Berlin, Germany

Disclaimer: This is a really long post. Get yourself a cozy chair. 

So I met my best buddy from Scotland, Jamie, at the Shoenefeld airport in Berlin last Thursday evening. The first thing to happen to us was this:

In the metro station, with our suitcases, rather than taking the 4 steps down, we decided it would be a much better idea to take the elevator. We stepped in the elevator, pushed "1" so it went down one floor, got to the bottom....and nothing happened. Nothing. As in the doors did not open. We pushed every button. Nothing. I have never had to use the "call for help" phone in an elevator, until this time. Luckily, just an hour or so before on the plane, I was giving myself a crash course on helpful German phrases. So I pushed the help button, and trying to suppress my laughter, blurted "Sprechen sie Englisch? Helfen! Helfen!" (Do you speak English? Help! Help!) A man came on the speaker and said "20 minutes". So there we were...for 20 minutes in this glass elevator for all to see like we were monkeys in the zoo.  I took the opportunity to practice my model poses, as if I was meant to be on display in this glass case. (....I may be joking in that last sentence...) 

The tone of hilarity with non-stop laughter was set at that time for the whole trip. 

So the first night, we found our Hostel, settled in, and hit up one of the MANY German Christmas markets for mulled wine, and bratwursts. By the by, I lost track of how many bratwursts I consumed on this trip. Nearly every time we went to a Christmas market...we needed to grab a brat...which was at least once a day. We joke that all we did on this trip was eat wieners and drink. But that's not true, we did much much more...so read on!

Our hostel was pretty swanky. 

My favorite feature besides happy hour, was this upside down Christmas tree:

Again, I know. You'd rather see some photos than read the millions of words I throw on here. So:

Day One: Holocaust Memorial/The Brandenburg Gate/Beer/Markets

 The Holocaust Memorial consists of 2,711 concrete blocks arranged in a grid pattern on a slope. It was designed to create a confusing and uneasy atmosphere.  

In the back here is the American embassy....who lowered the flag later in the week due to the tragedy at Sandy Hook.   

 The Brandenburg Gate is Berlin's former city gate, and was modeled after the acropolis in Athens.

...Shortly after this visit, it was time for a beer at a swanky little restaurant. 

Photos from the rest of the evening:

....and yes we went down this slope at a Christmas market in an innertube. 

Then I bought earrings!

Day 2: Christmas markets/Berliner Dom/Fernsehturm/

After buying bailey's covered almonds at a market, we sat in this cathedral (Berliner Dom) for about 2 hours, chatting, listening to the organ, and eating nuts. 

 

...really to get the whole effect, watch the video. I think an organ would be a wonderful addition to anyone's living room. 

 This is the Fernsehturm:

 It is 368 meters, and the highest point in Germany. As we ascended to the top in the lift, our ears popped! 

Once to the top, we enjoyed winter cocktails, and this birds-eye view of the city:

Day 3: German Police/Berlin Philharmonic/Winter Wonderland

Our Sunday was a bit altered when Jamie's iPhone was stolen right under our noses in a coffee shop. Literally...right.under.our.noses. Basically, the "bad guys" bombarded us with clipboards to sign and donate to some made up organization supporting deaf children. One guy strategically placed his clipboard over the iPhone, as he persisted for Jamie to sign it. Next thing we know, all of the sudden, both bad guys just bolted out of the coffeeshop, and the iPhone was gone.

So then I chased and tackled both of them with one hand, tied them together upside down on a street sign and said "Don't you EVER take my friend's iPhone EVER again, you big meanies! It's not nice to steal, you imbeciles! I hope you have a really bad day!"

Yes, yes I' kidding. That's not what I did....that's what I like to imagine I would've done had I noticed right away what they were doing. But they were professional thieves, and we didn't pick up on the robbery quick enough. Five seconds after they bolted was when we noticed that the iPhone was M.I.A.   Berlin is a city....there are many people, by the time we got moving after them, they were no where to be seen.  Oh drats!  

So without the maps on the little iPhone...we were forced to use my big "tourist map" to locate the nearest police station to report this crime. It's a wonder we were't robbed again with that map in our hands. It practically screams "HEY! I'M A FOREIGNER. TAKE MY VALUABLES." We soon just ditched the map and grabbed a taxi.  In the cab, when we went through a tunnel and the christmas jingle on the radio became fuzzy, I exclaimed "don't worry, I know this song, I'll keep singing it".  As I continued singing the song, the barely English speaking driver frantically searched the radio for a clear station.....

