Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Getting to Germany


"Everything worth doing starts with being scared"

Well, I started my day watching thee episodes of Boy Meets World (now you know it's going to be a good day)

The drive to Milwaukee was good, hardly any traffic. Got a little mixed up trying to find the airport. During the drive I kept on receiving calls from United (best perk so far) telling me that my plane was going to be delayed for an hour, and then later only 30 minutes, then back to an hour again when I arrived at the airport.

Went to check my baggage and the nice guy at the register said that he was going to have to change my flight because I would not make my connecting flight out of Newark to Munich. So we had to change my airlines to US Airways--very nice and friendly people--so that I would fly to Philly and then leave there later that night for Munich.

Flight to Philly was alright. I was "lucky" enough to sit on the wing of the plane, which meant that I had the emergency exit door. The southern flight attendant asked if I would assist her in the event that there was a need to exit the plane. "Suuuurree" I said, "Why not?" In my head I was thinking that with my luck, my services would be needed--luckily, they weren't. There were a lot of little antsy and wiggly kids surrounding me who were coming back from the holidays. Behind me sat a husband and wife with their little 1 1/2 year old daughter. The wife and daughter were decked out head to toe in Juicy Couture sweat gear (eye roll) to top it off the mom was constantly swearing (F this and F that) and yelling at her daughter to sleep or quiet down or that she was driving her nuts. It was a long flight.... However, when we "blasted off" the little kids did a count down and were celebrating as we got into the air. Pretty cute!

Landed in Philly, cancelled my previous train ticket for a later time, and waited three hours in the airport biding my time. The plane to Munich boarded on time and as soon as I get to my section on the plane, the power goes out!  Greeeeaattt I thought. Well, we spent 3 1/2 hours waiting at the gate because of oil/tail/back-up power problems. Some people decided to leave the plane and board a different one tomorrow. I didn't feel any uneasiness and the pilot assured us that if he didn't think it was safe to fly, we wouldn't be. I trusted him, stayed, and read a little bit. So I cancelled my train ticket and decided to wait until I arrived to buy it. Finally, we took off. Because of some air pressure, it was a little bumpy of a flight. The perk of this whole plane trip: it was a very light flight and we all got to move around. I even got a whole 4 person row to myself! This came in handy for sleeping purposes later. I watched How I Met Your Mother, a little bit of The Watch, and all of Premium Rush.

Finally, I get to Munich at 11:15am (4:15am Wisconsin time). I get my baggage and find the desk to buy my train ticket (again... again...) The trains here look exactly like the ones in London!! I felt very comfortable there!


The train ride was long… about 3 hours by the time I got to Ansbach. I’m in a VERY rural part of Germany; lots of farms, fields, and trees. But I’m okay with that, it makes it seem more familiar. My Cooperating teacher was there waiting at the station for me with a little sign saying “Welcome Casey” it was really cute. She is a very nice woman and reminds me a lot of my friend Leah. She gave me a quick tour of the city and a brief overview about where things are located. For example, the elementary school that I will be student teaching at is in the city and not the base. She also showed me around the base and let me know all of the things located there: a Wing Street, Burger King, Popeye’s, a bowling alley, Movie Theater, fitness center, grocery store, banks, etc. This place has almost everything you could think of—except Wifi in my apartment. But, hey, it’s free living so I’ll take it! So I won’t be on the internet very often, I’m still trying to figure out where there is Wifi; so mom (and others) don’t worry if you don’t hear from me, I’m fine.

Went to bed around 7pm and slept until 8am 

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Photos of my apartment!

My CT emailed me some pictures this morning of my apartment! Take a look!

Kitchen

Closet! 

Bathroom!

Bedroom

Living Room

Friday, December 28, 2012

Wrapping it up!

So Christmas is past and now only 3 days remaining until I leave for Germany!

I bought my train pass and ticket today from the airport to Ansbach. Hopefully the bad weather stays away until the 2nd so that nothing gets delayed!

Now only some last minute stuff to buy: a cloth laundry bag, an alarm clock (because I won't have my phone), some new boots, and a laptop sleeve to keep my laptop nice and safe!

I got a 16gb SD card for Christmas, so I will be taking a LOT of pictures of my journey. I'm excited but still a little nervous about everything! I need to learn a few key words (please, thank you, excuse me, train) so that I'm not completely stupid or rude.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

All of the feels!

“If it’s time to go, remember what you’re leaving. Remember the best. My friends have always been the best of me.”

Well, it's finals week here which means it's time to wrap up the semester and wish everyone a happy winter break. For me, it's saying goodbye to my roommates, friends, classmates, professors, and family that I won't see again until April. This is a weird, grown-up, feeling that I haven't had in a very long time.

So, to all of my wonderful friends out there, you better Skype me often! :P

Also, weighed my suitcase--37 pounds!!! Woot woot! I only have a few more things to pack so I'm pretty excited about being WAY under weight.

I talked with Amber about traveling around and it was great to be reassured that everything is going to be alright! That's all I need to hear right now. I'm sure that I'll look back at this and laugh at how dumb I'm being, but you have to learn somehow!

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Finalization

I bought my plane ticket the other day! I'll be leaving at 12:30pm on New Year's Eve. When I land in Munich, it will be the 2013! It's so surreal! Is this real life!?!?!? :P

I'm really excited, but also nervous. It's like transferring all over again--so scary, exciting, unsure. I wish I could take at least one friend with me, just as a safety blanket. But I know that I have to do this one on my own and that I will love every minute of it, and hopefully meet new friends! 

I started packing up my room today; realized that my suitcase has a hole in it... so now I have to buy a new one. This was also my last weekend with my friends. I will miss them soooo much! I really hope my new roommates are just as wonderful as my current ones. 

I will have to buy my train pass soon. I'm thinking of just getting a pass for three countries--Germany, France, and the Czech Republic. That way I can travel all around Germany, visit Strasbourg, Paris, and maybe Nancy, and Prague! There is "Cinderella's Castle" in Germany. God, I'm so excited to go there! It looks beautiful--Here, take a look: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuschwanstein_Castle 

I will hopefully learn how to ski and speak some German while I'm there! I'm so wonderfully blessed to have this opportunity and I will definitely make the most of it. 

Sunday, December 9, 2012

More information! Happy Day!

Found out a lot of my information today!!! Good news... I have a bed!!!! A couple weeks back I had a horrific dream that I got there and had to sleep on the floor because there wasn't a bed for me because I had to bring one! 

I'll be living in a 4 bedroom apartment with 3 other student teachers. The set up is very similar to what I'm living in now. Housing is free!!!!!!!!!! I don't think I could be any more excited about that if I wanted to be!

Can't you tell how happy I am!!! :) 

Saturday, December 8, 2012

First Post

So, this is my first blog--just testing stuff out. 

I will be student teaching in Ansbach, Germany from January 7th to March 22nd. Also, I will be studying abroad in Scotland to begin a certification in Emotional Behavior Disorders. I will be gone from May 22nd to July 7th