Equal Goes It Loose
The World Of Teaching & Learning English
Can I Sleep Now?
[ No Comments ] Posted on 07.11.08 under 365 project, Germany, travel
As far as crazy busy days go, this one was pretty awesome. I have to admit, I lucked out with my 2 week intensive private student, I felt like I was getting paid to chat with a friend, and help her out with her emails on occasion. My afternoon class was also great, though I think a little hurt I never told them that this was going to be our last day until today. But that was because I really didn’t want to tell them the class was over when there was a chance that I fail my motorcycle exam. But I passed, and now I will have a cover for my last 4 classes with them. They gave me chocolate anyway. 
Now I must help Patrick get our new toys ready for our trip. Which at the moment is looking like it is going to be delayed till Sunday before we are truly ready!
Boo Ya To Your Motha!!
[ No Comments ] Posted on 07.06.08 under 365 project, Germany
I did it, I did it, I did it!!!!!!!!!! Thats right boys and girls, I now have a German motorcycle license. Not without any small amount of pain now mind you - a brief overview of my last 3 days to illustrate: (with help from my 365 photo blog project, which I have been doing constantly, minus the blogging part, which is what I thought would keep me taking the pictures in the first place, but whatever, that is so me. I just wanted to write thats so me. :-P)
Anyway let the digression stop!
Friday: One week before anticipated departure date and I have my test the next morning. Should I fail I have to wait 2 weeks before I can take it again, meaning yes, my trip is delayed by at least one week.
More importantly. EVERYONE knew the date of my test. Under normal circumstances I would hide this information so no one would know of my humiliation should I fail. Except this close to leaving how do I hide that? Also at 250 Euros a pop the thought of failure made me want to vomit. That is 2 weeks on the road (minus gas).
I proceed to deal with it Sherrie style, over indulge in wine at the work summer function, and be pursued the entire night by my instructor who was riding a flaming motorcycle. Sigh
Saturday morning: Oh God, I am going to vomit into my helmet.
I have never been so scared in my life. I don’t remember feeling this way before going for my car license. (However maybe I should have as I failed twice for that stupid test. The first time because I backed into a pole, whoops nerves! And the second time I made it out of the compound only to be told I was TOO cautious and therefore the instructor felt that I wasn’t ready for the roads). Wither it was the nightmares, the wine, the missed class, or just memories of trying to go for my car license in Canada, I was ready to vomit. Everywhere.
The result: Something I am posting on all three blogs, which short of taking out advertising pens, is as loud as I can scream it,
I passed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Sweat, The Stress, The Very Nice Student
[ No Comments ] Posted on 07.03.08 under 365 project, Germany, Language Learning, travel
I will fully confess to the fact that one of the big attractions to teaching English for me is the time. For those of you who know of my time schedule in Germany - stop laughing, I really am serious. ;-P This particular year has been brutal it is true, but then this is the first time ever I took every and any class offered to me in an effort to pay off debt (student loans and credit cards, of which one student loan still stands, still one down one to go!), take vacations when I can pay in cash, (and I have) plus I bought a new motorcycle and am about to go on a 3 month vacation. (Note: I worked A LOT!!! Plus I never buy myself gifts anymore, which is sad, but 3 months vacation is good. Ill let you know if the sacrifices of the past year were worth it).
However I digress, and the point is, I like being able to set my own schedule, and part of that is not having to wake up early. So that the past 2 days involved me waking up at 5 45 as I had motorcycle lessons to attend before going to class for 4 hours of private lessons did little to amuse me.
Lucky for me the student is lovely. Of the four hours I would say 2 is spent in general conversation, and 2 is spent on actual vocabulary building and grammar (as in work specific, as the entire time is spent speaking English, and I am a firm believer in any practice is better than no practice). I feel a little guilty, but not incredibly so, as I am correcting her and we are practicing the ever elusive “small talk,” that every student begs for and comes down to being able to chat. I sometimes wonder though if that much talking without real focus is good for her, and yet 3 weeks of 4 hour private lessons a day will quickly become dreadful if stuck to work vocab and prepositions.
Either way, I am so glad she is nice, as the week turned out to be a ball of heat and stress otherwise. I have my driving test on Saturday and I am terrified I am going to do something stupid to mess the whole thing up. Forget cheap Phentermine, between the stress and the heat I should be back into my old pants this time next week!
Is It Normal To Be This Nervous???
[ No Comments ] Posted on 07.01.08 under 365 project, Germany, Quick Conversation Lessons
Everyone assumes I am nervous about the upcoming trip. I am not at all. I am just excited, I am really looking forward to it, and I derserve it. While I admit that in the past I didnt let money stop me, I just put whatever I needed on credit card, this past year has been hellish in equal parts as fantastic. Be it my Saturn’s return, that I am adjusting to life in a new country (as opposed to a short to long term jaunt, as I mentioned, I have never renewed a work visa before), accepting that I cant live on credit forever, or whatever it may be, this year I have paid off my credit cards, paid off a student loan, and this trip is paid for in cash. I put in 12 hour days, I did not decorate my apartment, I do not buy new clothes every paycheck, my books come from the library or an online swap account (mostly), and instead of eating out every week, I rarely eat out at all. (I also like to think all of this helps the environment as well, check out the story of stuff at the bottom of the post, on a tangent its great for an ESL lesson as well, the main site comes with a discussion handout that is perfect for advanced students, but you can modify the questions for an intermediate group).