We didn't let a stolen iPhone and bad guys rain on our parade! After hanging out with the German police to file a report, we went back to hostel, and got ready for the evening at the Berlin Philharmonic, where we enjoyed more winter cocktails and an ensemble playing works by Bach. 

 My name was all over this town. "Germany, your Queen has arrived. Where's my beer and schnitzel?" This was my catchphrase all week (well, besides "Sprechen sie Englisch? Helfen! Helfen!" (Do you speak English? Help! Help!)

After the show, we strolled around the area:

 ...and then I pushed over the Berlin Wall:

Day 4: Pergamonmuseum/Shopping/Checkpoint Charlie/Christmas markets

Before we went to the Pergamonmuseum, we wondered around Museum Island:

 ...weather in Berlin was practically tropical for me on this day after living in Moscow. 40 degrees fahrenheit never felt so warm. 

 ..Can you see the bullet holes? Most likely from WWII.  It makes me sad that a lot of the buildings (not just in Berlin, but many places in Europe) had to be restored due to damages from war. So they are not all completely the originals. Bummer, man. 

The Pergamonmuseum was incredibly interesting to me. Maybe you know by now that I love really really really old things. With that said, then the Pergamonmuseum was the place for me. It hosted artifacts discovered by German archaeologists from Pergamon in Turkey.  They were discovered in the 1800s...but date back to the 2nd century BC! 

Pergamon Altar:

...just being a travel geek with my headset guide and all...

 ...so so cool. 

 Ishtar Gate from Babylon...I'm talking Hammurabi's time. This is some old stuff! 

 ...back in the day they thought these silly little stone lions would ward off trespassers.  If I lived back then, I'd be trespassing left and right, I'm not afraid of non-living sculptures!

After the Pergamonmuseum and a break for cake and strudels, we set out to find Checkpoint Charlie. On the way...we found this:

Well, of course I needed to make a stop and shop! It was quite the lovely store. I left with a new dress and blouse, which needless to say suit me rather well. I told you....my name was ALL OVER this town! 

Checkpoint Charlie was the former border checkpoint between east Berlin (Soviet side), and west Berlin (American side).  

 ....it was neat to be able to read the Russian on this sign too!

  

Basically, for the German citizens, whichever side they were living on..they needed to stay there. they couldn't cross. Can you imagine if you lived in West Berlin, and family members lived in East Berlin?? You wouldn't be able to see them...as they reside maybe only a mile away! AND, back then they didn't have Skype! You'd never see them until the wall came down in the 1990! Many people who tried to cross from East to West, were shot.  Wondering around the area, we were able to see parts of the wall, and read stories about men trying to cross the border. I bet there are really good books on this subject....when I find some I'l let you know! So inquire if you're interested! (Or if you know of any books, tell me!)

...look how this bit of the wall was painted!

Check out these chocolate sculptures we found in a chocolate shop:

Book me a flight with this airline! 

The last thing we did in Berlin was check out a couple more Christmas markets:

Maybe this short video clip will give a better feel of the Christmas market atmosphere:

On Tuesday morning I flew back to Moscow! I loved Berlin, and will look back on this laughter filled, adventurous trip quite fondly!

...when I returned to Moscow, it was about 1 degree fahrenheit. Walking from the metro to my flat....my headphones froze, and I over-dramatically felt as though I was suffocating in the cold. I am told it will only get colder! Yikes! 

....This post isn't over yet.

So I flew back to Moscow on Tuesday, went shopping on Wednesday, and flew HOME on Thursday (yesterday). It was a long journey, which started with my trek on the Moscow metro at rush hour with my Gina-sized red suitcase. Let me tell you...I have discovered hell on earth...and I never want that metro experience again. I think I was awake for nearly 24 hours, BUT I am now home, and it is weird. 

When I landed in NY I couldn't stop smiling when I got off the plane! It was crazy to hear so much English and understand everything and everyone around me! I even got a joking banter going back and forth with the man at customs about the German chocolate in my bag, a "How are you?!"/smile from the cashier when I bought a bottle of water, and completely understood conversations with strangers. Oh, its the little things, people. 

