May 31 2012

Today we started class. In a way, classes don’t really begin until next Monday (June 4th). At least today we had our placement test, and I hope they will tell us how we did besides placement. I don’t really feel nervous about it since I can’t place lower than what I am, but I do hope I’m at least where I should be.

After that we did “speed dating” where we all had to practice small talk with each other -- for over an hour. I was so nervous and stressed out about this. By the end I wanted to run out of the room. The majority of the other students have had at least 2 years of German, and the only other one (other than Simonne or Tim) that had only 2 semesters told me that he was raised in Germany when he was younger.

Afterwards we had mittagessen and FINALLY David and Tim show up. Everyone was happy to see them and have them join us. After lunch we had another guided tour, this time by a professional who spoke only in German. She was very nice and I at least understood a lot from context, I think.

After the tour of Wittenberg (mainly of the historical buildings/churches/Luther’s Haus rather than shops and what to do in our day to day lives like the other tours were) Simonne and I had freizeit so we tried a different bakery and had pastries and I got a tasse kaffe.

We then came back to our host family and eventually had dinner. Every meal time I think we get better at communicating. I feel like talking with them is actually more beneficial than when at the University. The University, to be honest, is very stressful for me because of the added stress of grades and knowing the people you are talking to are judging/evaluating you. Frau and Herr Richter and the people you meet in Wittenberg seem to simply want to talk, there are no expectations, they just want to help and want you to learn.

Luther Haus

Herr Weigel's -- across the street form the school where everyone goes for the best coffee or a bratwurst

Everyone on the City Tour