The Last Day....

Today is the last day of my course in Dresden. We were rather emotional. Libor looked very sad that we will all be going our separate ways. I get the feeling that he is an emotional and serious person. A perfectionist too. In a positive sense. :) I like him. A man at 40, who teaches in a technical school and who is willing to share knowledge and help others. He is also someone who is open-minded enough to see things from a different point of view.

Herr Kogar - a wise old man who is always smiling and exuding a fatherly presence. Although he does not say much, one does not get the feeling that he is aloof.

The Romanian couple - I pray for them and wish that their hopes and wishes will come true soon. They are a jovial couple. There is always laughter around them.

Stefan - We did not say much. I guess we both know that there is something not right between us. American kultur und Asian kulture is slightly different. Being humble and being receptive to other people. And not judge others without first understanding th esurrounding factors. Perhaps Stefan is still young and has yet to see the world. Afterall, I did learn lessons the hard way too.

Mai and Ji - THey have to stay here much longer for their studies. Both are young girls with ambitions and energy. I wish them well.

Siew Hwa - The girl who gets on my nerves quite frequently. I hope that she grows up soon and that she learns to be more sensitive especially when she wants to be a psychologist.

Aboveall, I think we had a good time. A class mit different people, different experiences, different aspirations, different personalities and thoughts. Yet, it all turned out well, Peaceful and harmonious. ALthough we never really say much other than revise Deutsch grammar and homework, it somehow bonded all of us. There is this atmosphere of missing each other and hoping that we all have more time together to get to know each other. It was an extremely long emotional moment for quite a few of us. Especially Marit.

Marit taught us for only two weeks but she loves us. When a teacher loves her students and does her very best to help them, you can feel it. She is one good teacher and we are very fortunate to have gotten to know her. She will always be one of the very few who will have a lasting impression on me. She is one whom I can draw my inspiration and motivation for my future endeavours from. While all has been going well, something bad happened today and Marit cried. I pray for her and I hope that everything is alright. She is one good person on this planet earth.

While I love to write more, I have to go do my homework and revision so that I can revise what has been taught today. Must not let Marit down. Must carry on and strive to be the best. Just like she strives to do her best in imparting her knowledge to us.

Meanwhile/Inzwishen, I pray for peace, harmony and happiness for the students and teachers and the people around me.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Eislaufen

Wir sind am Sonntag, den 20 November 2005 Eislaufen gefahren. Wir hatten viel Spaß.

That was my second time ice-skating. Of course, I fell a couple of times while trying to get my posture right. It was raining while we were ice-skating. It was not so heavy so we went on as if the weather was great. There were no handbars for us to hold on to. It was merely an ice-ring and there were some mattresses along the circumference just in case.

I have improved quite a bit from the last time. My strides are slightly longer. I can stand. My fear has decreased. What I need to work on further on is to lengthen my stride and not be afraid of speed. Natürlich, ice-skating is not a slow sport!!! Haha....

The great thing that came out of this experience is that I got to know Richard, an American, matured and wise, independant and willing to share knowledge with one. And Beatrix auch! Both of them helped me much in learning how to get the techniques right. We had lots of fun and of course lots of bruises for me. :)

I love the weather. Winter is cold and harsh. Sometimes so grey that it is depressing. But I love it whenever I see the snow falling down. And note that the snow does not fall down vertically like the raindrops in Singapore. It falls horizontally, zig-zagging all the way such that it take more than twice the time needed to reach the ground. Small little flakes of white snow crystals flaying all around you. It is just so amazing and preety. I look forward to seeing them more often now that Winter is approaching fast.

I remember that I cried when I first saw the snow fall in Dresden on Thursday, last Thursday. The moment was just so touching and moving. Slowly the snow will cover the trees and leaves and we will be covered with a "white blanket", although this blanket is not warm.

The Deutschkurs is coming to an end this week. I have learnt a lot and got to know more people. Had both positive and negative experiences so far. But it has all been worth it.

