Pics

Izzy & me before the game!















Kathryn, Addy, Ben and Ashley @ the Hertha Berlin game... we lost!











Izzy and me at the Hertha Berlin game on Saturday...













Olympia Stadium w/ the girls













Nicki and me on the SBahn heading into the city center... Probst!













Cased meat from the SBahn station... mmmm...
















Nicki, Ellen and me at a local German cafe... the weather was perfect!











Katie, Ashley & Rachel @ The Sony Center, Berlin.












Fresh fall flowers from the local market. Thanks Ellen!

Who Says Chivalry is Dead...

... because my Third Graders got game!

Enter: Raffael. Cutest kid EVER! Speaks French, German and English fluently and has a larger vocabulary than George Bush. (Ok, not a hard one to beat, I know. But the kid is only 7!) He was waiting patiently behind another kid I was helping, and a little girl came up, cut in front of him, and waited. I wanted to see how he handled it, so I let it go. Was he going to stand up for himself? Was he going to let it go? How does Raffael think? I wanted to know. Smaller than most in size and bigger than most in heart, that's how! He proceeded to say (in his French-German accent version of fluent English), "please...ladies first." He actually meant it! So I pulled him aside later to tell him how cool I thought that was, and he said with a coy smile, "Oh no, Miss K. I must tell you the rest of the phrase... it's 'ladies first, but men before!'" This kid's got digs! haha

The next day, on the field trip bus, the kid in front of me was jolting his seat back and forth, and when I leaned in to tell him to stop, it hit me, square in the forehead. Of course, I was sitting with Raffael (who wouldn't?), and he proudly calms me down with, "you're ok, Miss K. I have a trick for that... here... just let me lick my hand (he does), put it on your forehead (he does), and now run really fast and it will get cold to feel better!" I'll let you picture that one.

Things here are going well. The kids and I are settling in to a friendly beat, and we are getting to know eachother really well. 3rd Graders hold no boundaries... they are needy, smelly (from the pile of cream-based German food... windows are always open after lunch!), pick their nose, help their friends, aim to please, fly paper airplanes during handwriting (like you wouldn't!), and hug me everyday (and need me to... the au pairs just arent' cuttin' it for most!). They're adorable (before lunch).

After school is filled with hanging out with other expats and finding new things to do around this fabulous city, which is never farther than 20 minutes. I have been invited out by a few parents in my classroom, for a few glasses of vino and or coffee. They are warm and welcoming, and seem to appreciate all that we do for their children. As a teacher, I can't ask for more, b/c we all know it's not the money I'm after in the biz.

I hope things are going well for you. I must say it, I miss Rex. Of all people/things, I miss him most. I see German Shepards here and either smile huge or feel like crying, depending on how the day is going, really. My runs just aren't the same w/o my left side getting tugged the whole way!

Take good care, email soon, and next time you toast, think of me and I'll do same.

lots of love,
kate.
xo

Pics!

Olympia Stadium.... go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Stadium_(Berlin) to read more about it...










Addy and Izzy in the petting zoo at the Berlin Zoo!

















Knut!




















Addy, Izzy and Micha... Berlin Zoo entrance










Penguin (you could touch them if you were quick enough!) at the zoo

Still Going Strong...

It's been awhile since I've been able to find time to sit and write about all that is happening. School is off to a strong start... I had my first "pee in the pants" incident, although this kid didn't pee in his pants! He peed on his shirt only... tell me now, how does one arrange for that to happen?

All except 4 of my students are English as a Second (or third or fourth) language learners. Some don't understand a lick of what I'm saying, and others only do. It's an interesting balance for me to try and keep... I rotate from labeling items in the classroom ("door, desk, chair...") to "What is 426 times 245?" Needless to say, I'm pretty tired when I finally walk through my door at night. :)

Went to a futbol match yesterday at the famous Olympia-Stadium (see pics)... we tied 2-2... it was a great game. It was cold, so we got milchkaffes, Nutella crepes (omg... unbelievable!), and attempted to chant along with the rest of the futbol fanners... The Germans are nuts when it comes to their game. It was a definite cultural experience I will be attending again! The men there aren't disappointing, either!

