hmmm…

I like when he uses my name.

Nearly there…

Half a day of classes + 2 days of PD and then I’m on holidays!

Also been working on an article for FD Boy. I’m rather self conscious about it as it’s for some quirky sarcastic magazine and I’m supposed to be the Canadian in Germany correspondent writing about my drunken times or something. I’m fine writing little things but this kind of scares me. I’ll send it to him later today and we’ll see what’s to come of it.

My landlord is a real nutter. He put carpet in my kitchen and yesterday came over to get upset at me because the lady downstairs called him and told him that I leave my windows open during the day! Whatever! Plus he also said that he doesn’t see why I have such a problem with the carpet because the other tenants had very good noses and they didn’t complain. Eesh! I need a new place! Pronto! But he assures me he’ll replace the carpet while I’m on holiday.. so we’ll see…

Last night went for dinner with MB and the other two people coming to Thailand with us and the kiddies this summer. It’s going to be a pretty incredible time methinks but first things first…

Get back to work! Get sorted! Pack for Poland!

The 2:58am Tram

A few cocktails after work turn into a few more and suddenly what was supposed to be a night of a couple casual drinks and general relaxation takes a very different turn. With a quick jaunt to MB’s house, a bit of make up application, the borrowing of a fanastic boobtastic shirt and a couple very strong run & cokes… we’re off.

The night is fun.. the clubs are good.. some better than others.. nothing overly catches my eye.

Then on the 3am tram back home I’m listening to my iPod and trying to stay alert enough to be get off at the right stop. I look sideways and see a rather nice looking guy sitting there holding a map. He looks a bit confused. I smile. He comes closer and apologizes for not being able to speak German. I assure him that it is not a problem. He asks me what stop is his. We talk for a few minutes. He’s from Paris and here for the weekend but will move here in October. He asks for my email address and I actually give him the correct one. We are at his stop. He smiles and leaves.

I smile.

Bits and Bops

I went back to German lessons tonight. It was alright and the teacher was a teeny bit nicer to me. Although seriously, I am the class joke. I keep telling myself this is good.. learning to sympathize with my students.

The Brit was there and he was nice to gaze at from across the room.. no wonder I am not paying as much attention as I should be! Also the Brit sits beside a very nicely built Italian guy. They are fun to look at.. very fun to look at…

I do think that I’m starting to pick up quite a bit. I wake up to German radio (very eclectic mix of songs) and while the djs are talking I try to understand what they are talking about and I’m starting to get a little more of their morning banter.

Last night I went with some friends to this cool thing they have at a nearby theatre called Sneak Peek. Every Wednesday night you pay less than 4 euros to see some fairly newly released movie and you have no idea what it is until it starts to play. It’s a pretty cool idea actually. A few of us are starting this new Wednesday night routine thing of dinner and movies or dinner and museums or dinner and something.. I like it!

Today we had the whole school walkathon. I was walking with the older kids so our route was 15km. It was a looong walk but it felt nice to be outside all day!

I’m thinking of moving into the city centre. As of right now I live about a 7 minute walk from the school. I’m close enough to shops and the village and things but I spend most of my time downtown so I’m thinking it might be more fun to be in the “heart” of the city. Plus you can get nicer places for less money! The other thing is that I go out quite a bit at night and have a hard time remembering the tram schedule after a few. This means I often get stuck.. til either 4:18am or 6:13am… not that I’m complaining but if I could just stumble home to my abode.. that would be nicer.

10 more days and I’m going to be in Poland. Carissa and I are going to Krakow for a week and I’m really excited. I’m not supposed to be traveling because I’m all on a budget and things but this is a very cheap trip. I wasn’t sure how keen I was on Krakow but everything I’ve heard when I’ve mentioned it has been positive. It’s apparently a very cool city.. I’m very excited!

And tomorrow is Friday… oh sweet weekend!

