A fortnight of journal entries
It's been a hot minute since I have given a so-long-fare-wellness check. Here is what I have been doing for two weeks since the last post! (I know that it has been more than two weeks but too bad, you'll only get a fornight of my records for now).
Monday, September 19
Of all the things I imagined going wrong on my first official day as an English Teaching Assistant (nothing to do, getting lost, expected to work full time) I didn’t expect I’d show up at the wrong school entirely. As it turns out, my contract should’ve stated Kurt Tucholsky Oberschule (high school) not Grundschule (elementary school). I realized this when the office staff at the elementary school told me that the building and teacher I was looking for did not exist and they have never heard of Fulbright.
At this point, I had no way to contact my teacher or any idea how to get to the school, so I prioritized purchasing a SIM card so I could message people with international data. (I had screenshotted places nearby because I already planned this errand). Once I was able to message my teacher, it turned out that she was also not at school that day, but could meet me with the other coordinating English teacher the next day.
Other challenges I faced this day included: pouring rain and no umbrella, failed attempt to go to the bank, and a failed attempt to schedule an in hindsight unnecessary doctor’s visit with the health care hotline. On the bright side, the high school is closer to where I will live.
Tuesday, September 20
I met my assigned mentor teacher and not the one I had been mailing today. She is an older woman who seems formal but is very chill. She also introduced me to another English teacher who was (praise) Black and assured me there was no racism at the school. Great, of course, I said.
I hadn’t planned anything after that 45 minutes. Alexanderplatz seemed to be hosting some Oktoberfest celebration, so I snagged my glass of overpriced beer and bratwurst before it started to rain aggressively. When it cleared, I successfully visited the bank, deposited money into my account, and paid my security deposit.
 |
| At Alexanderplatz, a few minutes before it started raining. |
Wednesday, September 21
I had a pleasant time in my first classroom today, where my mentor teacher asked me to speak about Martin Luther King and African American Vernacular English for the class, which was for me easy. The reading was a little dicey in some areas… (The main speaker is a black teenager who says he never really cared about police violence until he was falsely arrested, because he thought having good grades and not appearing like those “thuggish” black dudes exempted him from the possibility of racial discrimination —like hmmm let’s unpack that.) But alas, I left it unpacked, besides in conversations with the (attractive?) teaching intern sitting next to me.
Itchy to accomplish something with the rest of my day, I visited three graveyards, noting the relative bonuses and shortcomings of each. Early on I wondered, “if only I could bring my sketch pad and things to draw and paint,” but then I realized I had a notebook and mechanical pencil on me. And just like that, the graveyards of Berlin reinvigorated my forgotten quest to invest in my art skills.
Then I continued walking for several hours and climbed to the top of the Siegesaüle (victory column), where I viewed the whole city at golden hour’s peak.
Thursday, September 22
In all the classes today, the teachers had the students ask me questions in English. I was so eager, I fear all my answers were too much unfiltered Camille. Here are couple of examples but not too many because I’ll cringe:
"What is your favorite food?" "I don't really have one favorite, but here are three of my favorite dishes from three of my favorite cuisines."
"What happened with abortion in the U.S? "So, in the U.S. the Supreme Court decides if our constitution allows something and in that way creates new federal policy..."
As the students asked if I was alone and talked about their main hobbies such as hanging out with friends, I realized I was indeed alone and needed friends.
I then finally noticed that there was another Berlin group chat just for ETAs, right in the middle of them planning some hangouts. I asked where people were meeting but alas, no reply! Maybe next time I said, irrationally uncertain about the next time. And then I cried! And then I got Burger King! And then I went to sleep!
Friday, September 23
Today I proactively committed to meeting people and doing things the next week. Naturally, I Googled “How to make friends in Berlin.” The first fruitful idea was downloading the app Meetup, which is somewhere between Facebook Events and Facebook Groups. The other was a volunteering app called Vostel app, on which I signed up to help serve free dinner at a hotel catering to refugees that very night.
Despite the exorbitant time I spent finding possible places to go solo clubbing or see a comedy show alone — truly futile ideas — I wrapped up the evening with a brisk walk and a stop at the grocery store. I stumbled upon a pleasant electro street music concert, which I mini-danced to until the order police showed up.
Saturday, September 24
Three notable things occurred:
- I learned the Shut Down dance by Blackpink at a Kpop dance class.
