The Pavilion

On my second day in Germany I found the park which is now referred to as my park and within that park is the pavilion that I've taken pictures of in every season of being here. So finally I have all pictures!
Actually, I think I'll go back tomorrow to fix up the autumn shot. Wrong angle.

The Burn

And this ladies and gentlemen is the place where I learnt a valuable lesson. Which is, that just because you're not in Australia anymore doesn't mean that the sun can't hurt you. Because it can, and it did. Today I laid in a direct line with every UV ray that burning thing in the sky had.

We should start from the start. Firstly I got up and did some kickboxing then some pilates on excercisetv then I had my Special K with yoghurt and a banana, the sun was shining and it was a grand 30°C out. Steffen had to work till 4 which was when he would have a break, so I decided to go to the Beach Club (remember, the place with the bad 'sand') for 3 hours till then. I parked my bum in a Bacardi deck chair and read my backpacking for girls book thinking I'd get a slight burn which would just be a tan tomorrow. Ok, enough of the book after an hour so I collapsed the chair and laid on it so my back could get some sun. Thankfully, my back has super sun repellent powers and nothing happened. After a while I set the chair up and began looking around at the people sympathising that this was all they had for a 'beach'. Then the frustration of getting really hot and not being able to jump into the water got to me so I decided it was time to leave and rode my bike home. But not before buying a watermelon!

Steffen was already home and his reaction made me realise how bad things were. We went inside and as he cut my watermelon I studied what had become of myself in the mirror. Never, ever, in my whole life, can I remember being this red! It's now half past 9 and it has only gotton worse. I've frozen myself to death 3 times over in the shower, my moisturiser is now living in the fridge so when I put it on its cold (for 10 seconds) and I'm drinking loads of water to keep hydrated. So I just sit here waiting for the cold sun stroke chills to kick in and hope I won't wake up tonight sick.

Just because you're not in Australia anymore doesn't mean the sun can't hurt you. Slip Slop Slap (and wrap!) goes for all nations. End of story.

Heating Up

My reason for not blogging for a fair few days is simply that the weather here has just been too good to be inside for a long time. We've been rolling around in the mid to high 20's and it doesn't get completely dark till 10pm. So most days I've been on my bike riding to Frankfurt or up the river in Offenbach. I love how here you can go out on any random sunny day and see something out of the ordinary. Like the other day I was riding along in the park and there was an orchestra in the gazebo. It was so Grandma. Nevertheless I sat down in the sun with my bike and made a good ol' daisy chain while listening.

The day Before Steffen and I had pizza down by the river in Frankfurt again. A few days after that I even got a sunburn from lying in the park for an hour. Marco Steffen and I rode our bikes and razor scooter to the park which is on the way to Frankfurt to play some football which was really fun. Steffen made friends with this powder puff dog which wouldn't stop barking at him while following him.

This is a Bierbike they peddle and give you beer.

From where I ride my bike into Frankfurt along the Main

And this is the two weird boys I hang out with...

Most recently though Lucy, Marco, Steffen and I met up and went to the 'Beach Club' which at first was really weird. It's an area between to ways of water that is built up and is fully sand with sun beds, large beach cushions, deck chairs plus bars with lounge areas and so on. We played beach volleyball and football and just laid in the sun which was perfect. However afterwards the 'sand', if you could call it that, had made my feet completely black. I really can't remember the last time I had such black feet. Felt so dirty. After we went to the Eis Cafe and got large ice creams then came home and Steffen and I watched 500 days of Summer. Besides having to work the morning it was a great day.

Now everything is rainy again.

Work.

from Weheartit.

As mentioned in an earlier post, I'm currently spending my days as an assistant English teacher at a school for children that have been kicked out of every other school or have another reason not to go to another school. I thought I would jot down some facts about my German work life instead of boring paragraphs.

• There's about 70 kids aged 12 to 20. About 5 are girls. There's 3 dogs as well, those students can't part from them.
• The school is the only one of its kind in Germany and has a sister school in Melbourne.
  
• Many students are... 'feral' is the polite word to use here. Believe me.
  
• There are a couple students that actually scare me a little.
  