Skipping zee Language

“So how was your German class last night?” asked A as I came into the department this morning.

“Uh yeah, I went to the pub instead,” I mumbled.

“Aha! This is where it all begins. Skipping German lessons for no real reason leads to skipping more and more and then you quit,” she laughed at me. She’s an Aussie and has been muddling about various German classes for a couple years. “So what was your excuse?”

“It was raining,” I said.

Cup of Tears

Do you ever have those nights that you think will go one way but then end up going down a totally different road? The other night Carissa and I were keen to go downtown and dance the night away. We had to stop in at a birthday thing first so went for dinner and some drinks and some Happy Birthday time. Then we hit the bars but stopped in first for a cocktail or two at one of my favourite places. Well we order the world’s most amazing mojitos and start talking. Carissa starts telling me all about her last relationship and it’s a really really sad story. She starts to cry and then for some reason I start to cry too. I don’t normally do that. So here are two Canadian girls, moderately drunk and crying in this bar. Kind of pathetic but kind of funny.

So we skipped the dancing and paid the bill and went home.

The British are invading!

On Thursday night I went to my German lesson with every intent on quitting if things did not get better. ie. if my teacher kept picking on me! So the class was a little bit better and I got all my homework right. We were discussing ways in which to ask a person if he/she is married and I was the one to answer the question. Well the word is: …um.. actually I can’t remember and that isn’t important but anyway… I was having trouble hearing and pronouncing it. So the class began to focus around me and my inability to say: No I am not married but I am single. Anyway the class now knows my relationship status. Once that was determined we moved onto other things. I was still quite undecided as to whether I would return or not…

Then HE talked to me.

As I was leaving class and walking towards the train station I noticed this guy from class come up beside me and start talking to me. Not just talking. This was pure chatting me up. He must have been paying attention to my single status statements. Anyway wouldn’t you know? He’s British and from London and here on contract. He’s only supposed to be here until December but he made it quite clear that he can extend his contract for as long as he wants. He’s tall, well dressed and has that adorable British bumbling thing going on. Think Colin Firth with Hugh Grant hair.. yes.. I’m turning into Bridget Jones.. except for.. well yes.

So there you go. I have to go back now. Who knows what’s up with this guy but I’m pretty sure that I could be up for a lovely dinner and a “snog”.

Wonky Social Circles

It’s interesting how our lives are all so different. I find it interesting to consider social circles, especially now that we are all “growed up”. I realize that my social circle is greatly affected by the fact that I no longer live in the country I grew up in and the chances of me returning to take up residency in said country are slim to none. This means that I don’t have those nice nights where I meet up with all my friends from high school or uni at the local pub. I don’t have that big group of friends I go way back with. When I go home at Christmas.. I have people I see but the longer I’m away.. the more the friendship dynamics change. I suppose it’s a good thing in a way because my location choice has sort of helped me sort through my friendships and only invest time and effort in the ones really worth holding onto. I know why I’m friends with the people I’m friends with.. most of the time. Maybe that sounds cold and harsh and I don’t mean it to but I also think it is healthy to surround yourself with people who are supportive of your choices. I don’t have to sit in a cofffee shop explaining that I’m not being an “irresponsible adult” by living away from my family or that I’m not neglecting the responsiblities of life by refusing to move home and hunt for a husband.

A few of my friends are from my past. A few are from various stages of my life but most of my friends are people, who like me, are living in a  foreign land and trying to make sense of everything. Friendships in such conditions tend to grow quickly out of some sort of need for companionship and like-mindedness. We are all lone reeds in a sense and I think that draws us closer together. I’ve noticed that some people who have adopted this expat lifestyle are very closed off and private. They don’t seem to need or want any kind of relationships in their lives. Others are quick to make friends and recognize the immediate need we each have in our lives for companionship. I fall into the latter category and so while I don’t have tons of friends, the ones I have are close and dear to me. These are the people worth keeping around.