BUT, what I am terrified of is failing the test on Saturday by doing something so utterly stupid like not looking long enough over my shoulder, or forgetting to check right before left when I am off a main street, or for the first time since my second lesson, dropping the bike.
GAAAAAA I am superstitious enough that even writing that makes me want to puke!
And the promised video:
Countdown!
[ No Comments ] Posted on 06.23.08 under Germany, travel
We are on the less than three week countdown to our trip. SUPPOSING that is I pass my motorcycle practical. I am not so worried about the bike itself, I can handle the bike, in fact the other day my instructor was riding in front of me (and without headphones in my ear) I just got to enjoy the bike. We took some back roads through the suburbs of Stuttgart, and I just forgot that he was even there, even though he was in front of me the entire time. It made me ache I want to go on the trip so bad, but at the same time that the next 3 weeks are going to be so crazy busy that I cant go wishing my time away. We already just passed the weekend of the Christening, we have less than 3 weeks before we leave. As I said, supposing July 5th I dont do something really stupid.
This shot is from the weekend and it was almost what I choose for my 365 project. I was actually so tired here I fell asleep on the back of the bike. Honest, we were on the highway through Switzerland to make up some lost time (read boring riding) and I just passed out cold, and woke up when my helmet beat off of Patrick’s.
Other things in Sherrie world:
Tonight I was talking to my parents about my brother’s upcoming wedding, and they have said that they are serious about coming back here next fall. Destinations: Greece and Spain, and this time they will stay for a full 3 weeks. The thing I love about Europe is that it is so cheap to travel. Planes or car rentals the prices are just right. (Gas to fuel them however is a bit more painful, but whatever) and we could car hire in Spain like we had planned to do this time, but just ran out of time. This time around I want to spend more time in Spain and Greece (and of course Germany itself!).
My dad wont drive a motorcycle, so car rentals are our choice when they visit. 
This post was sponsored by that cheap car rental place worldwide!
Day 3: GAAAAAAAAAAA
[ No Comments ] Posted on 06.15.08 under 365 project, Germany
How utterly boring, but so true, I have my theory test on Wednesday, and supposing I pass it, my practical will be on July 5th. yes that would be one week before the departure date. A little too close for my liking but my driving instructor keeps pointing out I should pass it, not fail it, and therefore the 5th makes no difference.
Easy for him to say, he HAS the license, and does not come with almost 10 years of driving that counteracts EVERYTHING I learned. Even to the point where we are suppose to pull all the way into the farthest lane, which I only do when I figure no cops will see me and I am being lazy.
Blech.
Then there is this theory test, which I fear may kick my ass. Multiple choice with multiple answers. Maybe its all 3, maybe its 1, but no partial marks.
Sniff, I have a Masters and I fear a test that high school students pass.
Genius You Idiot
[ No Comments ] Posted on 06.13.08 under Germany, Quick Conversation Lessons, Wacky News
This man is going to be number one on a lot of people’s hate list that is for sure!
From The Local: German Football Reporter Makes Bomb Threat To Delay Plane
Is it just me, or would you refrain from going up and commenting that you heard the plane was no longer taking off before an announcement was made??? Better yet, find a different way to get your ass to Vienna? You can drive it in much less time than getting out of jail requires.
The World Spins Madly On
[ No Comments ] Posted on 05.19.08 under Germany, Language Learning
And doesn’t seem to care that my days and hours are eaten by the time monster.
I’m still trying to do the catch up thing, the nice thing is this week I have some free time. So until I get a chance to enter a proper entry, I will leave you with this little German/English mix up from my students.
This time the scene takes place at a bar where they were toasting their successful meeting, and the Germans sang out “Up YOURS!” when they really meant “To you!”
Or at least they claim to have meant that.
Still Around
[ No Comments ] Posted on 05.06.08 under From The EFL World, Germany
I am just busy showing my parents all that Germany has to offer, while still putting in a full teaching load today and yesterday!
BUT the best way to find out the greatest insider tips is not to buy a travel guide, but to enlist your students help as an English lesson.
So Much To Do, So Little Time!
[ No Comments ] Posted on 04.27.08 under Germany
I am going mad with everything, so maybe this was not the best time to start a new blog. My parent arrive on Wednesday, I am still working flat out, and of course there is the motorcycle licesne. SO while I try all this there barely seems to time to sleep!
So as I will be AWOL a day or two I leave you with this clip from Dylan Moran on Germany. It is from a segment when he takes the piss out of every one, including the Irish. It is well worth a giggle.