Thursday, 15 August 2013
Not an ideal situation...
Hallo Leute,
Ok, so I'm not in the situation I would have liked to be in at the time of writing this post. In an ideal world, I would have booked my flight to Germany and would have a lovely little flat to move in to and everything would be hunky dory. However this isn't the case.
I've really struggled trying to find accommodation in Regensburg. Don't get me wrong, there's lots available. However, finding a furnished flat, in a good location that can be rented for a year or less is nigh on impossible! I've sent out around 100 emails and, although I'm receiving some very pleasant and friendly replies, I'm feeling a little disheartened. I'm an organised person and I like to plan things, so the fact that I'm probably going to be going to Germany without a place to live is a little worrying.
Saying that, I'm in the fortunate position of having a girlfriend who has found a place to live which isn't far from Regensburg at all. Lois has agreed to go out to Germany a week before we need to be there and share her flat with me, whilst I frantically search for accommodation in Regensburg. I'm a lucky boy, right?!
Although a little concerned, I'm not actually feeling as worried as I thought I might be in this situation. Apparently it's pretty standard to not actually find somewhere until you get out there and start physically meeting people (I totally understand Vendors 'vetting' prospective tenants before signing their flat away to them!), so I remain optimistic that I will find something once I'm there.
I mentioned flights earlier. The plan was to find accommodation, work out when I could move in and then negotiate travel around it. However in this situation, Lois (who has very kindly and patiently waited for me to find somewhere to live) and I have decided that time is running out and we need to get out act together and get some travel arrangements sorted! So we're looking at flights out there right now. We have, however, already booked out return flights back to England in late December (which I'm already super excited about!), which is either very organised or just plain stupid considering we haven't booked our flights there in the first place!
I really don't think there is much else I can be doing right now. I'm pretty keen to start my Year Abroad and just get stuck in to be honest. I can see myself changing my mind when it comes to actually leaving though!
I'm aware this post is probably not even vaguely interesting, but I felt an update was in order. Hopefully my next post will have something a little more interesting in.
Until then...
Tuesday, 16 July 2013
On the hunt for Accommodation
So it's now mid July, and with my departure getting ever closer, I've finally persuaded myself to start looking for accommodation properly. I'm not sure why I've been putting it off up until now. I guess I was hoping that I didn't actually have to do anything and that my schools would find me somewhere suitable, but unfortunately they haven't, so its about time I began looking.
I was pretty overwhelmed to say the least, when I began checking out accommodation websites. But despite the pages and pages of different flats and rooms, I still struggled to see anything that I could imagine myself living in. Maybe I'm just being too fussy - I want a centrally located flat, at a good price, which is furnished (I've come to learn that a fully furnished, liveable flat is a rarity in Germany).
Anyway, I have actually shortlisted a few different options and sent of e-mails to the vendors / landlords. I was really nervous sending the email and made an effort to sound as friendly and as enthusiastic about their flat as possible! I haven't heard anything as yet, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed, because despite my strict requirements, I've actually seen a couple of really nice flats which seem ideal.
I keep saying to myself that it is better to wait and not to rush into anything and to make sure the place I'm ultimately going to be living in for almost a year, is (as close to) perfect for me, rather than rush into buying somewhere just because I want to get it sorted. Having said that, I really just want it all to be sorted so that I know where I'll be living and then I can start concentrating on other stuff.
In the mean time, I'm keeping my fingers firmly crossed
I was pretty overwhelmed to say the least, when I began checking out accommodation websites. But despite the pages and pages of different flats and rooms, I still struggled to see anything that I could imagine myself living in. Maybe I'm just being too fussy - I want a centrally located flat, at a good price, which is furnished (I've come to learn that a fully furnished, liveable flat is a rarity in Germany).
Anyway, I have actually shortlisted a few different options and sent of e-mails to the vendors / landlords. I was really nervous sending the email and made an effort to sound as friendly and as enthusiastic about their flat as possible! I haven't heard anything as yet, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed, because despite my strict requirements, I've actually seen a couple of really nice flats which seem ideal.
I keep saying to myself that it is better to wait and not to rush into anything and to make sure the place I'm ultimately going to be living in for almost a year, is (as close to) perfect for me, rather than rush into buying somewhere just because I want to get it sorted. Having said that, I really just want it all to be sorted so that I know where I'll be living and then I can start concentrating on other stuff.
In the mean time, I'm keeping my fingers firmly crossed
Thursday, 27 June 2013
WELCOME!
Coffee...Check. Liquorice Allsorts...Check. OK. I'm ready to start my blog.
Hello and welcome to my blog. I'm Marcus, I'm 20 years old and I've just finished my second year at Aston University studying German. This leads me nicely on to this blog... In a few months I will be embarking on my compulsory Third Year Abroad and as a result I thought it would be a good idea to start a blog. As the description says, basically this is a way for me to, not only ensure I don't forget all the (hopefully!) fantastic experiences I will encounter but also to communicate with people back home. I aim to update this as often as possible and hopefully keep you all entertained and interested.
