packing problems.

Two weeks to go- and so much to do!!!!

I have a ridiculous amount of people to see before I leave, and on top of that, I have to complete all of my paperwork as well as deciding how on earth I can fit my entire life into a suitcase.

One. Single. 20kg. Suitcase.

HOW??

Somehow, over my 20 years on this planet I have managed to accumulate an ENORMOUS amount of stuff. Clothing, shoes, bags, stationary, accessories/hair/makeup products, posters, books, dvds, CDs, dressing gowns, onesie (just one, so far!), mugs, electronic-y stuff (yes that's a techincal term), musical instruments, cooking utensils... the list goes on and on, and it is really making me think: how much of this stuff do I actually need? 


Perhaps at the end of this year I will have a better grasp of what things are actually vital to my existence, and what are mere luxuries which I can afford to live without.

Or perhaps I'm just going to return with a collection of even more random paraphernalia from Germany- Beer tankards, Glühwein mugs, hats, keyrings, fridge magnets, flags, t-shirts... 

Who knows??

Black music, Ballroom dancing and the Beautiful summer skies.

T minus 63 days... it's getting closer!

However, this weekend I've had a lot more than just my year abroad on my mind.

First, there was the birthday meal for one of my friends and fellow salsa-addicts. We went to a Marco Polo (on Grey Street) and had a good few laughs, as well as some delicious Italian food, followed by salsa dancing and shimmying in Vineyard bar until the early hours. Standard.

Saturday morning I met up with a very close friend of mine for brunch, and we spent hours and hours just chatting and drinking tea. There's virtually nothing I enjoy more than that. I also discovered what a 'Stottie' is (for those who aren't from this part of the world, a Stottie is a delicious Geordie version of a bread bun absolutely packed with fillings- mine had a full English breakfast in it. Complete with black pudding!). 

Then there was the black music conference. The whole of Saturday afternoon in a lecture theatre watching 19 presentations, one after the other, and all on various topics under the umbrella of 'Black Music'. From Beyoncé to the Lion King- and everything inbetween! My brain definitely hurt after that one, but I had no time to stop... 

... I went straight from there to the Latin and Ballroom society's "Summer Ball" (or "Summer Saturday Salsa Shimmyfest" as I like to call it). What a fun evening that was- takeaway pizzas (long story... the caterers didn't turn up), champagne, line-ups and even more dancing. For the second night in a row, I didn't get to bed before 2:30am- and I certainly knew about it the next day!

I had extra coffee before church, and even surprised myself by being there on time (!). It was a great time of singing, prayer and teaching, and I certainly gained a lot by being there, despite having to fight to stay awake.

Following church, a group of us wandered down to Quayside (a really iconic, pretty part of Newcastle along the bank of the river Tyne- google it!) for the Sunday market and to see what we could see. 

What a gorgeous afternoon it turned out to be! Bright sunshine, blue skies, contemporary art, a live jazz band, hog roast lunch (with applesauce AND gravy!) and hours of entertainment from watching a man in sandals standing on what looked like a surfboard, paddling painfully slowly up-river.
You never know what to expect in this city!

I guess, reflecting back on this weekend, seeing everything that I've got up to makes me truly grateful to call Newcastle my second home, and also to be called a child of God. Simply knowing that no matter how busy our schedules are, God can always find time for us if we find time to seek him. He loves to listen to us, and (this is the truly exciting part) to respond to us in return. Amazing.

Alles liebe,

Louise :) x

T- 76 days

I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
I know I haven't posted in AGES but there really wasn't much to say.
So sorry. Again. And sorry for saying sorry too many times. I'll stop now.

So I thought I'd give you all a bit of a heads up as to where I'm at with Year Abroad planning.
I am currently 2 1/2 months away from leaving for Germany, and it's all starting to become very real.

I have sorted the nightmare of contracts now (finally! Phew) and am in the processes of finding a place to stay. 

Funnily enough, as I walked down Northumberland Street (the main shopping street in Newcastle) this afternoon, I randomly bumped into a good friend from both my old church and salsa, who very kindly gave me contacts in Berlin from Church plants and a charity called Agapé- so we shall see! I'm confident that there will be somewhere for me to stay whilst I'm out there, it's just finding it that's proving to be problematic.

Bumping into her made me really grateful for the wonderful group of awesome friends that I have been given. It's a bizarre concept, thinking of them all back here, continuing their uni lives without me. I guess that's normal though, and most of them will still be here when I come back anyway so I really have nothing to worry about!! Thank goodness for technology as well... not sure what I'd do without the possibility of skype or facebook chats!