- I had a virtual book club meeting with my college besties/housemates SHOUT OUT ALL OF YOU.
- I met up with some more ETA Fulbright folks, some old faces some new, at a bar near the city center.
Sunday, September 25
I finally found a church to attend and it was great! #Answeredprayer. Mosaik Church appealed to me when I was looking online because it looked really diverse, youthful, and not traditional. An English service that didn't start until noon was the icing on the cake. After service, I tagged along with some of the girls I just met for lunch, where I had the sauciest chicken pita ever (peanut sauce + spicy sauce + garlic sauce = mind blown). Then I headed to the big Flohmarkt (flea market), where I purchased cute jewelry, some fries, and a beer -- all the essentials.
Vietnamese food and ice cream with some more Fulbright homies topped off a perfect day.
Monday, September 26
After a couple classes, I strolled to Friedhof (cemetery) Pankow III, which was really beautiful and cool. Pankow is the neighborhood where I teach.
Tuesday, September 27
Since the main thing I did today was going to class, I'll use this space to say that all the students are nice and friendly and we smile and wave at each other in the schoolyard. I have mostly been in 10th and 11th-grade English classes, but also the occasional ninth-grade class, which is much rowdier.
During class, I'll follow along with the lesson, and maybe walk around as they have might have questions or get stuck on different parts of written work. I'll also participate as a speaking partner.
Wednesday, September, 28
Word in the ETA Fulbright group chat is that various secondhand stores sold Trachten (the dirndl and lederhosen and such), so I thought I would visit some today. I ended up spending the afternoon visiting thrift stores and other shops on a stretch of road. Because thrift stores generally overwhelm me, I did not find anything at one of them but instead bought a turtleneck and jeans from a sustainable boutique.
In the evening, I visited went to a class where you learn German through theater/improvisational games. (I found it through the Meetup app). I just love that I found something I would theoretically do in English, but specifically targeted at intermediate-advanced German speakers. It was edifying, fun, and challenging all at the same time. Afterward, I treated myself to some Korean fried chicken, miso soup, and a gin and tonic.
The miso soup, gin and tonic and Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky. It only took four months to finish this book.
Thursday, September 29
I met with even more Fulbright ETAs to go on a walk and meet at the Siegesaule. Since I'd already been up to the top and did not want to pay the fee again, I stayed outside and chatted with some folks and Lola, the very nearsighted chihuahua.
Friday, September 30
It happened: I was fined by the transit police. I could have rushed off at Alexanderplatz before the officer came over, but I was so sure that the 7-day ticket I bought the previous Friday night would be active until at least the same time that evening. But alas, it expired on Thursday 11:59 pm! I could tell the BVG officer wanted to give me the benefit of the doubt, as he explained my options to contest the ticket in the most sympathetic Denglisch ever spoken. However, once I gave him my information and address, there was nothing more I could do.
To cheer myself up, I visited a large cemetery on the north side of town. My favorite part was the long stretch of overgrown forest and unstable gravestones. I ended the night by packing up all my stuff for the big move to my new apartment the next day.
Saturday, October 1
After two hours of repacking, back-sweating and step-retracing, I found my wallet under the sofa. I almost checked out without it, placing blind faith in the cleaning person -- until I realized I needed to pay the remaining hotel bill. Since my move-in wasn't until 4 pm, I went to a coffee shop and started writing THIS BLOG POST on my phone. (Most cafes in this country regrettably lack outlets, otherwise, I would have used my computers). Move-in went smooth, except for the part where I dragged five super heavy suitcases up four floors. I met one of three of my housemates, and besides being the same age as me, she is also super nice and cool.
Trying to buy Korean BBQ, I stupidly kept typing in the wrong pin for my debit card and then the ATM ate it. After calling the atm hotline and Deutsche Bank, it was determined that I need to order a new debit card. I would have to wait until Tuesday though since Monday is the Day of German Unity/ Tag der Deutschen Einheit.
Sunday, October 2
Church today was in someone's home, which I loved. Not just because of the free food, (which I realized upon arrival I was supposed to contribute to), but because it was of the cozy environment, the mixing and the mingling, the small talk, the deep conversations, the children keeping each other company, etc. This was the third time this year I've heard a sermon on the parable of the sower, and honestly, it still hit. I am every soil; we can all be every soil.
Comments
Post a Comment