Some wonderful things about February

Recent news in Germany is that this is the darkest winter they’ve had in decades – one report I saw said in 43 years, another threw out the number 62.  Either way, it’s been ridiculous! Everyone I know, roommates, teachers, and other teaching assitants, is absolutely fed up with this winter and the blues that have come with it…but despite the fact that I’ve been on-off sick and freezing and therefore spending a lot of time in bed with a magazine or movie, February was a pretty great month.  Here’s why:

I went to a hockey game! As it was less physical than a North American game, had a final score of 6-1, and obviously wasn’t played by teams I had any allegiance to, it wasn’t the most exciting game I’ve ever seen, but the fans were super-enthusiastic and, let’s face it, hockey is always awesome. 

The 13^th graders who I’m helping to prep for their final oral exams are getting noticeably more comfortable with speaking and it’s really fun to see them making progress. 

I’ve been doing a decent bit of pronunciation-practice with my kids, and it’s quite satisfying to eliminate things like “willage” and “Ca-li-for-ni-a” from their English!

I now have a tandem partner through Bielefeld University; we met up Wednesday when he invited me to a French-cooking-session at his apartment .  Not only was it a great time and a chance to meet a lot of new people, but we also made some delicious Flammkuchen!  (tarte flambée in French, a thin pizza-like dish)

I’ve gotten to know even more teachers at my school; certainly makes the day more social and enjoyable.

I’ve found a new “gym-buddy” which has given me good incentive to keep going, even as I dread the prospect of waiting outside in the freezing cold at the bus stop. 

Finally, February got some points for being a short month – we’re all super-broke and were happy to have been paid again after only 28 days!

And, March should be equally wonderful – the sun is evening shining today!  At school we’ll finish up with the 13^th graders, I’m headed to Berlin in mid-March for a big Fulbright meeting, we’ll have Spring Break immediately after that, and, most importantly, my dearly-beloved mother is coming to visit!