My happiest memory is when I got my tickets to Germany. I had thought about moving to Germany and becoming an expat for a very long time, but when I finally decided to do it, it was like having little fireworks go off in my heart. It was wonderful. Then came all of the planning, emptying an apartment, including all of those non-perishable things in the pantry and trying to decide what to stuff in my suitcase and bring with me and what could survive a few years in storage. This all sounds rather simple, but once you're neck deep in a lifetime of memories, it's just not that simple. That's one thing in itself, making all of the decisions that land you in a foreign country, but I think the most difficult part of the whole thing is saying good-bye to the ones you love and the surprising thing is that the people you think mean the most to you, won't be there a year after you leave, but the people who you really didn't think about or care for, will be the ones to lend a hand after you've left and need to tie up a few loose ends. They're the ones who will lend a listening ear and Skype with you in the middle of the night, when they have to work the next day.
When you leave your comfort zone and move to a country with a language other than your own, you will be challenge beyond your wildest imagination. Everything you think will be easy will become your worst nightmare. When you move you'll need to invest in Kleenex, or whatever brand of tissues are popular in your new country because you'll buy enough of them to make the investment a smart decision. Also, don't fool yourself into thinking that moving to Europe will be easy because the people are also 'westerners'. Yes, women are free to do as they choose, sex isn't taboo, smoking is normal and people generally share the same customs as Americans, but there are so many little cultural differences that it will make you sprout gray hair in no time. The little innuendoes that you totally won't get will embarrass you to no end and you'll need to excuse yourself and pull out your Kleenex. Don't worry though, within a year or two you'll start to feel at home, make friends with the locals and share national holidays and events that don't make sense in the States. Oh, did I mention enjoy your four weeks of vacation per year?
My happiest moments, after moving to Germany, are too many to count. I have found my second home here and would be devastated if I had to leave. It's still difficult sometimes dealing with government agencies and the occasional hater, but all in all, I wouldn't trade it for anything. So if you're sitting on the fence about making the leap across the pond I can only tell you to do it. Yes, there'll be days that you'll regret it, but in the long run, it will change your life forever and it doesn't matter if it's only for a year or even six months. If you have the chance, take it.
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Education
A post from a professor of German on FB started a long thread of condolences and comments about kids today who think they don't have to do anything and should be given everything. It started because a student didn't do an assignment and wanted an extension on the deadline. He told her that she knew in advance the assignment was due on a specific day and she didn't do it, so the answer was no, she couldn't have an extension. Her response was typical for someone in their twenties who has never been forced to do anything they didn't want to do. She complained about having to learn a foreign language, even though she has no need for it and that it was only a check beside a long list of classes she has to take that won't help her in her major or future. Her point was that the professor should give her a passing grade so she could go on with her life.
My question is what happened to her in her childhood to make her think that anyone should give her anything? Does the world owe her something simply because she was born? She most likely thinks she's privileged because she was born in the United States of America and doesn't need to do anything to earn a living or her place in society. The Mobile County School System is only exacerbating the problem by passing new guidelines instructing teachers that they must give extensions to students for their assignments if they don't meet the deadline. What do they think they are teaching the children? If you don't have time to do your homework, it's okay, you can do it later. You know, after you get finished watching all of your fave t.v. shows and facebooking all your friends and stuff. Like whenever you get the chance. K. What kind of education is that? What kind of adults will they be? Can our society survive with people who have this kind of mindset? My thoughts on that are: 1) That's not an education. 2) They will expect deadline to be extended regardless of the circumstances. 3) Our society can't survive with people thinking that way. Seriously. Go to a third world country and live for a while, maybe then you'll see that life isn't all about what you want when you want it. Make a contribution first and then maybe you'll have the right to ask for an extension on a deadline when you've just had surgery and need a few days to recover, or one of your parents die, or your child was just diagnosed with cancer.
My question is what happened to her in her childhood to make her think that anyone should give her anything? Does the world owe her something simply because she was born? She most likely thinks she's privileged because she was born in the United States of America and doesn't need to do anything to earn a living or her place in society. The Mobile County School System is only exacerbating the problem by passing new guidelines instructing teachers that they must give extensions to students for their assignments if they don't meet the deadline. What do they think they are teaching the children? If you don't have time to do your homework, it's okay, you can do it later. You know, after you get finished watching all of your fave t.v. shows and facebooking all your friends and stuff. Like whenever you get the chance. K. What kind of education is that? What kind of adults will they be? Can our society survive with people who have this kind of mindset? My thoughts on that are: 1) That's not an education. 2) They will expect deadline to be extended regardless of the circumstances. 3) Our society can't survive with people thinking that way. Seriously. Go to a third world country and live for a while, maybe then you'll see that life isn't all about what you want when you want it. Make a contribution first and then maybe you'll have the right to ask for an extension on a deadline when you've just had surgery and need a few days to recover, or one of your parents die, or your child was just diagnosed with cancer.
Monday, March 3, 2014
Dr. Seuss
Growing up, Dr. Seuss was one of my favorite author's. I loved all of his stories that made me laugh and taught me about life. My father read Mark Twain to me along with other great authors and I loved to read Charlotte Bronte and other classics, but Dr. Seuss made me laugh. His books were so much fun and so colorful that I can't imagine a child not loving his stories and illustrations. His birthday was March 2nd and even though he passed away in 1991 I will always celebrate his birthday with a little story and a project to teach my students about him and his wonderful stories that moved (now) three generations.
Because it's the week of his birthday and I want my students to learn about him and his stories I've been searching the internet for whatever projects and lesson plans I can find which are Dr. Seuss themed. I found a lot and I'm happy that there's so much out there. One disappointing thing I found though, was a short film that he narrated for the U.S. Army in 1945. The link to it is here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OUR5uvs9aw
I know the world was a different place during that time and what was said in the film is true, Germany started three major conflicts in it's short history, but I'm shocked to see a figure that I thought was open to new ideas and so optimistic write such propaganda. Watch the film yourself and make your own judgments. I must say although I'm disappointed to know he was involved in such things when he was young, it won't diminish my love for his stories and cartoons. He moved me into believing that there's some good in all of us and we should strive to think of others and do the right thing each and every time. Thank you Dr. Seuss. I think you learned something in life, too.
Because it's the week of his birthday and I want my students to learn about him and his stories I've been searching the internet for whatever projects and lesson plans I can find which are Dr. Seuss themed. I found a lot and I'm happy that there's so much out there. One disappointing thing I found though, was a short film that he narrated for the U.S. Army in 1945. The link to it is here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OUR5uvs9aw
I know the world was a different place during that time and what was said in the film is true, Germany started three major conflicts in it's short history, but I'm shocked to see a figure that I thought was open to new ideas and so optimistic write such propaganda. Watch the film yourself and make your own judgments. I must say although I'm disappointed to know he was involved in such things when he was young, it won't diminish my love for his stories and cartoons. He moved me into believing that there's some good in all of us and we should strive to think of others and do the right thing each and every time. Thank you Dr. Seuss. I think you learned something in life, too.
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