Final Post
Hello Teachers!!!
Congratulations on a strong finish and completing your semester of student teaching. Next semester we will have three student teachers in Heidelberg. Write a letter to prepare them for their experience and share information that you wish you had known beforehand. Kasia, you can talk about overseas experiences in general. Also, a highlight during your time there would be great. Finish strong, and travel safely!
Hugs and warmest wishes,
Chris
posted by Chris @ 11:33 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Hi Ladies!
First of all, congratulations on your placement overseas. I am sure you are feeling rushed and overwhelmed right now. Slow down, enjoy the time you have to spend with your friends and family, and know that you can email me with whatever questions you have! I was in your shoes less than a year ago and I know I had a lot of questions so please don't hesitate to contact me!
This experience has been absolutely wonderful. I have met awesome people, had such a great experience with my students, and have gotten to see places I never would have imagined being able to see! More people in Europe speak English than you think, but always try to speak their language first when you approach them. I found that people are much nicer when you do this :)
www.b-europe.com was how we booked most of our train tickets over here--they seemed to have the best deals. Be sure to budget your money and realize that there is a lot to see and do around Heidelberg!! Both Emily and I took a few weekends off and worked on our TPAs early. It was SUCH a relief to get all of my filming done, my lessons taught, and my student work samples ready early so I could work on the TPA without feeling rushed. If you don't take any of the advice in this note, LISTEN TO THIS!! :) You guys will have spring break over here so start looking at what days you'll have off and look into where you want to go! The earlier you look, the cheaper things are.
Rachel- Monica is an absolute angel. She and her family basically adopted me this semester. We had family dinner at her house on Thursday nights, and if I needed a ride anywhere or help with anything she was more than willing to help out. You are in good hands. You will learn a lot from her, but just know that you will work longer hours than most interns! By the time you get to our class, there will only be 14 kids!! They are a GREAT group and prepare for me to send you guys emails because I want to know how everyone is doing!
Don't worry about coming with sheets, pillows, or towels. All of that is provided here. There are also dishes, a TV, and a DVD player. I am also donating the toaster my boyfriend sent me for my birthday...I almost set the apartment on fire with the first one we had :). Make sure you get converters for all of your electronics, though (220). The commissary is very close, so you can buy basically everything you need there if you don't want to come over with toiletries. The elementary school is within walking distance, too. There is a gym on base you can use for free. It is nothing compared to the Rec, but it gets the job done. :)
Something I wish we knew about before we got here was that if you walk out off base via the Burger King gate (this will all make sense eventually) until you get to a main street, there will be a bus stop (Grasweg). Cross the street and wait at the bus stop to pick up the 717. You will take that to the Hauptbahnhof (the train station) and from the train station you can pick up the 32, 33, or 34 bus to Bizmarkplatz. This is the main shopping/bars/downtown area. The bus fare for this is only 2,30. We took cabs for the first couple weeks until we figured out the bus tickets. Sometimes it is worth it if a group of you are going downtown to call a cab and split the cost, but if you are going alone or with one other person, it makes sense to take the bus. The money we could have saved would have paid for a couple nights out or at least a trip to the commissary!! :)
As far as money goes, I switched banks before I came here because the bank I am with now does not have an international fee for when I use my debit card. This is something I would look into because you will be here for a while and that adds up! Also, make sure you talk to your bank and let them know you are going overseas for an extended period of time so they don't freeze your account when they see lots of international charges.
I know this was probably an overwhelming message but just know when you get here you will be surrounded by people who will take care of you. You are coming at a unique time since the base is closing, so enjoy it! It is an awesome experience. Enjoy every second and see all you can!!!
Please don't hesitate to Facebook or email me if you have ANY questions.
Best wishes and good luck on your finals!! :)
Rosie Tarnowski
Haha - Well it looks like Rosie has covered a lot! :)
While I wasn't in Heidelberg I can help you with any travel ideas, routes, or other travel tips! Even though your main focus is teaching, make sure you take the time to do as much exploring as possible! Trains and planes are actually a great time to get grading and planning done :)
Overseas teaching really opens you up to different cultures, and in my pinion will help you relate to students in the future. Having a broader sense of other's cultures, beliefs, traditions, etc. allows you to understand your students better and no simply write them off. An attitude problem, might not be an attitude problem, but a cultural norm or expectation from the family.
I agree that a lot of places speak English, so don't be fearful of asking questions or venturing out. Try to have a few words in your pocket so that you can at least attempt to speak in the destinations language that you are traveling to. People are friendlier if they see you trying (in most cases).
I can't believe it is already done! I feel like I had been waiting for this opportunity for several years, literally haha, and now it is completed. I seriously think that this was my top two experiences of my life. While four months might seem like a long time, it really isn't. So take advantage of any opportunities that present themselves and don't be afraid to go outside of your comfort zone!
you can ask any questions if you have some!
Have fun!
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