This morning I enjoyed a huge cup of drip coffee with coffeemate and splenda in it (things I have not found in Russia), while I watched television in English. I am in heaven. And when I go outside, i do not need to wear 20 pairs of socks, and two pairs of pants. 

I feel like Tom Hanks at the end of "Cast Away". 

As much as I love living in Moscow, traveling, and learning something new everyday... I am so happy to be home! America is my favorite country on the planet. I don't care what anyone says, in my personal opinion, life in the US is so easy, and I love it!  

On a bit of a heavier note...I am heartbroken over the tragedy at Sandy Hook in Connecticut. I cannot imagine going through such an experience. My heart truly goes out to the friends and families who lost such precious lives so prematurely.  As I watched the national moment of silence on the news this morning with the photos of the 20 children and 6 teachers whose lives were lost, it was hard to keep my cool. 

I have heard of people doing 26 random acts of kindness in honor of the 26 lives that were lost...and I think that is a swell idea which I will take part in. I encourage all of you to do so as well.  I started yesterday when I helped the completely non-English speaking Russian man I sat next to from Moscow to NY...find his gate at JFK. 1 down, 25 to go! 

I hope everyone has a very merry holiday season!

Smile and be nice to everyone! :)

-Gina

Misunderstandings...

....due to the language barrier, can be downright hysterical to me.

Allow me share.

Before you read, I need to tell you that the younger my students are, the less English they know. Their vocabulary is growing, but these are the phrases they've got down pat (or think they do): "yes", "no thank you", "fine thank you", "excuse me", and "please may I have a drink". When I talk to certain students and they don't know the correct response, sometimes they just spew out one of the previous mentioned phrases, in hopes that it is correct (I mean, I understand why they do this. I do the same thing when I try speaking Russian!) Obviously when they hear a phrase over and over, they begin to remember and repeat it. So my favorites that they can say are "be careful", "be quiet", "listen to Miss Gina", "speak English" and "stop picking your nose". 

(....ok I might be joking about that last one....)

SO, here we go--

Miss Gina: Hello Germon! How are you?

(Germon looks to Nikon for help on this response, Nikon whispers answer to Germon)

Nikon (1st grader): I am sank you! I am sank you!

.....If I were Germon I would not be planning on copying test answers from Nikon anytime soon...

When I talk to Nikon, often his response is "Me no speak big English. Me speak small English, Miss GiNA".  This is just his friendly reminder to me that he is Russian, and does not understand much English. As if I forgot or something...

Miss Gina: Nikon! This box almost fell on me!

Nikon: No, me speak small English. 

Miss Gina: Would you have saved me if the box fell on me?

Nikon: Uhhhh,  no sank you. 

....glad these kids have got my back...

Miss Gina: Venya! How did you get cake crumbs in your hair? 

Venya (1st grader): Ahhhhhhh, Miss GiNA! 

(Venya, thinking that I told him to put cake on his head...proceeds to do so...)

For some some reason while speaking with a 1st grader who has high knowledge of English compared to her comrades, the word "peas" came up in our conversation. Peas as in the little green round vegetable. 

Miss Gina: Olivia, do you know what "peas" are?

Olivia: Yes! I know this!

Miss Gina: What are "peas"

Olivia: Peas..like can I have big peas, can I have small peas. Can I have peas of cake!

.....get it?

Venya: Shtoh compote? (...or something like that. Basically asking me in Russian what flavor was a drink at lunch).

....I honestly had no clue what flavor it was. 

Miss Gina: I do not know the flavor! Smell it, smell it. 

Venya: Melon? This melon? 

Spelling names on the board with 1st graders for fun. Look how mine was spelled by a child:

....close enough! 

3rd Grade

Miss Gina: Raise your hand if you...(before I finished my question...all hands shot up in the air)......eat mud. 

The five kids who understood (or thought they understood) what I said quickly threw their hands down. 

Yana: (to Alena...whose hand was still in the air) Alena! No...she say raise hand if you are MAN!

Sasha (3rd grader): Hello, Miss Gina!!

Miss Gina: Hi Sasha! How are you?

Sasha: I am fine, thank you!

Miss Gina: Are you having a good day?