I made some objectives today, so I thought I might share them on here so that those who are interested can check up on how I'm progressing over the year:

My goals are to be able to confidently answer the telephone and have a conversation in German with the person on the other end, to teach German children an english song that they can then remember and confidently sing back to me, and to come back with a good understanding of Berlin's history and cultural scene which I can then explain to someone (in German!).

I also was asked to write about my expectations of the year. In response to the question I wrote:

 Well I'm certainly looking forward to those experiences which I'm not expecting! (does that make sense?) I have been told by many people to be realistic- I understand it won't be all fun-and-games- but I know that even when it's not going as well as I would like, I know that I will still come back with an immense satisfaction of how much I have achieved and how I have matured as a person.

In terms of expected challenges, I know that setting up a bank account and phone contract and registering with the Einwohnermeldeamt [the office where you go to register for German Residency etc] could be tricky. However, I know that the more prepared for those situations I am, the better. So I will make sure that I am prepared with photocopies of all documents etc and with any specific vocab I might need before attempting it.

Let the journey commence!!!

Alles liebe,

Louise x

'Lay Miz', Berlin, Kiwi fruit and Magic.

So I know I haven't posted in a while, and sorry about that.
Exams and coursework do tend to take over my life!!

However, now that exams have finished (woop woop), and a vaguely regular routine can begin again, I thought that I would update you on recent changes and events in my life.

Firstly, I went to see Les Misérables (please note the acute accent on the é. Yes it's important).
SO many people had been talking about it, that I thought it might be worth going, even just to give an informed reply when asked what I thought of it, and I can tell you now I wasn't disappointed. Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried and Hugh Jackman were all brilliant! I suppose you could say the team was let down slightly by Russel Crowe's singing but then again, he's not a singer and what he lacked in vocal ability he definitely made up for in acting skills in the role of the 'likeable villain', Javert. Oh, and I didn't cry!! Haha that gave me a definite sense of achievement.

One random, but quite interesting fact about the film: the term 'les misérables' is in fact a term in french to describe paupers, destitute and the "working class". So the title of the film, often incorrectly translated as 'the miserables', really means 'The Poor People'. 
You're welcome.


I also got an email the other day saying that the job I applied for in Berlin accepted me. :) :) :)  DEUTSCHLAND HERE I COME!!!! 
I now just have to sort out insurance, accommodation, tax declaration, a bank account, a German SIM card/mobile, grant forms and book my flights... simple, right? Yeah... I thought so too...

On an unrelated note, I had a lovely time on Saturday with two very special friends, baking Lime, Coconut and Kiwi fruit fairy cakes. It was so much fun, and I have since then been inspired to buy yet more Kiwi fruits, because I just simply can't get enough! They are fast turning into my favourite fruit to snack on (no more boring apples or bananas!) and I would highly recommend the Grocers on Chillingham Road if you're looking for a punnet of Kiwi fruits. They're awesome!

A highly amusing image, which doesn't belong to me, although I wish it did!
Ok. Enough about the Kiwis.


I also successfully managed half a Harry Potter Marathon on Saturday. 
Only half, you say?
Yes half. Don't judge! I got to the end of the fourth film, and decided that getting some sleep would be more appropriate than turning up to play cello at church in the morning with square eyes and a crate of Red Bull. However, I still felt as if it was some kind of achievement, and I know that one day, I will complete the whole eight films in one sitting- 19 1/2 hours so I'm told- and will feel like a champion.

Until that day, or maybe sooner if I get round to writing another (hopefully less random) blog post before then.

Alles liebe,

Louise :) x

P.S. this is one of my current favourite photos. Some lovely (and very crazy) friends from Globe Café :)

An invitation to a second interview!! :)

Dear Louise,

It was a pleasure speaking with you on 05.12.12 during your interview.
I apologise for my delayed reply, but I was out of the office due to illness.

You made a very good initial impression and I would therefore like to 
invite you for a second telephone interview.

We are out of the office until early January, but how would 
Thursday, 03.01.2013 at 3.30 PM your time suit you? 
Please confirm this appointment with me via email if works for you.


If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me. Please let me 
know if the above appointment suits you.

Have a nice day.

Sincerely,

Lucy Stubley
Sprachcenter Mouroum

Interview!!!!!

Dear Louise,                                                                                                                   

 

Thank you for your application for the English Language Instructor position and your interest in conducting an internship with Sprachcenter Mouroum. Sprachcenter Mouroum is located in the centre of Berlin, a city in the heart of Europe, full of culture, history, and a thriving night-life. We offer language courses of all levels throughout the year and provide translation and interpreting services. Our main concentration, however, is teaching Business English and English to children, ages 3-10, in kindergartens and primary schools throughout Berlin. Teaching English as a second language to young children is a challenging, yet very rewarding occupation. 

