weihnachtzeit aus deutschland

Of all the new situations and traditions I've observed during my time here in Germany, the Christmas celebrations are probably my favorite. The season begins a bit earlier than in the States because Thanksgiving is not recognized in Europe and there's no pressure to wait for that holiday to pass. Decorations go up on the streets, making nighttime in my fairy tale village almost magical.

wrapping it up

The last few weeks of school were a flurry of Christmas activities and meetings, in addition to writing finals and preparing my students to take them!

For my last small group we had a yummy raclette dinner, exchanged gifts, and reflected on God's incomprehensible love for us. My "Swiss Miss" Joyce even brought us authentic cheese from Switzerland!

the course evaluation strikes back

It's that time of year... the course evaluations have reared their ugly heads and once again we teachers find ourselves caught in the battle between laughing or crying over the feedback we've received from our students. This year, as I read through my evaluations a few items came to mind that I thought I'd share. These are on the humorous and possibly sarcastic side, so please don't be offended by what you're about to read!

Oh, and I can only say these things because 1) I was once a student myself, so I know what goes through their heads,  2) I love my students unconditionally, even when they write mean things on my course evaluations, and 3) a student can never fully understand all the work that their teachers invest in them; I myself only began to truly understand it when I became a teacher myself.

So without further ado I give you...

they said what? quotes from third culture kids, part 1

[Overheard during a round of Apples to Apples with kids who did not grow up in America.]

TCK #1: Who's Reegus Pillbin??


TCK #2: What's a Puff Daddy??


TCK #3: (singing) My, my, Miss American Pie...
Me: Actually, it's "BYE BYE Miss American Pie."
TCK #3: Oh. (resumes singing) Bye, bye Miss American Pie!

getting in the spirit

The Christmas season here in Germany began a little over a week ago, when our high schoolers attended the Christmas banquet on the last Saturday of November. A bit early, yes, but with all the craziness of December - finals, basketball and wrestling season, and all the kids heading to their homes around the world, it really is the best time to celebrate.


Kandern all lit up. I am SO blessed to live here!!!



giving thanks

Thanksgiving is not usually celebrated by the locals here in Germany. Since it's not a national holiday, schools and business do not close. This means that for the last three years, now, I have worked on Thanksgiving Day. Gone about my business as if nothing were any different about that day. Sad, really.

In my lifetime, Thanksgiving has always been celebrated with a feast and family members nearby. We don't have any set traditons aside from the turkey and Great Grandma Bertschi's sweet potato casserole; one year we "camped" in rustic cabins in the middle of Indiana with my dad's side of the family, another year we celebrated at Cracker Barrel, and one year I even came home from college for Thanksgiving break to met two brand new baby boys.

(2006: Remember when they were this tiny??

Seussical

November 10-12 was the combined middle school and high school musical, Seussical. This was the first combined production of middle school and high school, and also the first musical. (Well, since I've been here, anyway... there may have been others in the past!) When the idea was first presented there was a lot of push back from middle schoolers and their parents, who were at the same time learning that the middle school was moving away from the high school campus. Students were worried that they would lose all of their special middle school traditions, one being the middle school play. Sadly, there probably won't be a play this year, but I still think the Seussical was a huge success. Middle schoolers made up a significant number of the cast and crew, with the main role of Cat in the Hat played by one of my eighth graders! My heart swelled with pride and I was blown away by the talent of the middle school students, as well as the rest of the cast, the majority of whom were former students of mine. Here are a few shots:

7th grader Abby played a Bird Girl (center)