and so it begins

Good golly, Miss Molly! (who's Molly?) It's been ages since I've bothered to write some words and send them into the vast mysterious cavern of collective thought that is the internet (waxing poetic today, apparently) Since the last blip, things and stuff have happened! For starters, last weekend my new pals (I HAVE PALS!) and i watched all three Lord of the Rings in one sitting. With pizza. And snacks. SO MANY SNACKS. It was a heroic undertaking and I regret not a minute of it. Although Boromir's death took a lot out of me right at the beginning. (Beginning in the scheme of things. 2.5 hours into things, really.) Anyway. I'm acclimating! And being more or less social! I think my social quota for September was tripled last week during orientation..

For four days and nights, I divided my time between a nunnery in Graz, complete with blue habit wearing nuns, and a castle thing in the hills surrounding Graz.. (Unfortunately the word castle here is rather liberal. Think really nice mansion with turrets!) During those four days I was oriented again and again with powerpoint presentations, classroom seminars, games, and a morning in a REAL LIVE AUSTRIAN SCHOOL TEACHING CHILDREN!! CHILDREN!!  The week felt like a month, but despite the ad nauseum repetition of what has already been in every packet we've been mailed, I think it really did prepare me for my upcoming year. Our morning in the school went really well, it was a business school, and the classes we talked to were between the ages of 16-18. They listened and took part in our silly activities and didn't make any of us cry! (I was in a group with two other lovely ladies here in Styria.) The highlight was when the professor asked us when we were coming back for a lesson! HE LIKED US THAT MUCH. That thursday in the maze that is the Austrian school system really eased most of my nerves and stopped the panicked wailing deep in my soul.
When I wasn't learning about classroom management or eating strange vegetarian cabbage casseroles (yeah…) I was smoozing and friend-making. Most of the pals I made during orientation are in the province of Styria, so they're all a stone or boulder's throw away! We spent our free time giggling, mocking and drinking. Three of the best pastime activities there are in this world. I hope to see more of their happy faces soon! SOON I TELL YOU.

Now, you know what day it is, don't you? It's October 1st and that means that today was my first real live day at my schools. Today I became a teacher. Assistant. Thing. Whatever. I have a job now! I woke up at the disgusting hour of 6 to get to my school well-groomed by 7.30; Now there is still some confusion as to what role my two schools play: I was told one would be my main school however what the Fulbright Commission told me, and what one of the schools believes are two very different things. I've registered all my bank info at one school, and they will be paying me, and they are quite certain they're in charge of me, so to speak but…I am not one to get in the way of bureaucracy. I'll let them handle this on their own and go about my business.
Both of my schools specialize in different things. The first one I visited today is called a BAKIP which essentially means a high school for students who wish to become a kindergarten teacher. It's not strictly vocational but also not as academically strenuous as, say, an academic Gymnasium. (there you have to learn dead languages, English and a modern romance language…) So far the teachers at the BAKIP have tucked me neatly under their wings and shown me several ropes. Most of the faculty are women, including the headmistress who is a short, stout and incredibly friendly woman with whom I will have coffee next week! She was also impressed with my German heh heh heh. As were the students! I was allowed to teach the greater part of a class this morning, where we played a game all about me. As two girls were chattering in German, asking what exactly the rules were, I answered her question in German and she was most impressed. Apparently they don't expect much of me, which is good! The class had about 30 kids, 3 of which were boys. Apparently the overall school ratio is 10-90. And I thought the odds at Lewis and Clark were bad…

After my morning there, I wandered three bus stops down to my second school which is more of you average high school with oodles of subjects, all meant to send you to university. Here I met another of my head teachers, who was very friendly and quick to throw me into the mix. I was introduced to about 5 English teachers before my first lesson with him. Again we played the game, the kids were interested and paid attention and thought I was kind of cool. Or at least goofy in a charming sort of way. When I returned to the teacher's lounge (a safe haven from the zoo of the hallways) i was quickly fought over for the next lesson! PEOPLE WERE FIGHTING OVER ME. So, I went with another English teacher to her class of 17/18 year olds and repeated. They were equally fun and engaged. This was the 3rd time that day I'd done this lesson so I was beginning to fade. But I didn't let it show! After that there was a 20 minute break where I tried to speak German, but was too tired so made lots of idiotic mistakes and made a very nice lady probably think my brain is the size of an underfed turnip…But she did take my phone number so I can hang out with her daughter! WOO! Her class was the least responsive, but not at all rude. Afterward I was glad to take the bus home, buy a schnitzel sandwhich and curl up in bed with How I Met Your Mother.  I have already taught 4 lessons and will probably have a very similar day tomorrow and will hopefully be given a schedule of some sort…I also still need to pick up my visa! Which is ready! HURRAH!

I'm vair excited for this year and am feeling much more confident in my abilities to be a TA. Now, I want to eat some soup.

Liebe Grüße aus Graz!