We are looking for responsible, energetic, motivated and fluent English speakers to work with us in the coming academic year. We are offering an 11-month paid internship, from 05.08.13 until 30.06.14, to students in the Germanic Studies or Education fields, or students who will finish their university studies this year and are looking for an exciting and challenging work placement abroad. A teaching qualification is not required, however, prior teaching experience and interaction with young children is advantageous. A proficient knowledge of German by the beginning of training is necessary. Our staff offers support and guidance for all new teachers throughout the year. Our team comes from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, U.K, the U.S.A., and, of course, Germany.

 

I would like to conduct an initial interview with you via telephone on Wednesday, 05.12.12 at 9AM your time. Please confirm with me via email if this appointment suits you and provide a Skype username under which you can be reached. Alternatively, please provide a landline telephone number where you can be reached (no mobile phones). This interview will be conducted in both English and German.

 

After applicants are selected for this internship, the next phase will take place in July in Berlin.

Full training will be provided by our experienced staff. There will be a three-week intensive training course, taking place from 12.07. 13 - 02.08. 13, in order to prepare our teachers for the academic year beginning on 05.08.13. The training will familiarise our interns with our curriculum, teaching methods, teaching material, and child learning and development theory. Our teachers are provided with all the necessary material needed for instruction throughout the year, to include a monthly syllabus and seasonal material, so there will be no additional work costs. Liability coverage is provided during the training and throughout the year during instruction.

 

The interns will be personally supported by our head teachers throughout the duration of the internship. Head teachers are experienced instructors who are responsible for acting as a mentor and liaison for their assigned interns. Personal as well as professional support will be provided throughout the year. At least once a month the interns will have an individual meeting with the head teachers and the internship programme director. Support will also be provided by head teachers in the classroom during actual instruction.

 

Additionally, during the three-week training period, all necessary registration and administrative processes will be carried out, housing placement will be arranged, and interns will become better acquainted with Berlin through various activities.

 

With the commencement of the academic year on 05.08.13, interns will teach between 5 and 20 classes per week. Classes take place Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Interns will be paid per class taught each week and pay will be transferred monthly.

 

Current students who are required to complete an Erasmus or Study Abroad Programme are also welcome to apply. We have worked in cooperation with the Life Long Learning Erasmus Programme in the past and encourage applicants to take advantage of this opportunity.

 

Interns will be responsible for the following:

 

-Obtaining a tax number*

 

-Filing a tax declaration*

 

-Being medically insured (either in your home country or in Germany)

 

-Opening a bank account in Berlin*

 

-Setting up home email access

 

-Obtaining a German mobile phone / phone card

 

-Ensuring their German is proficient enough to understand and hold a conversation.

 

-Housing* Sprachcenter Mouroum will provide housing for a limited number of interns beginning as early as July. A monthly rent will be required for SCM housing. Those interns not provided SCM housing will be responsible for arranging their own accommodation, with our assistance of course.

 

-Transportation costs to, from, and within Berlin.

 

*Our staff will assist interns with the above-named responsibilities during the training period as well as throughout the duration of the internship. We understand it can be difficult adjusting to life and employment in a foreign country, so we will ensure that you have any necessary support during your time with us in Berlin. Our friendly and helpful staff will help in any way they can.

 

This is a wonderful opportunity to further your career, increase your German proficiency, gain life experience in a foreign country, and meet people from all over the world. After successfully completing the internship, interns will possess the skills necessary to work professionally with children in the education field.

 

If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact me. Please confirm if the interview time suits you.

 

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

Sincerely,

 

Lucy Stubley

Sprachcenter Mouroum

How exciting is that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All it takes is a little faith...

So today I got an email back from the Sprachcenter (the multilingual nursery/primary school in Berlin) about a job interview!!!

This is what they said:

Dear Louise,

Thank you very much for your email and for your interest in Sprachcenter
Mouroum.

Since Monday, 12.11.12, we have indeed been accepting applications for
the coming school year. If you could send me your CV and cover letter I
can review your qualifications and experience and begin the application
process.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Best wishes from Berlin,

Lucy Stubley
Sprachcenter Mouroum

So now, as you can imagine, I am rather excited!! It really would be my dream job to live and work there :)
I am worried that my CV and cover letter will be full of mistakes, but I also know that all I can do is try my best and proof-read it plenty of times before sending. We'll see what happens...

Of course, I'll keep you updated as and when I know more.

Alles liebe,

Louise :)
x