Returning to all things student-like

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the planet, but I have found my way back to Newcastle for my final year of studying. After Germany I spent four fabulous months in Benin, West Africa, practicing my French. I had a really great time there, improving not only my French, but my knowledge of all things American. Although, I feel I still have a way to go! So now I'm back in Newcastle. And how is it? Well, I have the craziest timetable ever, and so much work you can't imagine, but it's fun to be back, to see all my lovely friends and catch up on all I've missed in the past year. My house is MAD - I live with 3 of my friends from the Christian Union and all we've done since arriving is laugh! We're having lots of fun! It's been great getting back to CU, although I feel decidedly past it, and they're doing really excellent things this year, so I'm excited. Ok, I've run out of positive adjectives so I'm gonna stop.
Here's some photos of my crazy, but lovely housemates:

Here we are in our snazzy African-print-and-made-by-Hermine PJs.

Matt and Sim lovingly reassembling my desk for me, while Lisa (Sim's fiancee) looks on and Jada (Lisa's daughter) helps!

Katie and I are so street!

Matt and Sim's birthdays were in the summer so here we are celebrating their official birthday. Well, if the Queen can have two.....

We bought Sim a yellow mini money box cos he's got to save for his wedding, and we bought the two of them NYPD T-shirts (as modelled by Matt in the background).

For those who want to speak proper like

The lovely Katie emailed me the following link:
http://www.speaknorniron.8m.net/index.htm
It seriously brightened my day and had me giggling away in the corner of the computer room. I think you'll all appreciate it!
I also think this shows that Katie is slowly coming round to the ways of the Northern Irish - in no time she'll be facing facts and admitting that CS Lewis is from Ireland, and in particular from Belfast!

Here, as promised, are some pretty skiing pics:



The little cabin on the right is where we had our lunch - it was really cute!

Happy February!

May I wish you all a hearty welcome into what, I think you'll agree, is the most wonderfulest of months, and remind you that the most wonderfulest day in this Month of the Year takes place in exactly 3 weeks from today! But I'm sure you all are completely clued in (about this at least) so in the immortal words of Forrest Gump, that's all I have to say about that :) (for now).

Weekend activities

A couple of weekends ago all of the Newcastle language students who are on their year abroad in Germany met up for a weekend in the lovely city of Bamberg in Bavaria. Quite handy for me as it's only 3 hours away from here but not so for those in the north, some of whom travelled 6-8 hours to get there! We had a great time and it was fun catching up with everyone. This year has been really good at helping me get to know the other people on my course :)


Last weekend I went skiing with one of the teachers from school and her husband, and it was FAB! We went cross-country skiing which, at first, I was a bit bummed about cos I really wanted to try downhill but we had so much fun! We went to a place called Schöneck which translates as Beautiful Corner, and it really was! It was so stunning, like a winter wonderland! (pictures to follow next post) I managed to only fall twice - a case of crossed skies on both occasions - but i thought that was ok for a first attempt! And I learnt a new word, Muskelkater, cos I was seriously suffering from it the following day! (translation: aches and pains in the muscles!)

On Saturday we had an open day here at school for both primary school pupils and families of existing pupils to come and look around. It was a bit manic! I was dancing with the dance group (country and western style, complete with hats), and my 10th graders from the english club did an english play, and they were great!

Christmas continues

Christmas has been and gone, New Year has done likewise, and it's been a week since I arrived back in Glauchau. I had such a fab at home over the holidays and it was weird to be back in Germany at first, but now it feels like I've been here forever! Last week I taught a lesson on Ireland to a class I'd never met before and this week I'm teaching them Irish Dancing! and yes, this class does incluude 10 15 year old boys - watch this space! On Sunday I went with Frau Stoll and her family to Seiffen, which is the cutest town I've seen! It's in the mountains and is really famous for Christmassy things! A lot of decorations are made there, and during Advent it has a popular Christmas market. We had such a nice afternoon but the best bit was when it was getting dark, all the lights in the town came on, all the Christmas decorations were still up and there was a whole lot of snow on the ground - it was so pretty!
Actually, the Christmas decorations here in Glauchau are only just being taken down today, and some houses near me still have theirs up! Christmas lasts a long time here! I don't think i put it in the last post but if you ask a German what date Christmas is on they'll say 24th December as they celebrate it on our Christmas Eve! I didn't know that before but they get to open their presents a day before us!