We also went to the Berlin Zoo and saw the famous polar bear, Knut. He's soo cute and all of the animals are very cool to see. Addy and Izzy thought it was cool to see the leopard babies, I preferred the tigers!

I've been running regularly with Felice around a lake in Zehlendorf... nice to get out of the city runs 2x week... The lake is calm, surrounded by green, and relaxing. Perfect aftera day of kids peeing on their shirt!

Nikki and Ellen are due to arrive next Saturday for 2 weeks. They are travelling all around Germany, and of course will spend a few days here in Berlin with me. I am ecstatic to see them and show them around! We are looking into Milan, Italy for our 3 day break in October b/c we can travel round trip for 18 Euro! I have also booked Moldova for 6 days over our week holiday in October to visit Drew... this is very exciting and we are both looking forward to being in common company... He just celebrated his one-year anniversary of being overseas... Congrats, Drew!

Everything is else is going well. We are happy, healthy and comfortable here... not much else to ask for! :) Hope you are all doing well and this finds you prepping for the beautiful Fall weather I have been waiting for (can't wait to wear jackets!)...

much love,
tschuss,
kate xo

Life is settling in a bit more here, now that school has started and we're busier than ever. I have met my 19, 3rd Graders... they are a lively bunch! I have only 4 native English speakers in my class, with the rest speaking it as their 2nd, 3rd or even 4th language! They are an international bunch that has chalked up experiences most never do by old age.

I wake at 5:30(ish) to catch the 6:30 train into school every morning. As winter approaches and daylight hours dwindle, this will become increasingly more difficult to do with gusto! The trip in is good... I am able to buy a fresh veggie sandwich every morning for 2 Euro, along with a vanilla milchkaffe (milk and coffee), and fresh markets are available to pick from regularly.

My school is really interesting, with underground tunnels running (what they think) all the way to Hitler's underground bunker near the Brandenburg Gate. A majority of the tunnels were bombed in WWII, but a plan to trace them is in the works. The reason for the tunnels? The buildings were used to create weapons for the Nazi's in WWII, and some major, war changing weaponry was produced here. It's only perfect irony that these buildings are now used to educate people from all walks of life, of every nationality on a daily basis. Justice at its finest, eh!?

Please visit my school website at http://www.bbis.de/ to check it out!

Friday night was a BBIS Staff Party at our new boarding school in Kleinmachnow. Let's just suffice it to say that I want to move in! It's perfectly remodeled and is like new, where each child has his/her own space, and shares with another student living there. I can see why we are accumulating many new students who are interested in living there once their parents relocate due to Embassy positions. BBIS is a positive, lively place to be!

All is well here. I will try and post more pics in the near future! We've got some good ones from our Erdinger nights!
Choos!
kate xo

Pics

Adina, Katie, Kim and me after the Berlin Tour by the River Spree.










Adina, me, Kim @ The Berlin Wall. Peace again.









Sangria, anyone? @ Mary Sol... our new favorite tapas restaurant on the corner... uh-oh...











Schloss- Charlottenburg Palace (from the back gardens...)

















Adina, me and Kim in a biergarten just outside Schloss-Charlottenburg palace (only 10 minutes from my flat).

Visitors

It's been a busy couple of days since I've written last. Kim and Adina finished their 2 week backpacking adventure here in in Berlin and (as always), we had a fabulous time together. It was bittersweet to have a part of home here with me, and I was sad to see them go (but did not envy their 4:45 wakeup this am to catch a cab!)...


It was a busy day since, as I went into my classroom for the first time today for a few hours. I forgot I actually had to work here, seeing the amount of beer, recreation and visitors I've had so far in the short 19 days since arrival... I met one of my two team mates today, and she is phenomenal! She has taught all over the world and I am looking forward to listening to her stories (she has just completed a year in India, couldn't stay as a professsional b/c she was considered a "middle woman," (in transition of married to divorce), and legally had to leave the country!)...

If my mom hasn't already spread the word to you, yes, I have an itty bitty diamond in my right nostril. After all the time I spent fixing it up in June, I figured, why not add a little bling, right?

My best to you and lots of love!
kate xo