So a bit my Year Abroad. The process began, well it must have been last year (wow, time flies) when the language students at University began to decide how they would like to spend their Year Abroad. We had three options - We could study at a University in our retrospective countries, we could work within a company or we could teach English as part of a scheme run by the British Council. I decided on the latter simply because this appealed to me most. I did a module in Teaching English as a Foreign Language and really quite enjoyed it. This, coupled with the fact that I really didn't fancy a 9 - 5, 5 day a week office job and the fact I was/am pretty fed up with studying, quickly narrowed my options down. With this decided I sent off my application to the British Council with first, second and third choice of preferred region in Germany. My Girlfriend (also a German student at Aston University) and I had done our research and decided we would very much like to be placed in a lovely little town called Regensburg in Bayern (Bavaria to all you English folk.) Therefore Bayern was naturally our first choice.
We soon received acknowledgment that our applications had been successful and they were passed over 'to zee Germans' to place us in areas which needed language assistants. The wait was agonising. In May we both found out that we were being placed in Bayern which was a relief (anyone in a relationship will understand that we wanted to be placed together) but considering Bayern is 27,200 square miles, we could still be placed a long, long way from each other.
Just over two weeks ago I discovered that I was to be placed in Regensburg. I was so happy and relieved. But at the same time the reality of the situation hit me! It wasn't until I received the e-mail containing my contract and all the other necessary paperwork (which is completely in German may I add!) that I realised just how close my Year Abroad really is. Unfortunately, a few days later, Lois (my Girlfriend) discovered that she was not placed in Regensburg, instead she will be in EichStaett (about 100km from Regensburg - easily doable on a train.) Despite initial worrying and stressing (we had counted on being placed together) we both realised that maybe it was for the best. (We would probably live in a little 'English bubble' had we been placed together. I'm convinced this current situation allows for a better and more effective Year Abroad)
I e-mailed both my schools (I will be teaching 12 hours a week, hopefully split 6 hours each at my 2 schools) and introduced myself. I asked loads of questions and they probably thought I was really annoying, but nevertheless they replied with 'herzlich willkommen' and 'mit Grüßen', meaning at least, they pretended to like me. The main thing now is sorting out accommodation. I asked both schools for advice and they are both enquiring and helping me out. I plan on waiting a few more weeks before starting the accommodation hunt myself.
I'm sorry this is so long, but I just wanted to 'set the scene.' I will update when I know more information. But I won't be going until late August (at the earliest!) and that's ages away, right?
Somehow, I get the feeling I might regret saying that...
Hello and welcome to my blog. I'm Marcus, I'm 20 years old and I've just finished my second year at Aston University studying German. This leads me nicely on to this blog... In a few months I will be embarking on my compulsory Third Year Abroad and as a result I thought it would be a good idea to start a blog. As the description says, basically this is a way for me to, not only ensure I don't forget all the (hopefully!) fantastic experiences I will encounter but also to communicate with people back home. I aim to update this as often as possible and hopefully keep you all entertained and interested.
So a bit my Year Abroad. The process began, well it must have been last year (wow, time flies) when the language students at University began to decide how they would like to spend their Year Abroad. We had three options - We could study at a University in our retrospective countries, we could work within a company or we could teach English as part of a scheme run by the British Council. I decided on the latter simply because this appealed to me most. I did a module in Teaching English as a Foreign Language and really quite enjoyed it. This, coupled with the fact that I really didn't fancy a 9 - 5, 5 day a week office job and the fact I was/am pretty fed up with studying, quickly narrowed my options down. With this decided I sent off my application to the British Council with first, second and third choice of preferred region in Germany. My Girlfriend (also a German student at Aston University) and I had done our research and decided we would very much like to be placed in a lovely little town called Regensburg in Bayern (Bavaria to all you English folk.) Therefore Bayern was naturally our first choice.
We soon received acknowledgment that our applications had been successful and they were passed over 'to zee Germans' to place us in areas which needed language assistants. The wait was agonising. In May we both found out that we were being placed in Bayern which was a relief (anyone in a relationship will understand that we wanted to be placed together) but considering Bayern is 27,200 square miles, we could still be placed a long, long way from each other.
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| Regensburg - Well placed for travelling to other German cities but also to other countries! |
Just over two weeks ago I discovered that I was to be placed in Regensburg. I was so happy and relieved. But at the same time the reality of the situation hit me! It wasn't until I received the e-mail containing my contract and all the other necessary paperwork (which is completely in German may I add!) that I realised just how close my Year Abroad really is. Unfortunately, a few days later, Lois (my Girlfriend) discovered that she was not placed in Regensburg, instead she will be in EichStaett (about 100km from Regensburg - easily doable on a train.) Despite initial worrying and stressing (we had counted on being placed together) we both realised that maybe it was for the best. (We would probably live in a little 'English bubble' had we been placed together. I'm convinced this current situation allows for a better and more effective Year Abroad)
I e-mailed both my schools (I will be teaching 12 hours a week, hopefully split 6 hours each at my 2 schools) and introduced myself. I asked loads of questions and they probably thought I was really annoying, but nevertheless they replied with 'herzlich willkommen' and 'mit Grüßen', meaning at least, they pretended to like me. The main thing now is sorting out accommodation. I asked both schools for advice and they are both enquiring and helping me out. I plan on waiting a few more weeks before starting the accommodation hunt myself.I'm sorry this is so long, but I just wanted to 'set the scene.' I will update when I know more information. But I won't be going until late August (at the earliest!) and that's ages away, right?
Somehow, I get the feeling I might regret saying that...
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