Orientation was, well... just ok. After much anticipation due to boredom, it really didn't live up to expectations. But, because this is my blog about "Fulbright Experiences," I'll detail the entire event just for you:
On Monday morning I helped Sally move into her new apartment. After that, we decided to go out for a late breakfast/early lunch before catching our train at 1:30. We had a nice meal at a cute cafe. At around 12:00 we asked to pay so there would be plenty of time for us to go to my apartment to pick up our bags and get to the train station. The waitress did not come back to our table until almost 12:45. We rushed to my apartment, grabbed our bags, and practically sprinted to the train station. After a few illegal and near-miss cross walks along the way, we barley caught our train before it left the station. Sally and I found our reserved seats and sat down to enjoy the relaxing two-hour journey along the picturesque Rhein river.
At 2:45 we stop at the Bonn station, about 15 minutes from Köln (Cologne), our desired location. The train conductor announces that the train in front of us is stuck and our train will be stopped for an "undetermined amount of time." Then less than a minute later, they announce that all riders going to Köln should take the subway, a hour ride. Sally and I are supposed to meet the Fulbright bus in Köln at 3:30. Our Welcome Packet warned that missing the bus would bring a 100 Euro taxi trip to the orientation site. I had 5 Euro in my wallet. Major panic sets in about... now.
We took the subway to Köln, which took an hour and a half, because the subway was so overcrowded the doors could not close. Then we called the orientation site - at this point an hour late - to get more information. They told us to take another train to Bergisch Gladbach, then take a taxi. There were supposedly more people that missed the train, so we should look for them to share a taxi. Sally and I rode out to the small town and looked for people that looked like Americans when we got off. No one. We started in the direction of the taxis and saw two girls with suitcases. It was decided then that they had to be Fulbrighters so we ran at them - frantically - and upon approach to their taxi, I practically screamed at them "Sind Sie mit dem Fulbright Program?" One girl gave me a weird look and replied, "You're Fulbrighters?" Jubilation. "We are sharing your taxi." I handed our taxi driver the address and we were off.
We arrived to the orientation site, Altenberg, with a 20 Euro taxi fare, then split four ways. So much for 100 Euro. We then awkwardly walked into the Welcome Session, got our rooms and went to dinner. More boring welcomes and information. On Tuesday, we divided up into our state groups to meet people in our area. Our group consisted of Rhineland-Pfalz (where I live) and Saarland, because Saarland only has three assistants. I was shocked to discover that there are 11 people in the general Mainz region: seven teaching in Mainz (plus me living there), two teaching in Ingelheim, and two teaching in Bingen. The only other person in Rhineland-Pfalz is teaching in Ludwigshafen, where the Fulbrighter from Hendrix last year, Jessica, taught. Everyone in the group is so nice, welcoming, and fun!
Then we divided again into work groups. Most of the people in my work group were from my state. We divided into even smaller groups to prepare a lesson that we would teach to the rest of the class. Each small group chose a level of instruction, ranging from grade school (3rd - 5th grade) to top levels (11th-13th grade). My group chose the top level and we began to work on a lesson stereotypes. We were almost finished and our mentor told us that our presentation was too easy for our group. We then redid our entire lesson and presented to the class, "Gender Rolls and the Media." It interesting, mostly. It was difficult to divide a 40 minute lesson among four people and to prepare a good lesson in one afternoon with almost no resources.
Overall, I felt that I really did not learn much about teaching techniques and the information presented about living in Germany and dealing with German bureaucracy I already knew from living in Bielefeld. Truthfully the only practical thing I got from the entire week was meeting everyone from Mainz. We became pretty fast friends, being cooped up in the same classroom all day all week, so we have agreed upon regular dinner meetings, at least twice a month, during our time here. It is so nice having friends here that understand what you are going though, without having to explain anything. We want to share stories (good and bad), lesson plans, and good ol' American companionship while we are here. I am so thankful for this comfort and piece of home.
