say walked over I mean it. We walked from one side of post to the other and back and forth. This was the night that I finally slept, which was good considering that next morning was when I was meeting my mentor teacher for my first time!

The first day I met my teacher I was so excited and nervous! She is an older lady but full of spunk! She is originally from the Midwest but came to Germany to teach for two years, but she met the guy of her dreams and has been here ever since. She has been here for 37 years!

We got to the classroom and everything was in disarray, I was so worried. But, turns out that everything was completely disorganized because the whole school had new flooring put in. Not only was everything everywhere but everything was dusty and it was not going to be fun. My teacher and I hit it off and were excited to work together! We started the morning off with a staff meeting then we got to spend the day working in the classroom at least that was what we were supposed to do. Needless to say Deplume (my teacher) and I didn’t get very far because we spent most of the day chit chatting about school and anything else you could imagine. It was a long day and we were ready to come home.

Cerise’s teacher invited to take us to an expo in the gym and take us to run some errands, it was a nice break. Then we came back to the apartment and cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. This place is so disgusting it is finally starting to look nice, and I finally unpacked! YAH!!

Day two in the classroom: Today was the second day working with my lovely, high spirited mentor teacher. We met at the theater for a welcome meeting with the hig school and elementary. Lucky me won, one of the raffle prizes! It was a gorgeous painted bull! It was once we got to the school that we finally got some work one started to organize the classroom. We still have a lot of work to do, but I think we can get it done. I love the way Delome treats me she makes me feel like family, and is making sure that we are setting up the classroom to make it OURS! I just love it. I will be interacting and teaching the students starting on the first day I will only be doing one or two things with the kids! (I am a little nervous).

Before I forget, I got to get off post today, not just once but twice! At lunch time Delome drove me to the bank so I could see her amazing beautiful artwork and then we went off post to a Germany bakery! I was so yummy. It was after that we returned to work.

I stayed about an hour after my teacher today working on the classroom then I ran home for a few minutes, before going back to the school to meet Cherise’s mentor teacher Sandy. Sandy took us off post to where there was a gathering of the elementary, middle school and high school teachers. It was so fun we got to mingle with many of the teachers who are amazing and who we are making great connections with. We had a pork shoulder that was so tender it was great! Also, Sandy bought us a beer! And another teacher bought Cherise and I another one. I shared mine with the teacher’s wife. We are quickly finding out that the German beer is not like the American beer! WOWzers! You can have a huge buzz after just one beer. It is crazy, tonight was a great way to experience how beer affects you here!

Well it is about 11:15pm and we have to be at school at 7:45am for lots of meetings and somehow I have to have the classroom all ready for kids by 3 pm tomorrow! YIKES this will be difficult! On the Brightside, my mentor teacher and her husband is going to take Cherise and I around Bamberg tomorrow and give us the grand tour or Bamberg and show us how to use the bus system off post.

So far, I love it! I love my teacher energy and her creativity! I feel that I can learn a lot from her, at the same time I feel like I c and teacher her a lot about technology and organization. Delome does not currently have many things organized so that is what I am working on! Well so long for now! Miss you all xoxo!

Getting to Bamberg bfrom Frankfurt

Hello Friends and Family! Well a lot has happened since I last wrote. We have left Frankfurt and have made it to Bamberg. It was easy to hope on a train from Frankfurt to Bamberg. It took us about 2 hours the first part of the trip then we had to switch plans in Wurzburg. Then the next part of the trip took about an hour! One thing we learned was the trains are a great way of traveling but I do not suggest having a lot of luggage! It was a HUGE hassle to have our entire luggage! I look forward to experiencing the train again without so much stuff!

The train was the first somewhat relaxing experience and first thing that really started to look up for us, since the rest of our travel was a mess. We originally planned on and expected to be staying in a hotel in the center of Bamberg, because we were told we were not allowed to get on base until Wednesday, August 26^th. Luckily, Cherish’s teacher Sandy told us to call the school and inform them what time our train gets in. So we called the school and they told us someone would be there to pick us up! We were relieved, however we still did not know if we were going to get to stay on base in our apartment or not.

As we got off the train we were not sure how we were going to know who was picking us up. There was an n older gentleman that asked as we were walking out if we were students and we said yes! Turns out it was the schools new principals’ husband! He was very welcoming and helpful. He signed us on base and took us to the school, where we got to me the principal herself and the secretary who gave us all the paperwork. Then the principal’s nice husband was generous enough to drive us around base to all of these crazy places so we could get our ID card and privilege care. Unfortunately, we were only able to get our ID card that day because we needed a passport photo but the place that takes passport photos was closed until the next day at noon. So he should us EXACTLY where we needed to go the next day to get our privilege card and everything. After driving us all over him took us to our apartment and helped us carry our stuff to the 4^th floor! We were excited to finally make it!

