Hi All,
The summer course was absolutely amazing, something that I have never experienced before. Think summer camp for German language students, but with better accommodations, amazing Professors, fun activities, and freedom.
On the first day of classes we all met in the same room for the placement exam. I arrived early, and, seeing as we had 10 minutes to go, I felt stupid sitting alone. So I turned to the girl behind me and asked if I could sit with her. The rest is history. Tanja, a 20-year-old from Russia and I ended up in the same class. We also, coinicdentally, lived in the same building, despite the fact that the 180 students in the program were spread out throughout the city. Another friendship that was meant to be.
I can't tell you how amazing it was to be around students from all over the world who have the same interests as me. They love German music, food, culture...It was so easy to make friends and start up conversations. There wasn't that "Why are you studying German?" question, the one I get back home.
During the day, we had 3 hours of class with a half an hour break after the first 1 1/2 hour segment. After a 1 1/2 hour break for lunch, during which Tanja and I would go shopping and end up a few minutes late to the last half of the day, we ended the academic part of the day in tutorium, where our student teacher would lead us in fun activities, some of the most memorable being Jeapardy, a game that the Icelandic couple were amazing at, and Taboo in German.
The evenings included lectures that were not required, but were well-attended. I attended what was most interesting to me, including: German Music, German for Native Speakers of English, Germany after the Fall of the Wall, Studying in Germany, German Pronunciation, etc. These were 1 1/2 lectures lead by professors that had been invited by the program.
There were also field trips. I participated in a hike to a local Closter and in our class trip to the Ritter Sport Museum & also to the Alltagsmuseum (like a mini Henry Ford Museum). The Alltagsmuseum was having an apron exhibit. It was really cool to see aprons throughout the ages. They even displayed one for children from the late 30s that had "Heil Hitler" on it. It is a part of history, and we need to be reminded of that. Although history is repeating itself. War in Iraq? But I digress...
In the evenings there was always something to do. I was able to go to the local beer garden overlooking the Neckar river with friends and drink wine mixed with soda water, or beer mixed with lemonade. I saw Toy Story 3d, went to a local disco, drank wine on the church steps. I drank cocktails during happy hour with Angi or with Tanja, I ate at cafes, ate ice cream on the bank overlooking the Neckar, I walked along cobblestone streets and bought postcards to send back home. Just.plain.amazing.
In addition to all of these things I participated in the Summer Choir, which was really fun. I was able to combine my 2 loves: German and Singing! We met once a week for a couple of hours and sang, and then performed at our Summer Course party the week before the course ended.
Oh yes, the Summer Course Party. There was a huge raffle, and I won a scholarship to attend the Summer Course next year! I am so thankful, so excited. I don't know if I'll ever want to leave here. I really do hope I can live in Germany!!!!
On Friday, August 28, my class met for breakfast to mark the end of the summer course. In the afternoon, after having packed up my things, all 180 students met in one room for the goodbye speeches, after which we all received a balloon and an address card. We were to write our addresses on the cards and attach them to the balloons, and then we all walked out into the field and let them all go at the same time. I was nervous at the beginning of this experience. I needn't have been. I loved it. It was magical, a dream world where all of the people around me share my interests in German, travel, and a love of culture.
<3 Molly
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