So sometimes I’m saddened by my seeming lack of a real solid social circle but other times I am content and aware that my social circle is spread around the world and no matter where I happen to be.. I have good people on my side!

Stupid German Lessons

German class was NOT fun last night. I was the “bad stupid” kid! Granted, I’m a pretty horrible student. Always have been actually. It’s a bit bizarre I’m in this profession but I think that is why I sympathize with the kids who have their heads in the clouds.

Anyway, so we’re going through various activities and doing this stupid thing where we stand up and take turns asking and answering questions. I’m alright at this but there is one question that I don’t understand. I don’t know what it means. So then the teacher asks me to answer it and I say I don’t know. Suddenly I have the entire class shouting answers at me. Well I’m sorry Ms Spanish Accent.. you aren’t helping.. neither is Ms Ghana or Mr Polish. How am I supposed to understand what’s happening???

Then we move onto another exercise and I’m not following it either. (I had a really long day on Tuesday) The teacher keeps picking on me because I get all squirmy and turn beet red. Oh the angst from my own school days! So finally the teacher gets really mad at me and says.. in perfect English: “Try watergirl try. You must try!” How humiliating!

So I’ll study my ass off tonight but if I’m still the stupid one in the class.. I’ll get my neighbour to teach me instead. Must learn language to assist in obtaining lovely tall German boyfriend!

Hey you! Way up there!

One thing that I really missed when I lived in Asia is tall boys*. I am more than making up for that now though. Saturday night was fun because I was surrounded by them. It’s a great feeling to reach up and put your arms around a guy’s neck. It’s a great feeling to feel small or rather just not a giantress. Saturday night I met a lot of boys but my favourite was this tall German one. He was the perfect height. Tall enough that I felt short in comparison but not so tall that I would get a crink in my neck if I looked up at him too much. I just felt nice and pretty with him. He was really sweet and fun to dance with.

Now that the sad truth is that apparently German boys have no follow-through but I feel like I’m just getting used to this game again.. so it was fine with me. I’ll wear my more aggressive underthings next time.

*As a note.. I don’t mean to make my shorter male readers feel inadequate. I have dated shorter guys before but after spending three LOONNGGG years in a country where most people were shorter than me.. I almost view a tall boy as a right I have earned!

Til 4 in the morning.. or 5 or 6…

Had a big night out last night! Went to Carissa’s for dinner and some pre-drinks with a few people and then met up with some random work-peeps and a few assorted others downtown for a few drinks and the night just kept going. I should have known it would when the first round of drinks we ordered came in salad bowls! Yes..

We later moved onto some club somewhere. I have no idea where I go when I go out. Benefit of being the new girl is I just follow the experts.. which works out well because they know the good places. So we found ourselves in this crazy basement for a while where everyone was just going mental and then came upstairs for more air. I met lots and lots of cute boys! I’m still very much in the “looking” stage but it was lovely to be looking and be looked at! Granted that the one who spent the most time chatting me up was an Aussie. What’s with that?!? Anyway it was good fun!

We missed our late tram and so had to wait a while. I went with the IT Guy down to the train station for some early morning McDonalds which has never tasted so good. Finally walked in the door as the sun was coming up. It was worth it though!

I do like the feel of the bar scene here. Although there are an alarming amount of stag parties.. ridiculous but amusing. However, the boys are really rather tall and lovely… and who cares about language barriers when it’s 5am???

The weekend started a little earlier than I meant it to. Went to my German lesson last night and even though I didn’t study my frages I was one of the smarter people in the class. It’s a real doozy at times but I think I’ll stick with it. After class I met a couple girls downtown for a cocktail. Well one turned into 6 and I stumbled back and tried very hard not to puke on the tram. I don’t want to find out what happens when a person does that.

I am not a normal nightmare girl but I had my recurring one last night. It was horrible and took me a while to get over it this morning.