QUICK UPDATE

Hey everyone! So it has been crazy here! And I have been writing and saving them on my computer. We have been so busy it the classroom its crazy and this is the first time we were able to make it to the library to get online. We should get our internet and phone on monday or tuesday and then all of the updated information will be posted! All I will say for now is that it is BEAUTIFUL here! I miss everyone very much! xoxo

Frankfurt

Well today we got up super early and then eventually had breakfast. We thought we were wide awake but a few hours later we were back in bed until about 1pm. We were concerned that our bags had not been delievered yet. We attempted to call the number that was on our baggage claim, unfortunately it was an automated recording and we had NO idea what was being said, so we decided to go to the lobby and ask the nice man at the front desk if he woulde call for us! At that point we found out our bags were in Frankfurt but were stuck in customes. It was at that point we decided to roam around Frankfurt.

This is the link to the pictures I took during our outing

Frankfurt

Pictuers of our Frist Class adventure

Finally Made IT

Well everyone we finally made it! It has been a long trip. We waited for the second flight in Toronto for 5 hours then they ignored us some more. Finally, when it looked like we were not going to get on that flight we went and talk to the one lady that was helpful and nice earlier in the day. She was shocked to see us and started taking things in to her own hands. After she left she told us another lady knew what was going on and was going to help us. Next thing we know we are booked on a flight to London, and then another flight out of London to Frankfurt.

We quickly ran to the gate to catch the flight to London, as soon as we get on the plane we realized they booked us first class! It was wonderful! We got a big dinner and free drinks and we were in our own little cubical type areas. The chairs reclined in many ways and even layed out completely flat. Lucky for us. We were able to get a few hours of sleep before getting woke up for breakfast before we landed. We started to feel better about our trip until we arrived in London.

As soon as we got to London, we folllowed all of the signs that lead us all over to the connecting flights it felt like we were on a maze. We got to the counter we were told to go to and then they sent us to another counter. And guess what they told us we had to go to another terminal and talk to air canada and get a boarding pass from them and then come back to that terminal. So we went back out of security went to the other terminal but got an escort through security then long story short we had to go back to the exact counter we came froml. Cherise and I were so tired of it all that when we finally got on the plane going to Frankfurt we were relived.

We were very happy to finally arrive in Frankfurt even though our bags did not make it. We hoped on a train to take us to our hotel after asking for help. Needlessn to say we got a littl mixed up and we got off the train WAY to EARLY and walked across Frankfurt with out Carry on Bags. As soon as we reached our hotel we both showered and then went out exploring for a little while. We ate pizza and our now back at our hotel.

Hope you guys enjoy reading about our long, crazy, tiring adventure. More to come!

Day of Traveling

Hey there,

Well to tell yah the truth it sucks right now!! We got up super early this morning to catch our 8am flight. When we got to the airport we found out it had been delayed3d an hour and a half. We decided that wasn't to bad because it just made our layover in Toronto shorter well, turns out luck was not in our favor. We arrived in Toronto 30 mins before our flight departed, so we ran through customs and made it to our gate before the final boarding call. We were relieved until they told us we need to talk to an agent. So we tried to talk to one of the six agents standing at the counter and everyone ignored us. We were getting concerned because they called two stand by passengers up and we weren't on the flight yet. Still no body would talk to us even though we were trying to get help. Finally, they said they would be with us in a moment, and we were like what our flight is about to leave. Well need less to say they wouldn't let us on the flight. We finally got one nice lady that told us it was because our bags wouldn't make the flight and we had to fly with our bags. So she told us they would get us a meal voucher.

We enjoyed a nice beer and our first and probably only real meal of the day. And now we continue to wait at the airport for our flight! The other sad part is they said we are only on the standby list and the flight is over sold, wish us luck.

Miss you all already! We are scheduled to arrive in Frankfurt around 12, which is perfect time to check in to our hotel, change and start exploring! Until next time!

xoxo

Getting Ready to Leave

I leave in 5 days! Aaahhh!! I am so excited and nervous! I just wanna see everyone one last time before I leave but I am running out of time at a fast rate! I decided that I need to start packing. and getting things organized to leave. I will be traveling with Cherise one of my classmates from WSU. She will be in a 1st grade classroom at the Garrison base in Bamberg Germany with me. I will be in a 2nd grade classroom. We will be living in an apartment on base. Our apartment is within walking distance to the elementary school. I will post pictures as soon as I can. We will not be getting on base until the 26th.

We will be flying in to Frankfurt, where we will be staying for two days. We figure it is a great opportunity to get acquainted with the German culture and start sightseeing. We will then hop a train to Bamberg where we will stay in a hotel for two days and get to know the area where we will spend most of our time. I After the two days we will be able to get on base and move in to our apartment!

I am sorry that I am not going to be able to see everyone one last time before I go but keep checking my blog for updates! I will post new information and pictures as soon as I get there and get some time! Remember, I would love to keep in touch with everyone so email me!

I will miss you all, but I am excited for this new experience and plan to travel as much as possible! I love you all!