The trip back was smooth sailing. On Friday, I went to school in Ingelheim for the first time! I managed to find my school, and after making three laps around the grounds, I managed to find an entrance. I made my way to the secretary's office, where my teacher was waiting for me. We both realized that we had not set an actual meeting place, and we both had hoped that we would end up finding the other through the secretary. After I filled out a ton of paperwork, my sponsoring teacher showed me my mailbox and my very own chair in the teacher's lounge. I met the principle, who was a Fulbrigher in Kansas City, and we chatted a bit about my interests and what I want to do while I am here. He was supposed to introduce me to the entire staff, but he had a meeting. My teacher then gave me schedule and the textbooks used in the classes. I will be assisting with six 8th grade classes, three 9th grade, two 11th grade, and one 6th grade class. The 6th grade class is an accelerated class that is preparing for bi-lingual classes in the 7th grade. 8th graders learn about the United States all year, which is why I'll primarily help them. One of the longer units they will eventually cover is about Hermann, Missouri! And there is a section about building the Arch. I am pretty excited (and the teachers, too) that I know a lot about the topics to be covered.
After that I came back to Mainz and met up with Sally and Liz. We went for dinner at a restaurant called Augustiner's Keller, that serves traditional German food. Then we walked around a bit, had ice cream, and made plans for Saturday. On Saturday, we met around 11:30 and walked around the market a bit to find lunch. Sally and I got some sort of wurst and bread and Liz found some fruit. Afterward, we happened to run into Ashely and had ice cream. Sally, Liz and I stopped at the grocery store to pick up frozen pizza and beer (the finest delicacies Germany has to offer), then ventured back to Sally's apartment to hang out. We chatted, ate, played Phase10, and enjoyed the night.
On Sunday there was a bike market, and a bunch of Fulbrighters planned to meet there to buy bikes and then go somewhere for lunch after. Only Sally, Liz, John, and I actually showed up (not that anyone else RSVPed to go). They all got bikes, and I cannot ride a bike and supposedly already have one from the girl I'm renting from, so we all left satisfied. Mostly. I saw a really cute, small pink bike (which I was assured was NOT a child's bike) for 35 Euro, a real steal. I contemplated and decided that I needed that bike to learn how to ride a bike this year. Everything about this bike was like it was made for me. I rode back to the Hauptbahnhof, withdrew money, and ran back to the bus, barely making it in time (there are less buses running on Sunday, so you better make the bus or wait a loooong time for the next). When I got back to the bike market, the vender with the pink bike only had that one left. He was delighted to sell it to me (of course, who else wants a small, pink bike?) and tinkered with the seat until it was the "perfect fit." I am so tickled. I have a bike! That I bought by myself!
I took my bike home and met up with the others down town to find food. There was a festival showcasing foreign clubs offered in Mainz and all of them were offering food - a lot of food. And dancing - including little kids dancing in Taekwondo outfits with sticks. Too cute. I ate some sort of Portuguese stuffed meat bread thing and we found glasses to return for money (I love Pfand!). Then we decided we had enough of crowds and wanted to try a local TexMex restaurant for drinks and maybe food.
We found the place and it was covered in Americans, mostly from the military base in Wiesbaden. I'm guessing this is because it is Sunday, and this is one of the few restaurants open on Sundays, and one of the few restaurants in the area that's main menu is in English, with a mini German version. The four of us ordered drinks and a round of "Fire Water." That was an experience I don't think I'll ever forget and I don't want to share here. I'll simply offer the advice to not order the "chef's special drink" when the chef is from Mexico. The four of us sure had a good laugh.
I am so happy that I have already made such good friends in such a short time. I also look forward to Uni starting soon, so I can meet more German students as well. Despite the amount of English that I am using, I already feel that I am back in the rhythm of using German. I hope this smooth sailing continues!
lg, Lauren
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