So another week down just means another week closer to getting rid of cold, dark mornings and getting closer to summer - Call us keen but we're looking forward to getting the next few months out of the way and then enjoying some nicer weather and longer days!
Well, I've had a pretty quite week at school this week. Monday was a normal day, but didn't require me to do much. On Tuesday I experienced my first, of what I imagine could be many, wet bike rides to school. No, it wasn't pleasant and I got a few strange looks as I wandered around school with the front of my chinos a different colour to the back as a result of the rain whilst riding my bike, but I didn't mind really. On Tuesday several of my lessons (when I say several I mean all, except one!) were cancelled meaning I had lots of free time. I decided to use this usefully and did some food shopping. I felt more like a stay-at-home-mum than anyone else, as I wandered round the supermarket surrounded by pensioners, housewives and the standard oddballs one expects to find aimlessly strolling round supermarkets during the day. On Tuesday afternoon, I returned home and began working on my Year Abroad Project, an assignment from the university which will be assessed and contributes towards our final degree. It takes the form of an essay about a particular topic currently in German news. Now, whilst I think keeping up to date with the news is important, and even more so with national news on a Year Abroad, I do struggle to understand the reasoning behind such an assessment. For example, we are not assessed on anything to do with the teaching we're doing. I think a better Year Abroad assessment would be to get a report from our schools and for them to evaluate how we did during the year. At the moment, we have lessons to plan, language to learn, travelling to do and now an essay to write. Ah well, it is what it is, and I'm glad I've made a start. A few teachers understand that this project counts to our final mark and have kindly told me I can do as little or as much as I'd like in the school, which makes me feel easier.
In further news, on Wednesday morning I had my first 'Fahrradunfall' or bike accident. My 'attacker' was both quick and invisible, and caught me by surprise. Let me explain. I left my flat at about 07:15. All was still dark and the air icy cold. I set off and descended the slight incline off my street. As I breezed around the corner at the bottom of my road, just like I always do, suddenly the bike slipped out from underneath me. I put my foot down to stop my imminent clatter but alas, it was no use as my foot also quickly slipped away. I ended up in a heap on the floor, my bike beside me and was bewildered as to what had just happened. And then I suddenly realised - 'Glatteis' or 'Black ice.' Glatteis is the term the Germans use for black ice, literally smooth/slick/glossy ice (I've yet to see ice that isn't smooth, slick or glossy, but that's what they say) If there is anything scarier than Black Ice, it's Glatteis. Fortunately for me, I was lucky. I jumped up, brushed myself down and surveyed the area to ensure that my high regarded reputation had not been tarnished by anyone seeing my embarrassing fall. Excluding slight chino wear and a little bruising on the knee, I got off scott-free. I think this was Glatteis warning me, not to get too sure of myself whilst riding my bike during these cold German winter months. However I take pride in reciting the old adage that pro cyclists use "If you don't crash, you're not trying hard enough."
Despite the 'shaky' start to my Wednesday, I had a very enjoyable day. I was not required in any classes and to make things better, I received an invitation to the cinema with the Year 10 English classes. We went to a really cute, traditional Cinema to watch 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty' which starred Ben Stiller. It's a nice film, with some breath-taking shots of various landscapes. The film was in English but had German subtitles, which I did make an effort read, and pleasantly surprised myself by understanding most of them. Not bad as school days go, eh! In the afternoon I met with my tandem partner in order to practise some German. I still find I'm not improving and I'm still concerned by struggles I'm having, but it was a nice chat and we spoke lots about our Christmases and compared some of the differences between our two countries.
Seeing as though I wasn't needed in school until Thursday afternoon this particular week, I enjoyed a lazy Thursday morning in my flat. I did however make a little more progress on my essay before a leisurely lunch and then departing for school. (It really has been a good week for me, hasn't it?!) This is where my 'easy' week took a bit of a turn. I was working with a Year 5 class and had been asked to assist them in their afternoon lesson as they were doing a 'Comic Book Project' which involved them writing their own comic. Normally the Year 5's are very enthusiastic and are enthralled by every single word you say, so they do listen to you (to some extent). Today, however, was different. I was given my own group in a different classroom and we began designing our comic and thinking of dialogue they could include. But it soon became apparent they did not want to work. It took my about 30 minutes to simply get some of them to write something down and the fact I had to repeatedly keep telling them to turn around and stop talking was getting tiresome. A much needed break came after 45 minutes and they ran around the class for 15 mins, in their usual chaotic fashion. I was hoping the break would have allowed them to burn off all their energy and they may actually work for the next hour, but sadly I was wrong. The break had also given them 'ammunition' in the form of orange peel (They all get given mandarins by the school every break - I'm not sure why) and this became a problem. Orange peel began flying everywhere, even I was caught in the crossfire, and despite me telling all of them hundreds of times to stop, they took no notice. I raised my voice, which I have not yet had to do, but this also had no effect. After 15 minutes of orange throwing chaos, I collected every scrap of the damned stuff and threw it away myself. Some sneaky pupils had hidden some and a few remaining scraps began flying once again, but this was soon also collected and thrown away. Just as I thought I'd cracked it, they discovered how to make, what to them, appeared to be, the funniest noise in the world. Blowing a raspberry. The entire class thought this was hilarious and began simultaneously blowing raspberries at each other. One boy found it so funny, he actually fell off his chair laughing. Despite my increasingly louder voice, they took no notice whatsoever. I was really losing patience and resorted to calling them all babies in the hope that they would somehow feel bad and listen. After about 10 mins of raspberry blowing, they appeared worn out and with only 10 mins left, I pleaded with them to try and do something productive for the last bit of the lesson. At the end, I checked several pupils' work and was horrified to find that instead of the normal 'Oh no!' in a speech bubble, that one might expect to find in a comic, some of the pupils had written (pardon my French) 'Shhiittttt!'. This was Year 5! I told them this was absolutely not allowed, but they insisted that it was and wouldn't change it! I was so shocked. I'm guessing they learnt this kind of thing from unsuitable TV or film, but to them it was just normal. I spoke with the teacher after class and she was equally as unimpressed with her group too. Maybe it was the fact it was afternoon and they were just fed up. Maybe it was the fact they didn't like comics. But what ever the reason, I left the school, breathed a sigh of relief and thanked God that the worst lesson I have ever taken, was over.
My Thursday got miles better when I came home to find Lois waiting for me. We enjoyed a nice tea together and had an early night - I was worn out! On Friday we made the usual trip to Regensburg for supplies and spent the afternoon baking a cake, which was good fun. We made delicious home made pizzas for tea and then watched 'About Time' - A lovely British film which left us both smiling. We were both so absorbed by the film, we forgot we were in Germany until the credits rolled.
I was pleased to see Yorkshire represented in Würzburg. I know where to come if I run out of tea! 
Poser?
There simply is no better way to end a Saturday - or any day at that!
Sunday began with us organising a few more travel plans for the remainder of our Year Abroad, followed by the, almost now traditional, Sunday walk out. Before we knew it our time together was suddenly over for another week and it was time to say goodbye.
This week I will be keeping my eyes peeled for anymore of that sneaky 'Glatteis'. I'll let you know, how I get on.
Bis bald!
On a slightly side note, I recently did a very short article for the British Council about life here in Germany. It has been featured on their website, on their Twitter page and on their Facebook page. I feel famous! Check it out here: http://www.britishcouncil.de/en/language-assistants_Germany-Experience_part1
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