Three classes left to teach and a lunch meeting and I’ll be free…

Mittwoch

I started German lessons last night. It’s going to be quite the experience. The instructor doesn’t speak English and actually only a few people in the course do. Even the girl I sit beside, who I have to practice all my German phrases with, doesn’t speak English. It’s definitely a mixed bag of people but I’m not the dumbest so I think it’ll be okay.

Last night we just learned common introductory phrases. Nothing crazy. Two of my friends are in the class that runs twice a week from 5-8. I’m so glad mine is only an hour and a half twice a week.

Tonight I’m off to see Hamlet performed in a castle or something. Should be interesting although it’s an open air performance and today the weather ain’t so hot. 

In other news.. I was speaking recently with an old friend of mine who just informed me that he’s moving to Hamburg in December. He wants to come by and then take me for a belated birthday dinner in Paris. I think I can be convinced…

And that’s about it. More keeps popping up with the BNB and FD Boy and so on but I am more and more determined that I need something new and fresh and exciting in my life. And until that new and fresh and exciting thing surfaces.. I’m not settling for back burner items.

From bed..

I’m not feeling so hot. The nice thing about working in a department with a lot of “mom” types is that they are really good with the sympathy thing. I looked horrendous today and only had to teach a couple classes this morning so they all insisted that I miss the boring afternoon meetings and go home to bed. I stopped in the village for some cans of soup and came home and promptly slept the afternoon away. I still feel icky but not as bad.

I think it’s a result of too many late nights.. out in the rain. Friday night was pouring on and off and it was chilly. I’m not used to these so-called seasonal changes.

Sunday I was a good girl and went to church but then Carissa and I had a pub lunch at an Irish pub and I downed a pint of cider. It made me feel really tipsy so I’m thinking I’m not well. 

Had a bit of a chat with Jimmy tonight. It was good. He asked me what I missed about Indo and I had some trouble coming up with anything overly concrete. Other than Bali and some people and happy moments.. I’m not sure. He’s in the same boat I think. We decided that it’s best to discuss this over a pint or so of something strong. Visit has been penciled in. 

I finished Season 5 of Six Feet Under.. finally! The last episode made me cry. Anyone who has ever had to say goodbye to people would be able to relate. Made me realize that a huge part of my life has to do with the fact that I am constantly saying goodbye to people or finding myself in a different country from all of my loved ones. I do love my life but I do hate missing people all the time. It comes with the territory I suppose. 

My wee sister is going car shopping today with my dad. She’s going to get a new one because she’s rich and still lives with my parents. I figure.. if you’re going to live with your parents.. it’s good to have money. If you’re going to be poor.. it’s good to live somewhere exciting. The philosophy works for me!

Oh.. most of my students are obsessed with the Twilight series so I’m giving it a go. So far it’s pretty entertaining. I can see why they like it although the whole vampire thing isn’t really my thing.

And tomorrow.. assuming I feel better.. is my first day of German lessons. I did lose the receipt though.. so hopefully they’ll let me in.

And that’s it for now!

Raspberry Mojitos

Ouch! Big night out last night and kind of feeling it today. I tried to catch the tram back at 3am but missed it by about 10 seconds and so had to hang out downtown til 4:18am… there’s a bit of a lapse in there. Last night was fun though! Started off at a “back to school” bbq where the wine was a flowing. Then we made our way downtown for cocktails. I have a favourite “friday night cocktails” place now! I’ve been a few times and they have Happy Hour between 5-8. The cocktails are HUGE and so good! Raspberry Mojitos! Anyway went there with the girls for a few and then tried to walk in a straight line to some Thai place. Best thai food I’ve had since being here.

Then our party split a bit and four of us continued on back downtown. Went for lots and lots of drinks and met some bizarre people. It was just one of those nights where everyone was hilarious and everyone we met was ridiculous.

It’s nice to have fun nights out! Although honestly.. I’m looking forward to a night on the couch with dvds and take out..