Moving on, I look forward to improving my Deutsch, learning Danish and being a good student in NIE to maximise my potential and ability. And years later, after I have saved enough money, I hope to move around the globe teaching and sharing my experiences with the next generation such that they can appreciate and learn to see the world in their different but humble ways.

God help me!

:)

Eine Mischung den deutsche Sprache und englische Sprache. Ist das möglich?

I have been thinking about this for quite some time. Is there a possibility to merge English and German for my career? The next four years will be spent embarking on my teacher education and building up my teaching experience. While doing so, I hope to get my Masters in Education so as to be a more proficient and effective teacher. Meanwhile, I also want to continue learning German because I love the Language and I loce the process of acquiring the language. My final destination is Masters in German as a Foreign language. While the education in Germany is free, I still need money for daily expenses. It is difficult getting a sponsorship because Germany's focus is on teachnical and engineering research. Even if I can study here, the next quesion is what can I do with a Masters in German? Can I teach German to non-native speakers? I guess most people would prefer it if Native language speakers teach them.

I also want to do a degree in Linguistics. I guess it would be less restrictive and more broad-based as we study the technicalities of the various langauges rather than on acquiring the language itself. Linguistics, German and English are all components of communicative ability. Is there somewhere where I can strike a balance to allow me to do all three? Is there room in the world to accommodate someone like me to teacher english and german?

Please Lord, I pray for a sign or answer as to whether there is hope or having this dream come true?

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Er schneit heute

Er schneit heute. Nur ein bißchen, aber es war genug.

Es ist kalt, aber es ist schön. Das Luft ist frisch und erfrishend.

I do not know how to feel...

DAphne wrote to me today and asked about what I am busy with. As usual, I told her about the German course that i am doing and the upcoming plans that I have. She also mentioned about Zerlinda getting married sometime next year. It is weird. I mean, I do not feel anything because it is none of my business. The only question that popped up in my head is,"How can I get out of it? Or how can I avoid all the stuff going on during that time? Can I not go?" I am not clse to her anyway and there is nothing in common between the two of us.

Ich hasse die Geräush!

Can I not invite any of my relatives for my wedding? Better still, can I not have the banquet? I just want a quiet peaceful dinner with my friends, people whom I can trust and be comfortable with. I hate all the other extras that have to be done. In the end, the bride is tired and does not enjoy the entire day at all.

One of my new found friends said that banquets are carried out to announce, or let other people know that you are attached/taken. What business is it of theirs? (Well, I guess, you can say that when you are not close to your relatives.)

You do not know half of the guests who turn up. You do not enjoy the time. You have to spend so much money on the preparations. (I could have done a couple of German Intensive courses and travel round Germany with that kind of money!!!!!! F*** these traditions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Everyone puts on a mask during such occassions and pretend to be happy for the couple. THen behind them, the ugly side comes out. They criticize this and that and compare this and that. Hey, can't they just get a life? There are more important things in the world to bother about!!!!!!!!!

Ok. I am frustrated still because I can never understand and accept the rationale. Guess this is the only way to get the thoughts out of my mind!!!!!!

Back to assumptions

Zurück nach dieses Thema!!

There is this American youth in my class. Only 19 and typical American. Talks about Politics, thinks that he is the best, slangs alot, speaks very fast und so weiter. He did not get on my nerves earlier. Ging auf meine Nerven. But yesterday, he did it. During one of the breaks, he was talking to the Malaysuan girl in class and the moment she said that she did not speak Malay, he exclaimed:" You come from Malaysia and you do not speak Malay?" Then there was this smirk on his face. I sat in my seat and shook my head. Irritated and disappointed.

Then I thought about it for almost the whole day. Many people make the assumptions that u have to speak whatever language that is tied to your skin colour, and your origin. That is such a stupid assumption in today#s context. We are all moving around and attending different schools with different systems. IN Singapore, English is our first language instead of our mother tongue. For Chinese who migrate early in their lives to English-speaking countries or other foreign-language speaking countries, they may not know their mother tongue because, they did not learn the language during their formative years.