Sasha: Yes, and you?

Miss Gina: Yes, I am having a good day! What has been your favorite part of today so far?

Sasha: uhhh, ok...I am thinking, 1 minute.......OK, Sunday!!

Miss Gina: Sunday has been your favorite part of today?

Sasha: (with a big smile of accomplishment in the English language) Yes, yes, Sunday! 

Here a couple misunderstandings with the child I give private English lessons to:

Gina: These are my earmuffs. Feel them, they are soft!

Anton: This is a soft?

Gina: (while reading a book) Look at this duck! He is funny!

Anton: (pointing to duck) This is a funny?

OK, now it is time to make fun of myself:

Trying to order a latte in Russian:

Gina: Mozhna latte pajaoolsta. (May I have a latte please)

Cashier: blah blah blah some questions in Russian blah blah blah blah.

Gina: Da, da. (yes, yes)

Cashier: blah blah more questions in Russian seems to be saying do I want this, or this...blah blah blah. 

Gina: Da....uhhh the first one you said...

Cashiers: blah blah repeats one thing she had just said in Russian blah blah

Gina: Da, harasho! (yes, fine!)

....my order cost more money than I thought it should...and my latte came with a cherry pie. What a pleasant surprise. 

Those are just some of the recent misunderstanding I can think of at the moment! 

-Gina

P.S. I'm going to Berlin on Thursday for several days....so stay tuned for a post on that trip! 

AND here is Moscow at 9:30am:

...who turned the lights out!

Here it comes...

By "it" I mean snow.

                                     (photo taken from my 1st grade corridor window)

I knew it was coming. I knew it like I knew my mom would scold me back when I still lived in the Wagner nest 3 months ago and would shove clean clothes under my bed instead of hanging them up in my closest. (If anyone is teaching Language Arts, I allow you to use that last statement as an example of a run-on sentence. )
It was only a matter of time.
So here is the snow from today. It is all downhill from here. This is only the beginning!

I think snow like this would call for school cancellations in PA. In Moscow...I feel like everyone acted as if nothing was different. I still saw some ladies clomping through the slushy/icy/snowy sidewalks in their stiletto boots.

It is a good thing that I do not mind the snow...and I in fact, find the snow enjoyable.  Taking the 1st graders to recess suddenly became my favorite part of the day. The kids go out in this. They are all just these bundled/snow suited up little things.  I think they will go outside for recess until the snow is bigger than them.

I do not have favorite students, but if I did, these two would be my favorite 1st graders. They always try very hard...and are very bright.
....and they love the snow:

...after this video they made me play "tag"...where even when I caught both of them several times...I was always "it".

So, I forget when it gets dark in PA this time of year...but here right now it is dark by 5:30 (and not light out in the morning until about 9:30...it will get even worse). So my commute to and from work are both in the dark. The only time I am outside and have a chance at a glimpse of sunlight during the week...is during recess. And as you can tell, the sun is bashful in Russia, so even at recess my chances are slim.
"Farewell sunshine, it was nice knowing you."
 -me

 (images around the outside of my flat)

I am sure there will be a white Christmas here...and Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, and Easter...

Anyway. I like trying to learn some of the Russian language. To help myself, I went a little crazy at the book store and purchased about 50 (not 50, I'm joking) Russian children's picture books. I'm going to translate them..which will force me to learn a slew of new Russian vocabulary, some grammar, and syntax rules.

Though this activity is quite time consuming, I really enjoy it. Russian uses the cyrillic alphabet, which is very different than the English alphabet. I learned much of the cyrillic alphabet before coming to Moscow.  When I read Russian, I literally sound like a five year old sounding out the words phoneme by phoneme. These letters and their sounds are brand new to me...just like English letters are new to (English speaking) children who are learning to read.  I feel like I am learning to read all over again! By doing this, I am giving myself a better understanding of how frustrating learning to read can be for children.
So I can read almost anything in Russian...but 93% of the time I have no idea what in the world I am saying. That is what the Russian dictionary/google translate/Native Russian speaking colleagues are for!

  I'm starting simple. This is one of those "learn to read"/"my first independent read" type books for children.

I think this will be the next book I try to translate:

I can't wait. I am dying to know what a book with an onion head is about.