• The students are very interested in my personal life. One said he was going to kill Steffen and another asked me at what age did I learn about the birds and the bee's.
  
• Some days I go home super happy that I taught something and laughed and had fun with the students. Other day's I just never want to return due to frustration.
• To the students I'm more of a friend than a teacher which makes it more fun. Though they are wild they are really great interesting people (most) and they are always wanting to talk.
  
• It is extremely awkward to turn up to the same party as one of your students and being introduced to everyone as the Australian English teacher. This student was older than me too.
• I tutor one student who is separated from the rest. Normally these lessons go pretty well. Sometimes I just end it early due to the students unbelievable unwillingness to work or do anything for that matter.
• Some English teachers in the world are pretty cool, like the one's at this school. I love them!
• Macbeth can actually be incredibly funny. These students have a knack for getting into character.
  
• And lastly, it is so much more easier to wake up in the morning and go to school when you're being paid a generous amount for it.
  

10 Stories Up

Although in these pictures it looks quite ordinary, it is pretty spooky 10 sets of stairs up this apartment. Sadly my camera just doesn't capture it. I also was hoping there wouldn't be any clothes up there but anyway. You know when you walk into a room or a place and it just gives you that haunted feeling, or that someone is watching you? This room has that feel. Since the first time I went up here I was freaked out. I even asked Steffen if this is where the Jews hid but he said no. I'm not convinced. There is an eery feel up in this room that has seen it's way through two World Wars. The stairs, as you can see, are just an OHS disaster. Much like the ones going up to the year six classrooms at St Joey's on the oval side... Carrying a basket full of wet clothes up these tiny curvy stairs is no fun and going down isn't much better. As soon as I get eye level with the floor I always have to do a quick scan of the room, including behind me, it's the perfect position for murder from the behind. So for these reasons I avoid going up as much as possible and also because the key is a joke. Sorry but I was not born around the time these keys were in fashion therefore I have a lot of difficulty. And that's the attic for you.

Every Morning - Sugar Ray

I remember how years ago I'd fill my sisters luncbox up with choc chips so when she opened it they went everywhere and turning the shower head upside down so when people turned it on the shower wouldn't work and some other small things. Rebellious, I know, but that was many April Fools Days ago. This April Fools Day is a windy but sunny one with no plans of fooling. The weather here is a bit of a joke in itself anyway. Finally Spring is here and you can actually feel the UV rays on your skin! Best of all is that the snow has disappeared. I never want to see it again, or at least for a long time. Yesterday I went on a short ride on the bike, which I have to give back because Marco's scoot died in an accident, to show you all just how great spring is by using my park as an example.






And the title of the blog is dedicated to kizza and our conversation this morning about driving to hatty with my beach CD. Good times.

Offenbach..

Offenbach is where I live with Herr Steffen Kunze in a matchbox size apartment which I've grown to love (though I think it doubles in size when I'm cleaning!). From the green lounge I can see planes coming in to land at frankfurt airport. If you asked anyone in Offenbach about the city they would say it's crap, boring and horrible. Which I suppose if you've lived here for a number years it would be. Offenbach to me though is an easy city to navigate, close to Frankfurt, has all the shopping you need, has great parks and a cool palace. Not that I'm bias, but it is the best one I've seen so far. The Main river also goes through Offenbach which is great for walks, bike rides etc. Offenbach also has tree lined streets and lots of squirrels which I think is really cool.

The place does have its downsides though. For example, Steffen is the only real German in the group of friends we have that live in Offenbach. Patricia is too but she lives in Bavaria. For some reason this seems to be the Turkish or just plain Eastern European immigrant central of Germany. I don't like them very much as they tend to get in the road alot and they know they are doing it. My students all asked me in the beginning; WHY Offenbach!! All I could answer was that I had some friends here. Which is true, otherwise I'd probably give this town the skip.
However this is where I am and I really do have a soft spot for this second home. Here's just a few pics of the Büsing Palace(the first one), the park and ducks which Marco says are stupid because they live in Offenbach. There will be more pictures of Offenbach later these are just some early shots. And keep in mind I'll only show nice pictures of Offenbach ;) obviously.