Also, why must we speak the language that is related to our skin, why can't we choose? We may grow up in one environment speaking one language. Later, we may find that we appreciate and are more inclined to another culture and language. Why can't we choose? Many people find this thought weird and illogical. To me, it is only logical. Kulture and langauge is shaped by practices and behaviour. If one could assimilate into that, why can't we be that?

My Progress

I have been here in Dresden for slightly more than a week now. Lessons sort of just began and we just finished a chapter today. It was an interesting journey as we revised the Grammar and learnt words to fill up our vocabulary tank. It was hard work too. Whenever possible, I tried to write essays so that I can get my grammar and sentence strucutres right. It is also one way to build upon my vocabulary bank. Albeit my standard is still not that high, there is at least some improvement. My ears are tuned slighty more to German now and i speak a little more of German to get my tongue and vocal cords going.

Other than working hard, I have been enjoying the sights of Dresden and exploring the place too. It is very exciting to explore an unknown land on your own because you never really know what to expect. it is fun to observe people and of course let others observe you. In a land where Asians are typically never really to be seen, they scrutinize you with interest and curiosity.

I have also signed up for a Tandem Program where they try to match you with someone who wants to learn your language and more about your country. For me, English is definitely the language that I consider my first. Well, we shall wait and see if they find anyone suitable for me. I look forward to meeting up with this person and practise my Deutsch too.

Right now, I am taking a break. At three o'clock, I will be joining ein gruppe and we are going on an excursion.

I can feel the immersion effects now. I think in Deutsch and of course speak deutsch too as that is the only common language that we have.

I simple hope that I can continue with Deutsch and that I can finally teach deutsch one day. Und dann, hopefully, I can move on to other languages such as Italien and Spanish and become a real linguist. God Bless me with the energy and brain power, and of course the opportunities. Amen!

Alone in Dresden

It has been quite a few days since I last blogged. Was in Berlin over the weekend with Ming and Family and Matt. Berlin is an interesting place. Lots to see and discover. HOwever due to the short time that we had, we only managed to cover the eastern portion of Berlin all the way to Brandenburg Tor. I hope to go back there again. I have not experienced the Berlin Wall and the atrocities that took place in Berlin so many years ago.

The journey to Dresden was filled with excitement and embarrassment as well. I made a huge blunder on the train. I think that guy was really pissed off by me when I asked him to let me take his seat. This indirectly means that I was chasing him away. Well, guess such experiences just add up to my life story. Perhaps this incident will come in handy one day when I impart knowledge to the little ones.

Now that I have been here for a few days, the initial excitement, fears and questions are slowly fading away. Coming here during Halloween and arriving at the train station after it gets dark really set my mind going. Thoughts of witches, ghosts and moving pumkins did put me on my nerves though. To add to the atmosphere, Dresden has many buildings which are not occupied and dilapidated. I wonder if there are any elements living in those buildings. I wonder what happened in those buildings. Are there stories hidden in the walls, the stariways and paintings? Did someone forget something in those buildings? How long have these buildings been empty? Who built these buildings? Why did the people leave these buildings unattended? Why is it so dark? Is there something in the air that I am missing?

So many questions ran through my mind. While I did give them some thought, I guess I was too tired to dweel much on them.

Alone in Dresden allows me to train up my navigation skills and be independent. And I think I have done pretty well having survived the first day of arrival amidst such scary environment and walking through the Dresden city on my own. Not to mention that I bought food and other necessities using my limited broken German.

Well, the lessons have started and today is only the second day. There is no stress so far. I hope that I can achieve the goals that I have set for myself and I hope that I can enjoy the experience to the fullest.

New environment, new people, new words, new ways of doing things, new experiences, and so on..... How I wish that this will not end.......

Heyzzzzzzzz.........wake up Jo!You have to go back to Singapore and spend one year in NTU before you get thrown into the pit with those curious and perhaps a little naughty students......So enjoy while you can!

haha..........self-amusement......Thanks to the Lord for everything that has heppened in my life so far......I shall write soon....gotta get back to my assignments and revision...... :)