-Gina

Oh, and yes I celebrated Thanksgiving here.  I had a lovely dinner celebration with other American and non-American teachers/friends.
I contributed a cocktail to the dinner. I named it "Spiced Cranberry Sparkle Sauce".
It's my new holiday specialty.

Thanksgiving!

    So those of you who I talk to regularly hear all about how my students can totally and completely drive me insane.  And it is no lie that my third graders are hands down my favorite class.  BUT: at the very end of the day...I still do love all of (most of) my students.

    Recently I have been tweaking my classroom management plan to benefit my sanity.  I've been trying many different techniques to find something that works....and this past week, I finally discovered a strategy that is absolutely PERFECT. My students have turned into angels, and I am in HEAVEN when I teach them.  I can't believe it has taken me until mid-Novemeber to discover this idea that seemed to be in face all along. ANYWAY, I will not explain in detail exactly my plan because I just do not feel like typing it all out right now and you'd get bored reading it....but if you are interested in knowing what I discovered works with my barely English speaking 6-9 year olds...send me an e-mail.

    However I will tell you that a rule I added is "Absolutely NO Russian in my class. At all. Not even a whisper to your neighbor. You can only speak English in my class." All along I have encouraged them to speak English, of course. But, if a student seemed to be totally lost, I would allow another student who knows more English to translate what I said to the confused child in Russian.  I have decided, that really if the confused child would just pay more attention to me as I explained and modeled the already simple directions, he would not be confused. I pantomime ALL of my directions like a clown...if confused child would just wake up and smell the coffee, then there is no excuse to be confused. Period.
Many children were annoyed and angry with this "harsh" new rule. To those children I just think "well just cry me a river, build a bridge, and get the heck over it, you big baby."  Here is the thing (which I told them, and they understood about 50%) : If I can roam about Moscow every single day, not knowing much Russian and still get by, then they can try their best with English for my 45 minute class.  Harsh, I know...I'm such a meanie.

    With all of that said...I will be the first to tell you how much credit I give to those children! English is so hard!  It can be frustrating not understanding everything said to you (trust me, it's my daily life). So that 45 minutes in my class is brutal to some kids. But I hope that they are learning from me (like I am learning from them..and this whole country): PATIENCE.

   Watch this video on how English sounds to non-English speakers.  Must be what I sound like to many of my students!

....and my guess is that this video is about an unstable couple celebrating the fourth of July in Hawaii....? Dirty looks....pineapple cake....flirty looks....sparklers.....?

   In my third grade craft lesson, after the "No Russian" rule was explained, the room was pin drop silent as they were crafting.  I told them "You are allowed to talk! In English!" As they are learning names of rooms and objects in a house in conversation class...here is an example of an English conversation I heard from them:
Sasha: Hello, Alena.
Alena: Hello, Sasha.
Sasha: Do you have a house?
Alena: Yes!
Sasha: Do you have basement?
Alena: Yes! Do YOU have basement?
Sasha: I have basement. Do you have swimming room?
Alena: Yes!
Sasha: Do you have cinema room?

....so basically this went on until Sasha inquired about every room in Alena's house.
It is very difficult for me not to crack up as I eavesdrop on these oh so engaging discussions....but I am so pleased to hear them practice what they are learning! Ugh, they can be so gosh darn adorable!!!!

OK so here is the Thanksgiving part of the post...justifying the fact that I titled this post "Thanksgiving":
   As you know, Thanksgiving is on Thursday! Also as you know (hopefully)...Russia does not celebrate Thanksgiving, or really know much about it.  I decided to share some American culture with my third graders yesterday, and did a lesson on Thanksgiving.  I kept it simple and talked about traditional foods that we eat.  I showed pictures, and asked if they knew what any of them were. Here are some responses which I received. Enjoy:

"This is chicken!"

"This is popcorn"

"This is strawberry jam"

"This bread, and chicken, and tomato sauce"

.......?

"This is ice cream"

and

"This is brown sauce"

So if I did not correct them after each guess....Russian third graders would run around believing that Americans get together on the last Thursday of November to have a feast complete with: Chicken, popcorn, strawberry jam, some bread- chicken- ketchup concoction, and ice cream with brown sauce. 

Do you know what is a fun word to have my students say? 

Refrigerator.

I get "re-farge-a-dator". 

HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!!!

-Gina