To see all of Weimar’s castle-y offerings, off I went to Schloss Ettersburg on Friday afternoon. This is about twenty minutes to the west of Weimar on the bus and the journey goes through many lovely villages and you really can see the full extent of Thüringen’s countryside along the way. Fields everywhere, and the like.
Once there though, despite the classy looking website, it became clear that it wasn’t particularly sehenswürdig. A group was there with a wedding and as I obviously couldn’t go inside the castle, I was consigned to stroll around it. There wasn’t much to it. A park with steep paths and rolling fields (which I had no desire to explore, as it was raining) and a tiny village street outside it was all it had to offer. A shame really, but there we are. The photos, if you want to see them, are viewable here.
Saturday evening was a last meal with the first set of LAs in Erfurt. It was also, as it turned out, my last forray into the great Thüringen capital. We chatted about anything and everything, over memories, experiences, what we’d miss and what we’d do again and we all vowed to meet up again when in the UK. Fingers crossed we do! It was also good to have a final roam around Erfurt’s backstreets. I’ll miss that place, and all the memories I hold along with it.
Monday heralded the beginning of the end proper. This week, I was in high demand – I did a few extra classes to say goodbye to them properly. Thus, my first class on Monday morning was Doris’ fifth graders. They asked that I wait downstairs, then surprised me with a little impromptu breakfast in the middle of the classroom! I was given a card (one of many that I received) and a round of applause, along with a bunch of flowers and a nicely decorated blackboard. Smiles all round for me – what a surprise!
Onto Anne-Rose’s seventh grade class – this was a more low-key affair, as I was expecting. They were still learning about the Battle of Hastings and associated history around that. This was pretty interesting and vaguely made me want to study history again – but then I remembered how much I’d begun to loathe it by the end of my A-Levels, so so much for that!
The evening was spent reminiscing and sampling some beer with another group of LAs in Jena. Good times – it was a lovely way to round things off and I’ll miss all of them, for sure.
Tuesday and my last day as a Language Assistant dawned. First up was the challenge of bringing the eight or so boxes of Schokoküsse , along with other assorted goodies, books I’d have to give back and the like, into school itself. Not easy, but with a bit of help I managed it!
Betty’s class was an active English lesson – we played an hour and a half’s worth of games. Good fun it was too! Along with this, the class gave me a card saying how much they’d miss me – and I’ll miss them too. They’re a nice bunch and it was a great and fun last lesson.
Onto the English department itself next, who gave me a book and a card signed from them all, along with a calendar to remind me of my time here (not that I’m likely to forget it!), plus their best wishes.
Next up was Sabine’s fifth graders – they finished off their presentations about their houses and I kept the level of fun up (relatively speaking) by giving them a wordsearch to do. A good ol’ round of applause I got from them, along with a chorus of ‘Thank you!’ and a smile!
Off I then jogged into Doris’ eleventh grade class. I do love this class – so relaxed, so friendly, so enthusiastic. They were doing poetry (or at least were labouring under that impression) – but all semblance of a lesson disappeared as soon as I entered. We all descended into a lovely relaxed atmos, in which we had a bit of banter and I taught them (on their request) English swear words. Not something I think I’ll ever be asked to do again! I got a lovely signed card from there, along with giving them my contact details – hopefully they’ll stay in contact. I think they’ll be the ones I miss the most – so nice, so friendly and up for a laugh.
After a few hugs in the Lehrerzimmer for the last time, I set foot outside the school. Officially unemployed now, but what a way to end. You can view the few photos I’ve put up of my final days at the school here.
Friends and new contacs made (all of whom, who’ll be sorely missed), new experiences had, language improved ten fold, real Germany discovered. What an amazing year.
It doesn’t stop here though – Dresden and the Czech Republic still to come for a fair while yet!
